In 2016, Notre Dame partnered with Balkh University in Afghanistan to create one of that country’s first master’s programs in finance and accounting. Led by our Executive Education team, the team of ND faculty and staff designed, trained, delivered and assessed a new master’s degree with the goal of improving career prospects, especially for women, and helping to put the country on a path toward peace.

I am pleased to announce that the University is recognizing the team with a Team Irish Award, which will be given to them during halftime of the Boston College football game on Saturday.

The two-year program required tremendous investment of time and effort, as faculty and staff traveled to Beijing, China and Mumbai, India, to meet face to face with their Balkh counterparts for four residencies. They had to overcome considerable language and tech barriers as well, as they conducted numerous virtual sessions. The first cohort of 27 Master’s of Finance and Accounting (MFA) students graduated in 2018, including eight women.

The Balkh program is a great example of the three Cs — contribute, cooperate, compete — enacted in real life. There are many people to thank from Mendoza, ND International, the ND Initiative for Global Development, the Kaneb Center and others.

Please join me in congratulating all the participants (see below) on receiving the Team Irish Award.

In Notre Dame,

Martijn