Over the past 20 years, notwithstanding the extraordinary changes in Afghanistan, AUAF has succeeded in providing thousands of Afghan men and women with a liberal arts education.

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The idea of the American University of Afghanistan was conceived by Dr. Sharif Fayez in 2002, who was the Afghan Minister of Higher Education.  In 2004, the Afghan Ministry of Higher Education granted the charter for the establishment of the American University of Afghanistan.  This was done with the support of Laura Bush, the first lady of the United States and Zalmay Khalilzad, the United States ambassador to Afghanistan. Construction on the first AUAF campus started in 2005 and the first enrollment was in fall 2006, with Dr. Sharif Fayez as the first president. 

 

AUAF is a university that is unique in Afghanistan as the curriculum is based in the liberal arts tradition and it is the only coeducational university in the country.  Over its twenty year history, AUAF has grown in its program offerings, student enrollment, and international recognition in spite of terrorist attacks, collapsing government, relocation, and a regime opposed to its existence and mission. AUAF’s resilience is a mirror of the resilience found in its students and the commitment of its staff and faculty.