Purdue University

• BCM 285 Construction Mechanics
• BCM 380 Concrete Construction

Education

Employment

Consultancies

Publications and Review of Papers

The main purpose of publication for Prof. Baha has been to remain current with issues related to his teaching responsibilities and the status of construction industry. It is important that students are aware of the latest development in their field. Majority of the articles listed below are published in refereed periodicals.

Serial journal papers

• O. R. Khan & Z. Baha, Technology Transfer and the Developing World, a Malaysian Case, Journal of Institut Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn, Batu Pahat, Malaysia, Dec. 1998.
• Baha, Z. Design and Use of Prestressed Load Bearing Wall Panels.
  Tabayee Olume (Natural Sciences), Journal of Kabul University. January 1981.
• Baha, Z., & Hamidi, Z. A Study of Afghan Cements. Tabayee Olume, March 1981.
• Nasir, A. G., & Baha, Z. Analysis of Structural Deformation near Collapsing Load.
  Tabayee Olume, May 1981.
• Nasir, A. G., & Baha, Z. Efficient Methods of Analysis of Precast Concrete Members by
  Geometric Programming. Tabayee Olume, July 1981.
• Baha, Z., & Nasir, A. G. Linear Programming Problems. Tabayee Olume, Sep. 1981.
• Baha, Z. A General View to Technological Forecasting. Tabayee Olume, October 1981.
• Baha, Z. Computer and Structural Engineering. Tabayee Olume, April 1980.
• Baha, Z. An Analysis of Simple Prestressed Cable Trusses. Journal of Engineer, Kabul
  University, May 1979.
• Wardak, H., & Baha, Z., Earthquake and its Effect on Buildings. Journal of Polytechnic
  Institute, Sept. 1978.
• Baha, Z. Engineering Education in Developing Countries. Journal of Association of
• Engineering Education of South and Central Asia (AEESCA). March 1975.

Selected conference and peer reviewed papers and presentations

• Higher Education in Afghanistan. 28th Annual AMSE conference, August 30-31, 2003. McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL.
• Baha, Z. Computers and Developing Nations. Symposium on Transfer of Technology
  And Developing Nations, West Lafayette, Indiana. October 1989.
• Baha, Z. & Glon, P., Faculty Industry Internship as an Important Priority in Construction
  Education.24th Annual Meeting of the Associated Schools of Construction, San Luis
  Obispo, California, 4-1988.
• Baha, Z., & Orczyk, J., Computers and Construction. 13th Annual Conference of
  Association of Muslim Scientists and Engineers, Plainfield, Indiana. October 1987.
• Glon, P., & Baha, Z. Faculty-Industry Cooperation and Its Effects on Construction
  Education. 22nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Schools of Construction, Gainesville,
  Florida. April 1986.
• Baha, Z. Research in Construction. Annual Meeting of Associated Schools of
  Construction, Tempe, Arizona. April 1985.
• Baha, Z. Appropriate Construction Technology. National Seminar on "Appropriate
  Technology," Kabul, Afghanistan. December 1981.
• Baha, Z. Appropriate Construction Technology in the Light of Afghanistan's Manpower
  And Employment Situation. National Workshop, September 1979.
• Baha, Z. Manpower Training, Employment and its Retention in the Areas of Science and
  Technology. National seminar on "Science and Technology," Kabul, Afghanistan,
  Dec.1978.
• Baha, Z. A Brief Summary of Earthquake History, Seismicity and Tectonics of the
  Regions of Afghanistan. UNESCO Final Report of the "Meeting on the Seismicity and
  Seismotectonics of South and Central Asia," Tehran, Iran. October-November 1974.

Authorship and reviews

• Prepared National Report on Science and Technology Policy for the Conference on the
  Application of Science and Technology to the Development of Asia (CASTASIA II),
  UNESCO, in Manila, Philippines, Spring 1982.
• Articles reviewed for the International Journal of Science and Technology, 1984-88.
• Articles reviewed for the Journal of Kabul University, Tabayee Olume, 1974 - 1982.
• Textbook reviewed: "Mechanics of Solids" by Walter Pilkey and Orrin Pilkey, QPI
  Series, 1974.
• Textbook reviewed: "Essentials of soil mechanics and foundations" by D. E. McCarthy,
  4th ed.1991.

Creative work

• Baha, Z. Low-Cost, Leak-Proof Roof System. Research project for the Center for
  Engineering Consulting Services and Applied Research (CECSAR), Kabul, Afghanistan,
  September 1979.
• Baha, Z. A Study of Ultimate Capacity of Prestressed Concrete Load Bearing Wall
  Panels, Ph.D. thesis (unpublished), North Carolina State University. May 1973.
• Baha, Z. Poplar Pole Project. A research initiated to develop a handbook for the
  Physical properties of poplar pole used for construction, Kabul, Afghanistan. Sep. 1968.

Invited lectures presented

• "National Science Policy Issues of Afghanistan, "Regional Working Committee of South
  And Central Asia on Science and Technology for Development, New Delhi, India,
  February 1978.
• "Higher Education in Afghanistan", Higher Education Workshop at the American
  University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, August 1975.
• "A Brief Summary of Earthquake History, Seismicity and Tectonics of the Regions of
  Afghanistan." Meeting on "Seismicity and Seismotectonics of South and Central Asia,"
  UNESCO, Tehran, Iran, October 1974, published in the final report of the meeting,
  UNESCO regional office, New Delhi, India.
• Pertowmah, M., & Baha, Z. Reflection on the Education in Muslim Countries, 17th
  Annual Conference of Association of Muslim Social Scientists, Ames, Iowa, Oct. 1988.
• Baha, Z. “Appropriate Construction Technology”, National Workshop, Kabul,
  Afghanistan, Sep. 1978.
• Baha, Z. “Manpower Training, Employment and its Retention in Science and Technology”, National Science and Technology Seminar, Kabul, Afghanistan, December 1978.
• Baha, Z. Computer and Developing Nations, Symposium on Transfer of Technology and
  Developing Nations, West Lafayette, Indiana, October 1989.

Membership

• American Association of University Professors (AAUP).
• American Concrete Institute (ACI).
• Member of Sigma Lambda Chi (SLC), the National Construction Honor Society. Prof. Baha served as the National President for 1993-1995. During his tenure the society became the International Construction Honor Society. He met with members of the first potential international chapter of SLC in Milburn, Australia.
• National Civil Engineering Honorary Fraternity (CE).
• American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)

Awards

• D. Dorsey Moss Excellence in Teaching Award, selected by the Department of Building Construction and Contracting Class of 2002.
• Nominated by the School of Technology for University Undergraduate Teaching Award, 1988.
• Runner-Up, Dwyer Award, School of Technology. Cash award of $1000, spring 1988.
• D. Dorsey Moss Excellence in Teaching Award, selected by the Department of Building Construction and Contracting Class of 1987
• Received National Teaching Award of "Pohanna: Education," from the President of Afghanistan, 1976.
• Received full scholarships for the 17 years of education, from high school to the doctoral degree, 1953-1973.

Teaching:

Prof. Baha believes teaching is more than full time job if you love teaching and your students. Here is a sample of students’ evaluation of Prof. Baha class performance at Purdue University for the spring semester of 2002.

SPRING 2002: Course and Instructor Evaluation for the spring of 2002
(Rating scale: Strongly Agree = 5, Agree = 4, Undecided = 3, Disagree = 2, Strongly Disagree = 1)

Languages

• Pashto, Dari, and English: ………. Fluent
• Arabic, Malay, and German: …… Some knowledge

Sample of Invited Lectures:
Prof. Baha has been active to respond to the need of further understanding of our community regarding new issues that resulted from the September 11, 2001 attack on American soil. He has given lectures on various topics, such as Afghanistan, Leadership, and Islam. Here is the list of lectures for the year 2002 as an example.

• The Air force Association, West Lafayette, Indiana,
• Alfred College, New York,
• University Religious Leadership group,
• Faith Presbyterian Church,
• Goodland Community Church, Indiana,
• Georgetown University, Afghanistan-America Summit,
• Unitarian Universalist Church, Lafayette, Indiana,
• Classes at Purdue University,
• Morton Community Center, West Lafayette, Indiana,
• President’s Leadership Class at the President Jischke Residence.

Purdue University Afghanistan Higher Education Project:

Since October 2001 a group of Purdue University professors, including Prof. Baha has taken a keen interest to help the Higher Education System in Afghanistan. Education system has been destroyed during the long occupation of Soviet Union and the civil war in Afghanistan.

Prof. Baha has served on the faculty of Engineering for twenty years, including, Head of department and Dean of the school. Most of the older faculty members in Kabul know him in person and other may have heard about his active role in improving the higher education system in the country. In March 2002 Prof. Baha visited some of the institutions of higher learning after 20 years that were totally destroyed. However, he could see the hope in the eyes of many of his former colleagues when they saw him among the Purdue University team. The purpose of this trip was to make a first-hand assessment of the existing situation.

A group of three staff of Purdue University went in December 2002 to examine the possibility of distance learning via the four labs Purdue was planning to establish there. The up-to-date assessment was needed to help us tailor the distance learning program to meet the need of the country.

Purdue University received a grant of $100,000.00 in 2002 from the Association of Liaison Office (ALO) to train six Afghan staff of higher education for computer laboratory supervision. Purdue has sent 100 computers to establish four computer labs, in the schools of Engineering and Agriculture of Kabul University, Education University, and Polytechnic University.

Prof. Baha has traveled to Afghanistan with other Purdue team members each year since 2002 to help the higher education in the country. His intimate knowledge of culture and the education systems both here and there make him a valuable asset for our effort to help Afghanistan higher education system.

Purdue received another grant of 100,000.00 from ALO to formulate the vocational and technical education system in Afghanistan. Prof. Baha as the director and Michael Dyrenfurth, and Charles Kline as the co-director of the new project have been very active to face the challenge of totally depleted technological capable work force in Afghanistan. During the summer of 2004 the Purdue team conducted a need assessment workshop for the higher education personnel around the country in Kabul. The Purdue team had meeting with 10 Ministers/Deputy ministers in Kabul to address the seriousness of the Voc./Tech. education problem in the country. The team also met with USAID authorities, World Bank and some NGOs’ to address the same concern. We have submitted to the Afghan and international relevant organization a white paper for their feed back. The paper is recommending five Vocational-Technical Education Center to address the present serious shortage of technical capable work force in the country. The five centers will be located one in the North, one in the South, one in the West, one in the East, and one in Kabul. Once the feed back received we will make necessary modification and then discuss is with our advisory committee in Kabul for the final approval of the government.

Prof Baha and Prof. Charles Kline visited Kabul, Afghanistan during July-August 2006 to discuss the white paper submitted to the different stake holders regarding the Vocational and Technical Education on in Afghanistan.

Prof. Baha helped to establish the four computer labs during his summer trips of 2003-04. Prof. Baha also worked with the Faculty of Engineering of Kabul University to revise the curriculum which has remained without any change during the last 30 years. Prof. Baha discussed with the faculty of Polytechnics University to modernize its curriculum which is still following the old Soviet Union model curriculum.

Prof. Baha is currently working with several universities on some new grants for Afghanistan Higher Education system. He has submitted other proposals with colleagues from Purdue University that were not funded.

Some of the accomplishments and challenges:

As the Dean of Engineering at Kabul University:

• Brought about 30 peace-corps volunteers to help our school in English teaching and other areas of basic science and technical areas. I met with Mary King who was the head of Peace -corps in 1977 to explain our dire need for such a help. Since the medium of instruction was English, there was no problem for international students to attend the school or to teach there.
• Engineering school was the role model for standard in academia and the graduates were sought by industry as well as government departments. I had the opportunity to make several presentation to the Economic High Council which was made of several cabinet members and was chaired by the Deputy Priminister of Afghanistan. The government was willing to provide whatever was needed but wanted to increase our graduates by several folds. We preapared and presented most probably for the first time in the country the Critical Path Method (CPM) to achieve our development objectives at the cabinet level meeting.
• Based on the request of the government and to meet the challenge of new developmental plan of the country, we admitted 1071 students as freshmen in 1977 while our normal intake each year was around 250 students. The government gave us the largest amount of foreign currency allowance ever given to higher education to meet the need of this large class. It was understood that USAID will help the school to afford this expansion and maintain the standard. When Henry Kissinger, Secretary of States, came to meet with President Daoud, the help of School of Engineering was an important item of the agenda.
• I worked for two years with all relevant authorities of USAID for two years to develop and expansion plan for our school which was estimated around 7 million dollars. The plan was complete and it was scheduled that the person will hand carry it on Friday to Washington D.C. for final approval. We were told that in a couple months some official from Afghanistan will go to Washington to sign it. The Thursday before that Friday the communist cope-detate took over the government (April 27, 1978) and all the work went in waste.

As the Resident Program Coordinator of the MUCIA project at Malaysia:

(MUCIA: Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities. This consortium was made of mainly Big Ten Universities, including Purdue University)

• I had small staff of: a secretary, a driver, a financial officer, and an administrative officer that I had hired locally. We were lucky to have always very competent staff at the office.
• My job was to work with the Polytechnic staff training center director and the department heads to assess their need and then to communicate the need to our office at Purdue University to start recruiting appropriate consultants for each position. At Purdue University we had a small staff with the Director of the project Fred Emshousen who was also the Associate Dean of College of Technology. Fred normally visited the project once a year and the project was visited by the President of MUCIA once and also by the President of Ohio University who served as the president of the board of MUCIA at the time.
• The work of my office was to facilitate the work of our consultants and resolve any problem that may arise due to working relations or the culture difference at the work place. I had to handle any personal or professional/technical problem that may cause to interfere with the work and effectiveness of our consultants.
• Most of our consultants were form the various institutions of higher learning of the USA. However there were a dozen or so form the United Kingdom, two from Canada, and one from Australia. Most of the consultant worked for one year but there were short term consultants who served only for a couple weeks to one month. Some of the consultants were extended and worked for more than two years. The challenge was to bring this diverse background group together as a team and be productive. Some of the consultant had their first experience of working over seas and had difficult time to adjust. On the other hand the expectation of the local counterparts and staff was much demanding.
• I was happy to hear form the World Bank team member, who visited the project, that this was one of the most successful of their projects. The original plan for the Polytechnics Center was to train about 900 teachers and then close it. Soon the project seemed successful at the eyes of the local authorities and changed the name to Institute Technology Tun Hussein Onn and late became as an independent college university, KUITTHO.

Note: Some of the academic activities of recent years have not been updated.