August 8, 2016
Chilson traveled to Afghanistan to visit Dunya University in his capacity as vice chair of the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) and accreditation site team advisor.
Fred Chilson, professor of business and technology at the University of Montana Western, recently returned from a trip to Kabul, Afghanistan.
Chilson traveled to Afghanistan to visit Dunya University in his capacity as vice chair of the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) and accreditation site team advisor. As part of his IACBE duties, Chilson visits colleges throughout the country and world to study their business programs for accreditation.
”I’ve visited a lot of schools in various parts of the world during my time with IACBE, but none have been quite as exciting and adventurous as my visit to Kabul,” Chilson said.
Chilson explained that while visiting Afghanistan, his group traveled everywhere in armored vehicles with armed guards in tow due to ongoing security threats in the countrys capital city.
Despite the risks involved, the visit with Dunya University was rewarding and worthwhile, Chilson said. Dunya focuses on training young entrepreneurs and business professionals who want to stay in Afghanistan and help rebuild their country. It is fulfilling to work with a university that is forward thinking in the face of conflict.
During his 10-day stay in Afghanistan, Chilson also met with the countrys minister of education, members of parliament and military leaders.
”We often hear about the problems in Afghanistan, but we arent hearing enough about the hard-working and dedicated faculty and government leaders who are trying to better their country,” Chilson said.
In addition to their regular faculty members, Dunya hosts faculty from around the world who come to Kabul for monthlong teaching stints. Dunya students are on a block scheduling system where they take one or two classes at a time.
”Coming from Montana Western and the success of Experience One, it was exciting to review another universitys block system,” Chilson explained. ”I felt like I had a lot to offer in our conversations and was able to provide insights into being successful with block scheduling.”
Montana Western is the only public four-year institution offering block scheduling where students take a single class at a time, three hours each day, then move on to the next.
Chilson serves as chair of Montana Westerns business and technology department, the first in Montana to receive IACBE accreditation.
— Montana Western —
