INTRODUCTION
APUIHEA A COORDINATING HUB AND A COLLECTIVE VOICE OF PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR IN AFGHANISTAN !
Association of Private Universities and Institutes of Higher Education in Afghanistan, thereafter “APUIHEA” is a national, not-for-profit and non-governmental organization representing, supporting, and taking forward rightful interests and concerns of the private higher education sector in Afghanistan.
As a collective voice of its member institutions, APUIHEA provides a platform for advocacy, coordination, information exchange, networking, and sharing of best practices among members, ministry of higher education, beneficiaries, actors and rest of the stakeholders crucial for the promotion and development of higher education sector in the country.
At present, the APUIHEA represents and supports more than 126 private universities and institutes of higher education across the country and providing them a platform for cooperation and exchange of information on higher education and the associated developmental activities and plans.
APUIHEA HISTORY
The institutions of private higher education in Afghanistan share common issues and interests which need them to work together to achieve their goals and objectives.
To this end, in July 2012 delegations of more than 40 private higher education institutions gathered and agreed to lay the foundation of a large organization named “Association of Private Universities and Institutes of Higher Education in Afghanistan”.
Subsequently, the glorious opening ceremony of the Association took place on 27-Sep-2012 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Kabul city and attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Higher Education, MPs, heads of chambers of commerce, civil society organizations, media, members of the higher education institutions and academicians.
The President, Vice-Presidents, Board of Directors and Members of the Association were unanimously chosen and dozens of private higher education institutions have consistently started joint work where the Association provided them a proper platform for the exchange of ideas, sharing of best practices, and formulation of priorities and future plans.
It was the time when APUIHEA officially began its activities and registered under license “0021 of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI)”.
With 126 member institutions across the country, today APUIHEA is a large organization plays a vital role in influencing and shaping national policies, practices, initiatives, and debates which are affecting the activities and work of the private higher education sector in Afghanistan.
The APUIHEA's activities & operations are framed and managed through one main office in the capital city of Kabul and three zonal offices in East, North and South-West.
Let me express my deep gratitude and regards to all Education and Higher Education Institutions that are focusing to improve the quality of Higher Education in Afghanistan. It is my honor to brief you the direction and the history of Private Higher Education in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Higher Education is proud to have high-level Private Higher Education besides state based Higher Education Institutions over the last ten years that provide services to more than 167,000 students from a total of 300,000 Afghan students. It shows that over the past decade, Private Higher Education Sector has been able to gain significant credibility and confidence among youth and their parents.
But in order to manage the challenges and obstacles that exist on the way of Private Higher Education growth, four years ago, the APUIHEA (Association of Universities & Private Higher Education Institutions) was established with the participation of more than forty Universities and Higher Education Institutions.
Fortunately, now in 2017, there are more than 100 members, and one of the major goals of the Association is to coordinate and act as a bridge between Private Higher Education in Afghanistan and the region.
I expect from all concerned and related organizations, state and non-state Institutions to support us for meeting the goals of APUIHEA (Association of Universities & Private Higher Education Institutions).
Best Regards