Collaborative Modernization of a Natural Resources Engineering Program at Balkh University in Afghanistan

The University of Kentucky proposes to establish a partnership between the Mining Engineering Department (UK MNG) in Lexington, Kentucky and Balkh University (BU) in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, in the field of engineering. Northern Afghanistan has a wealth of natural resources; and the extraction and utilization of these resources will require a large number of engineers, particularly in resource estimation and mining. In fact, the mission statement of the Balkh University College of Engineering includes "to have exchange and partnership programs with develop(ed) countries for exchanging idea(s) in (the) area of new technology, curriculum development and capacity building of its lecturers [1]." This partnership will address these needs by (1) modernizing the engineering curriculum; (2) establishing two engineering laboratories; (3) providing training to BU faculty members in the modernized curriculum and engineering laboratories through exchange opportunities; (4) establishing and participating in international training courses; and (5) establishing joint research activities; (6) establishing an electronic engineering library and video conferencing system. This project will accomplish the following: " BU faculty members will receive course materials for strength of materials, engineering drawing, mineral reserve modeling, surveying, mine planning, and four additional courses in mining engineering, based on the preference of the BU faculty; " BU will receive equipment for a computing laboratory, a strength of materials laboratory, three total stations for surveying, and a videoconferencing system; " BU faculty will receive training in each of the modernized courses, laboratories, and software and establish joint research activities through three, 16 week visits to UK MNG; " BU will receive a video conferencing system and selected electronic books to establish and engineering library; and " BU faculty members will participate in international training programs at the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Annual Meeting and Exhibit. The budget is $748,310 over three (3) years.