Establishing academic structures in computer science at Herat University

The Young Afghan Generation is Yearning for Study and Research Peace has come to Afghanistan and reconstruction has begun – an unfamiliar experience for the young generation. It seems hard to believe that this peace may last, and all are longing to enjoy the goods which were off-limits for such a long time, including access to education, science and research. It is well understood that if peace is to last it will take an effort to eliminate the ignorance of the people. This will require equal access to education and equal opportunities to work for a living. This observation was made in more than four years of contributing to the reconstruction of higher education in Afghanistan in the field of computer science. The students of computer science at Herat University have even fought for their right to study, young women as well as the men. Their yearning for education was the driving force for the establishment of their own Faculty of Computer Science. Up to eighteen hours a day they were busy in completing the mere shell of a building where they might pursue their studies and acquire an understanding of computer science. Some of them are used to walk up to three hours just to reach the university. Yet, a long-term guarantee of continued courses is still not in sight. This report therefore does not only mean to give an account of the past accomplishments in reconstruction. It also aims to call upon the international community not to ignore these students, but to support them in a sustainable manner and to preserve their present access to higher education.