REBUILDING HIGHER EDUCATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PEACEBUILDING RESEARCH
“The SAMIN trainer team has proven to be competent, target-oriented, flexible and really helpful – excellent work!”
Ulf Siefker, Geo-Consultant
SPACE FOR INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC COOPERATION
International academic collaboration offers opportunities for sustainable development.
Local learning and global cooperation provide impetus for spatial and capacity building for the special challenges in conflict areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL PEACEBUILDING IN GEOGRAPHICAL PEACE AND CONFLICT RESEARCH
Environmental Peacebuilding is an interdisciplinary approach that describes a variety of approaches and ways of conflict resolution in connection with environmental issues.
Its particular geographical relevance lies in the human-environment-space relationships.
LESSONS LEARNED
UNIVERSITY COOPERATION UNDER CONFLICT CONDITIONS
Higher education plays a key role in the cooperation with areas affected by conflict and requires strategies to prepare coming generations for their future tasks.
Scientific cooperation offers chances to build up academic infrastructure as well as improve its quality. Academic cooperation contributes in the long term to sustainable progress in society and economy. The scientists involved gain a multitude of experiences and qualifications which enable them to later fill in keypositions and become multipliers in international collaboration.
But working in conflict areas comes at a cost. Unexpected political developments, the instable security situation and ongoing conflict situations continuously influence common activities, could threaten the international cooperation and pose special challenges for all participants involved. The tasks in question are complex for all parties involved. Despite many setbacks, many positive developments can be achieved.
This workshop aims to provide insight into the challenges of academic cooperation with Afghanistan and offers a setting for delving into related questions. Offering insights in „Afghan“ perspectives and viewpoints in the process of Higher Education Development as well as providing facts and backgrounds and how Afghan universities try to cope with challenges are focus of this workshop.
SUBJECT AREAS
- Frameworks, possibilities, limitations for cooperation with unstable countries
- Development of agreements, critical roles and responsibilities
- Establishing mutual trust under critical environment conditions
- Dealing with misunderstandings, conflicts and crisis situations
- Sustainability in terms of curriculum and capacity development
- Academic development in the field of conflict between geopolitical actors
- Challenges for the development towards future-oriented universities and international scientific cooperation
ENVIRONMENTAL PEACEBUILDING
Expert knowledge on topics of geographic development and conflict research and on “Environmental Peacebuilding” projects with a regional focus on Afghanistan
Dr. Christine Issa
Geographer and specialist for sustainable learning and dialog processes
Prof. Dr. Sardar M. Kohistani
Geographer and specialist for (Re-) construction of academic structures in Afghanistan and international university cooperation
PUBLICATION (SELECTION)
KOHISTANI, S. M., KOHISTANI, R., ISSA, C. (2022): Environmental Peacebuilding – A chance to strengthen the peace process in Afghanistan? Giessen – in review
KOHISTANI, S. M. (2022): Population increase in Kabul and its outcomes . Kabul– in review.
KOHISTANI, S.M. (2021): Geopolitical Position of Afghanistan. IN: ALAM, H. (ed.): On the Concept of Iran and the Iranian Cultural Sphere. Iran in West-Asia”. Frankfurt/Germany.
KOHISTANI, S. M. and C. ISSA (2016): Bildungshintergründe Afghanistan. In: Althoff, G., Kotenko, A. (eds.): Materialien zur Begleitung geflüchteter Studierender. Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst. 1. Aufl. Bonn.
KOHISTANI, S. M. (2014): Culture and History: Languages. In: Dittmann, A. (ed.): National Atlas of Afghanistan 2014, Bonn et al., pp.68-69.
KOHISTANI, S. M. (2014): Culture and History: Development of Administrative Borders. In: Dittmann, A. (ed.): National Atlas of Afghanistan 2014, Bonn et al., pp.76-77.
KOHISTANI, S. M. (2014): Human Dimensions: Population. In: Dittmann, A. (ed.): National Atlas of Afghanistan 2014, Bonn et al., pp.78-81.
KOHISTANI, S. M. (2014): Human Dimensions: Higher Education. In: Dittmann, A. (ed.): National Atlas of Afghanistan 2014, Bonn et al., pp.92-93.
ISSA,C. (2014): Human Dimensions: Health. In: Dittmann, A. (ed.): National Atlas of Afghanistan 2014, Bonn et al., pp. 72
ISSA,C. (2014): Culture and History: National Sites. In: Dittmann, A. (ed.): National Atlas of Afghanistan 2014, Bonn et al., pp. 72-73.
ISSA,C. (2014): Public and Private Services:, Media and Communication. In: Dittmann, A. (ed.): National Atlas of Afghanistan 2014, Bonn et al., pp. .66-67.
ISSA,C. (2014): Public and Private Services:Energy. In: Dittmann, A. (ed.): National Atlas of Afghanistan 2014, Bonn et al., pp. .62-63.
ISSA, C. (2012): Baukultur als Symbol nationaler Identität: Das Beispiel Kabul, Afghanistan. Dissertation. Gießener Geographische Schriften, Vol. 82. Bonn et.al.
ISSA, C., Staarmann Á. (2011): Informelle Siedlungen in Kabul-Entwicklungshemmnis oder -chance? In: Geographische Rundschau, H.11, Jg.63, S. 26-31.
KOHISTANI, S. M.(2011): Aktuelle Entwicklungen und Herausforderungen der Hochschulbildung in Afghanistan. In: Geographische Rundschau, H.11, Jg.63, pp. 32-38.
KOHISTANI, S. M. (2009): State building in Afghanistan – The role of institutional capacity, PhD-thesis, Justus Liebig University, Giessen 2009.
DITTMANN, A., KOHISTANI, S. M. and W. A. NOORI (2007): Bonn – Kabul. Zwischenfazit einer geographischen Partnerschaft. In: Universität Bonn Geographie – Jahresbericht 2005/2006. Bonn, pp. 21-23.
KOHISTANI, S. M., and C. ISSA (2007): Kabul’s Urban Identity: An Overview of the Socio-Political Aspects of Development. In: Asien 104 (7), Hamburg, pp. 51-64.
KOHISTANI, S. M. (2006): Nation-building in the Minds of People. In: Geographische Rundschau – International Edition 2 (4), Braunschweig, pp. 14-18.
KOHISTANI, S. M., and K. YAMAGUCHI (2005): The Urban Geography of Kabul City. In: Arez, G. J., and A. Dittmann (eds.): Kabul – Aspects of Urban Geography, Peshawar, pp. 147-157
DITTMANN, A., and S. M. KOHISTANI (2004): Wiederaufbau an afghanischen Hochschulen. Disaster- und Hazard-Forschung in den Geowissenschaften. In: Südasien 24, 2/3, pp. 41-45.