In mid-October 2009, 10 faculty members and 100 students at Kabul University successfully completed a 14-week course in information technology. The course was specifically designed to meet the needs of Afghan lecturers who have little or no experience using a personal computer or the Internet. Covering software installation, Internet use, and Open Office applications, the course taught faculty members to use e-mail, search the Internet for reliable information, design and format course chapters, set-up a table with formulas, and create professional presentations.
Ms. Farzia Sabzwary from the Kabul University Research Center and Prof. Sayed Rahimullah from the Faculty of Veterinary Science were among the first faculty members to complete the IT course. Ms. Sabzwary is already using her training to design publications and course materials for lecturers at the KU Research Center. She has since purchased a personal computer and looks forward to improving her computer skills through practice and advanced IT classes. Prof. Rahimullah is using his skills to access information about veterinary science on the Internet and to develop presentations for his students.