The Surveying Engineering Master Program was established within the Department of Engineering Geodesy in the public higher education sector to prepare highly qualified professionals at the master's level. The program aims to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills required to play a vital role in the country's economic growth and development. It was designed to establish a well-structured academic system in the field of Surveying Engineering in accordance with the contemporary standards and regulations of the Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan.

The members of the Master’s Program Committee reviewed and studied comparable master's programs offered by several international universities. Based on their analysis, they developed a coherent and standards-based curriculum for the Master of Surveying Engineering Program. They submitted it to the relevant authorities for review and approval in accordance with the established legal and administrative procedures.

In accordance with Official Letter No. (6), dated 2/4/1443 AH, issued by the Ministry of Higher Education, the program was initially approved under the title Master of Survey Engineering Management. In 1402 (2023/2024), it was officially renamed the Surveying Engineering Master Program. The program admits 30 students annually through the entrance examination administered by the National Examination Authority and offers a two-year master's curriculum.

Registration for the first cohort of students commenced on 22 November 2021, during which 56 applicants registered for admission to the program. The first master's classes began on 12 May 2022. To date, three cohorts have successfully graduated from the program with master's degrees. They are making valuable contributions to society through their service in both the public and private sectors of the country.

This curriculum was developed after a comprehensive review of similar programs at regional and international universities, while also considering the specific conditions and resources of Afghanistan. The following models served as references in designing the curriculum:

No	Program Name	Country	University	Link
1	Geodesy	Kazakhstan	Kazakh Leading Academy of Architecture and Civil  Engineering	https://g.co/kgs/2RgN9R4
2	Engineering Geodesy	Russia	State University of Land Use  Planning	https://g.co/kgs/4Db7MPF
3	Geography, land management  and cadastre	Kazakhstan	Al-Farabi Kazakh National  University	https://farabi.university/departme   nt/49

 

Vision of the Program

4	Geodetic and Geographic  Information Technologies	Turkey	Gebze Technical University	https://abl.gtu.edu.tr/ects/?duzey =ucuncu&bolum=106&tip=yuksek   lisans&dil=en
5	Geomatics Engineering	Turkey	Karadeniz Technical University	https://www.ktu.edu.tr/geomatics
6	Surveying and Geospatial    Engineering	Iran	Tehran University	https://geospatialeng.ut.ac.ir/geod   esy

The Master’s Program in Surveying Engineering is a specialized higher education program that not only addresses the country’s quantitative and qualitative needs in this field but also responds to contemporary demands in line with the progress and development of Afghanistan. It aspires to compete scientifically and academically with universities in the region and beyond.

Mission of the Program

The Master’s Program in Surveying Engineering has been established to provide high-quality education, conduct research, and train graduates capable of meeting the needs of Afghan society at the regional level. Additionally, it contributes to the implementation of national projects that strengthen the financial foundation of the university and the country.

Values of the Program

In line with Afghanistan’s social principles, national interests, and the goal of strengthening unity, the program is committed to improving both the quality and quantity of education in surveying engineering. It applies internationally accepted academic standards while fostering responsibility and professionalism. Its core values include:

• Responsibility and adherence to the law;
• Respect for Islamic and national values;
• Delivery of high-quality, standardized higher education aligned with societal and job market needs;
• Strengthening national unity and cooperation;
• Promoting effective, transparent, and efficient administration.

 

Educational Objectives of the Program

The primary objective of the Master’s Program in Surveying Engineering is to provide advanced engineering knowledge and professional skills by combining Afghanistan’s rich engineering traditions with internationally recognized scientific standards. The program aims to prepare specialized and committed experts capable of addressing national and international needs. Students will gain competencies in the following areas:

1. Effective utilization of specialized knowledge in surveying engineering;
2. The ability to analyze problems using modern methods and techniques;
3. Skills in planning and designing professional activities tailored to societal needs;
4. Competence in applying research-based approaches to problem-solving;
5. Mastery of surveying engineering tasks, including planning, measurement, project development, and execution in all phases of engineering projects—construction, maintenance, and operation;
6. Professional creativity and innovation in engineering-related activities.

 

Expected Outcomes

Within completing the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Effectively apply specialized knowledge in surveying engineering activities;
2. Identify, analyze, and solve problems using modern scientific methods;
3. Plan and design professional projects that meet national and international standards;
4. Perform surveying engineering tasks such as planning, measurement, project execution, maintenance, and operation of engineering works;
5. Solve practical and research problems using specialized knowledge and professional creativity;
6. Acquire practical expertise to serve as specialists in geodesy and related fields of surveying engineering.