the Faculty of Social Sciences

Introduction to the Faculty of Social Sciences

Social sciences, as their name implies, encompass the disciplines that study human beings and their surrounding environment. All their subjects relate to the social life of humans. Since humans are born into society, develop identity and personality within it, and lack identity and personality without society, all humanities disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, demography, psychology, economics, political science, history, geography, and the like are parts of the social sciences. These disciplines, in addition to humans themselves, also pay particular attention to their surroundings. This is because a single human being may change structure and become another individual with changes in spatial and temporal conditions. Correspondingly, social phenomena constitute the main subject of the social sciences, revolving around humans and centered on the social axis.

Therefore, social sciences, depending on the conditions and needs of each society, encompass specific academic fields. Their subject, in comparison to the natural sciences, constitutes society and its related transformations. As societies transition from simple and traditional forms to complex and new ones, they face difficult problems and extensive needs, making their study and research an unavoidable necessity. Studying the major and fundamental institutions of society, such as organizational politics, economics, the role of the family in national economic growth and organizations, educational institutions and their role in strengthening political and economic systems, and broad related topics such as understanding popular culture, social movements, and other developments like governance, peace and security, management of political participation, social identity, sustainable development, social cohesion and unity, inequalities resulting from inefficient systems, population issues, civil society, religious beliefs, customs, cultures, and dozens of other topics is considered a fundamental necessity for being on the path of the evolution of sustainable and comprehensive development. The examination and understanding of these phenomena are among the important functions of the social sciences.

History of the Faculty of Social Sciences

The foundation of the Faculty of Social Sciences, alongside the Faculties of Natural Sciences and Languages and Literature, was first laid in 1964 under the name of the Teacher Training Academy, which was also registered with UNESCO. This academy, affiliated with the Ministry of Education, offered programs in Chemistry and Biology, Mathematics and Physics, and History and Geography, with instruction in Dari, Pashto, and English.

In 1982, the Teacher Training Academy was upgraded to the Kabul Pedagogical Institute. The departments of History and Geography were established as the Faculty of History and Geography, the departments of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as the Faculty of Natural Sciences, and the departments of Dari, Pashto, and English as the Faculty of Languages and Literature. Over time, with the development of the Kabul Pedagogical Institute, the Institute of Physical Education, along with the Roshan Teacher Training College (Darul-Moalemin Roshan), which encompassed all the disciplines of the aforementioned faculties, became part of the Kabul Pedagogical Institute in 1986 as the Faculty of Physical Education and the Roshan In-Service Faculty. With the addition of the Departments of Pedagogy and Psychology to the Faculty of History and Geography, its name was changed to the Faculty of Social Sciences. Alongside the other faculties of this institute, it played a significant role in training professional and methodologically skilled teachers at the bachelor's and even master's levels for the country's education system.

In 2002, due to the persistent efforts of the professors, the Kabul Pedagogical Institute was elevated to Kabul Education University. A year later, based on the necessity recognized by the esteemed Ministry of Higher Education, all in-service departments operating within the framework of the Roshan In-Service Faculty were merged with the pre-service departments of other faculties. Subsequently, the Department of Psychology and Education, separated from the Faculty of Social Sciences, was established as the Faculty of Professional Education within the structure of the former In-Service Faculty. In 2006, based on the necessity recognized by the university's leadership at the time, the Department of Sociology was newly established within the Faculty of Social Sciences.

In 2015, the Department of Islamic Culture was separated from the Faculty of Social Sciences and elevated to the Faculty of Islamic Sciences and Culture.

Currently, the Faculty of Social Sciences has three departments: History, Geography, and Sociology, which provide bachelor's level education to students in both full-time and part-time programs. Its curricula, like those of other faculties at Kabul Education University, are based on the credit system. The Faculty of Social Sciences has 34 faculty members, whose academic degrees range from doctorate and master's to bachelors.

Vision

The Faculty of Social Sciences envisions cultivating capable and dedicated professionals in teaching and research for the disciplines of History, Geography, and Sociology, emphasizing pedagogical skills, professional commitment, integrity, and continuous development.

Mission

The Faculty of Social Sciences considers its mission to be the training of capable and professional cadres in the fields of teaching, research, and knowledge production at the national level. The mission of this faculty encompasses the academic development of students with the following qualities:

Skill and Competence: Quality teaching abilities in the disciplines of Geography, History, and Sociology.
Cultivation of Talented and Committed Students: Fostering a national and Islamic spirit, while abstaining from all forms of discrimination and prejudice.

Values

Freedom in knowledge production and respect for the principle of public ownership of knowledge within the framework of Islamic law.
Adherence to justice, honesty, transparency, and accountability in all affairs as an Islamic principle.
Respect for Islamic principles and universal scientific-research standards.
Respect for the principle of integrating duty-orientation, outcome-orientation, and virtue-orientation.
Respect for epistemic outcomes as a valuable ethical and scientific principle.

Developmental and Operational Programs of the Faculty of Social Sciences

Curriculum revision in accordance with contemporary needs.
Updating lecture notes using new resources and transforming them into textbooks.
Organizing scientific seminars and conferences for faculty and students on important national and international issues.
Providing opportunities for faculty and student research projects.
Establishing a doctoral program in Sociology.
Conducting awareness workshops for faculty to improve the implementation of the credit system.
Creating opportunities for academic promotions of faculty members, especially those who have not been promoted in over three years.
Organizing training workshops for faculty on the use of new teaching methods.
Facilitating academic field trips for students within and outside Kabul city.
Developing the faculty's infrastructure and transforming it into a well-equipped and sustainable foundation.
Expanding the faculty and departmental libraries and converting them into well-equipped and standardized libraries.
Establishing a faculty-level computer lab for the use of faculty and students.
Equipping the geography laboratory and creating methodological rooms for the History and Sociology departments.