Two-Week Course at Herat University (2014)

In 2014, we launched a transformative two-week geotechnical engineering training in Afghanistan, led by Dr. Mohammad Saleh Keshawarz. This program united local technical personnel and Herat University students, enhancing their skills in water resource management and laying the foundation for future engineering excellence.

Background

As part of our continuous commitment to capacity building and the resurrection of civil engineering education in Afghanistan, we supported a specialized two-week training course in 2014 focused on the applications of geotechnical engineering principles in water resources. This initiative was delivered by Dr. Mohammad Saleh Keshawarz, a member of our Board of Directors and the Chair and Professor of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Hartford. Dr. Keshawarz has led cooperative educational efforts between Herat University and the University of Hartford to revitalize the region’s engineering instruction.

Program Participants and Scope

We delivered this educational program to a diverse group of attendees in the western region of the country to maximize its impact on local infrastructure. The participants of our two-week course included the technical personnel working directly with the Harirud-Murghab River Basin, as well as engineering students enrolled at the Faculty of Engineering at Herat University. By bringing together practicing technical professionals and university students, we provided instruction that supported both immediate infrastructure needs and the long-term academic development of future engineers.

Curriculum and Technical Topics

Our training course was designed to provide a comprehensive, introductory overview of geotechnical engineering as it applies specifically to water resources. The curriculum we developed and taught covered a wide array of essential engineering topics, which included:

  • A thorough review of the fundamental principles of soil mechanics.
  • The fundamentals and practical applications of flow net construction.
  • Solutions for Laplace’s Equation utilizing the finite difference method.
  • Instruction on flow net construction using MS Excel to accurately calculate head.
  • Methodologies for conducting seepage calculations.
  • The design of filters specifically intended for erosion control.
  • The principles of sheet pile analysis and design.
  • An introduction to the concepts and evaluations of slope stability.