This presentation looks into the existing web structure and services of all Afghan universities, not only to evaluate the entire infrastructure but also to systematically analyze the gaps and design challenges of web platforms and services as a means of communication and collaboration among various stakeholders including the Ministry of Higher Education, its subsidiaries, students and other related audience. The presentation finds that the environment for necessary ICT infrastructure and services is up to the expected required standard to provide access to various online resources and systems. The next important finding is the increasing demand by students to access information online rather than the existing traditional paper-based systems. Another very important finding is related to the non-existence of a formal managerial oversight to all the online resources and thus has resulted to a very poor quality of content, outdated information and the services that don't meet the expected needs and challenges.

1. Evaluation of Existing
Web Structure of Afghan
Universities
Abdul Rahman Sherzad
Deputy Dean and Head of Information Department of Herat University
TU-Berlin Alumni Program
Berlin, Germany
August - September 2014

2. Contents
Application
Proposal
Challenges
Objective
Current Situation
2

3. Current Situation - ICT Infrastructure [8]
One million
Internet
Users
Total: 7
Total: 5
Subscriber: 17.4 millions
Total: 3
Total: 44
3

4. Current Situation – MoHE 2012 [3] [4] [5]
 Public University
 Number: 31
 Students: 99,530
 Academics: 3,496
MoHE
 Private University
 Number: 74
 Students: 52119
 Academics: ?
4

5. Current Situation – MoHE 2014 (Noor Bakhsh)
 Public University
 Number: 34
 Students: 190000
 Academics: 4500
MoHE
 Private University
 Number: 90
 Students: 110000
 Academics: 4000
5

6. Current Situation – MoHE Post 2001 [7]
Total Higher Education Enrollment in
Afghanistan 2001-2012
Time Trend of Enrollments in Public and
Private Higher Education 2001-2012
6

7. Current Situation - Existence of Website Services
MoHE
Job
Announcements
Scholarship
Announcements
Kankor Result
Announcement
Publications
&
Articles
Conferences
&
Seminars
Facts
&
Statistics
7

8. Objective - Key Factors of Successful Websites [1] [9]
8
Security
Design
Usability
AccessibilityContent
Update

9. Challenges - Usability
• Inconsistent Font
• Non-existent Interactivity
• CMS Limitations
– Non-existent Built-in Shortcodes
9

10. Challenges - Accessibility [7][10]
• Fixed Resolution of 1024x768
• 17.4 million mobile subscribers
• 1.4 billion smartphones in the world
• Inconvenient access to all
smartphone users.
10

11. Challenges – Quality Content
• Multilingual support feature
• Many potential activities
• No Quality Control
• No formal structure committee
/ Technical support team
11

12. Challenges – Regular Update
• Targeted audiences expect to
see up-to-date information
• Afghan universities’ website is
not updated for long periods
of time.
12

13. Challenges – Availability & Sustainability
• Power outages
• No proper backup systems
• Heavy traffic while Kankor
results announced
• No technical support team
13

14. Conclusion
Websites
There is
no formal managerial oversight
Extremely rapid growth in
ICT infrastructure and services
The current websites
are not up to the challenges
Significant increase of
enrollment in Higher Education
14

15. Proposal
• Creation of formal structure within MOHE
institutions
• Explore the technical possibilities for
improving websites
– Usability
– Security
– Availability
– Updateability
• Expand the website's scope
15

16. Proposal - Expand the website's scope
1. Access to online library catalogue
2. Access to online scientific journals
3. Access to online directory of
publications by the university academics
16

17. Proposal - Expand the website's scope
4. Academic members profile
5. Email and SMS event notification
6. Platform for course and campus
management system
17

18. Application - Stepwise
MoHE
Universities
Faculties
18

19. Application - Basic Standard Website Structure
• Home
• About University
– History
– Goal
– Strategic Plans
– Facts and Statistics
– Map
• Organizational Structure
– University Directorship
– Scientific Councils
• Lecturers
• Faculty Deans
– Deputies
• Deputy Chancellor in Academic Affairs
• Deputy Chancellor in Student Affairs
• Deputy Chancellor in Administration
– Committees
• Academic Promotions
• Appointment and Dismissal
• Quality Assurance
19

20. Application - Basic Standard Website Structure
• Faculties
– Agriculture
– Applied Science
– Computer Science
– Economics
– Education (Pedagogy)
– Engineering
– Fine & Arts
– Journalism
– Law & political Science
– Literature & Humanities
– Medicine
– Public Administration
– Theology & Islamic Studies
– Veterinary Science
20

21. Application - Basic Standard Website Structure
• IT Directorship
– Information Department
– Technical Department
– Network Department
– Education Department
• Center I
• Center II
• Services and Facilities
– Library
– Counseling Center
– Law Clinic
– Sport
– Dormitory
– Parking
21

22. Application - Basic Standard Website Structure
• Scientific Research Center
• Publications
– Magazine
– Weekly Letter
– Department of Public Informing and Relations
• Media
– News
– Announcements
– Alumni
– Documents
– Photo Gallery
– Video Gallery
– FAQ
• Students
22

23. Bibliography
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38, 2000.
2. MENTES, A.; TURAN, A. H. ASSESSING THE USABILITY OF UNIVERSITY WEBSITES AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON NAMIK KEMAL UNIVERSITY,
Turkey, v. 11, n. 3, 2012.
3. MOEH. Statistics. Ministry of Higher Education, 2012. Disponivel em: <http://mohe.gov.af/?lang=da&p=ehsaya>. Acesso em: 5 August
2014.
4. MOHE. Higher Education Governmential Organs. Ministry of Higher Education, 2012. Disponivel em:
<http://mohe.gov.af/?lang=en&p=gov>. Acesso em: 5 August 2014.
5. MOHE. Private Universities. Ministry of Higher Education, 2012. Disponivel em: <http://mohe.gov.af/?lang=en&p=private>. Acesso em: 5
August 2014.
6. MOHE. Websites of Universities. Ministry of Higher Education, 2012. Disponivel em: <http://mohe.gov.af/?lang=en&p=mpsites>. Acesso
em: 5 August 2012.
7. HAMDARD, J. THE STATE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INTERNET IN AFGHANISTAN - SIX YEARS LATER (2006-2012). [S.l.]. 2012.
8. BANK, T. W. HIGHER EDUCATION IN AFGHANISTAN An Emerging Mountainscape. [S.l.]. 2013.
9. HEIMLICH, J. E.; WANG, K. Evaluating the Structure of Web Sites, Ohio, 1, 1999.
10. LEONARD, H. 1.5 Billion Smartphones In The World - Business Insider. Business Insider, 2013. Disponivel em:
<http://www.businessinsider.com/15-billion-smartphones-in-the-world-22013-2>. Acesso em: 2 August 2014.
11. MANZOOR, M.; HUSSAIN, W.; AHMED, A. The Importance of Higher Education Websites and its Usability, Quetta, v. 1, n. 2, 2012. ISSN
150-163.
12. PARK, A.; GRETZEL, U. Success Factors for Destination Marketing Web Sites: A Qualitative Meta-Analysis. [S.l.]. 2006.
13. KNIGHT, S.-A.; BURN, J. Developing a Framework for Assessing Information Quality on the World Wide Web, Perth, v. 8, n. 1, 2005.23

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