Christmas closure 2010/11
03 November 2009
George Foster, Head of the Centre for Public Service Management (CfPSM), recently coordinated a visit to Merseyside by one of Afghanistan’s leading academic managers Najibullah Kamran, Director of Education for Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan.
The weeklong visit involved trips to schools, libraries and universities in the region, and formed part of a larger tour of the North West.
George was delighted to be Mr Kamran’s guide during his visit to Merseyside, commenting: “It was an honour to be asked to guide such an eminent academic manager . We visited a number of schools on Merseyside, and Mr Kamran was clearly impressed with many aspects of our education system.”
On his return to Afghanistan, Mr Kamran wrote to George and extended an invitation to visit Kabul in the near future in thanks for the “...wonderful hospitality [I] received in Liverpool.”
Another significant aspect of the visit was the fact that the interpreter for Mr Kamran was a third year student at the Liverpool Business School, Nesar Ahmed Niazi, who was born in Afghanistan. Coincidently, Nesar and Mr Kamran had both attended the same school in Kabul.
George coordinated the visit with Bryn Marsh, Strategic Director for Childrens Services, Sefton MBC. A strong relationship has been developed over the last few years between CfPSM and Sefton MBC and, as a result, the Centre has been asked to undertake a number of projects for the Council.
Such projects include a critical analysis of the Training and Development function of the Council. The subsequent report was considered by the Council and a number of important changes were implemented.
In addition, George and Professor Paul Joyce Director of Liverpool Business School) delivered a six-day Leadership and Development programme to approximately 20 senior managers associated with Childrens Services from the Council, Fire Brigade, Police and Youth Services.
Pictured (l-r): Bryn Marsh, Najibullah Kamran, George Foster and Nesar Ahmad Niazi
