The USAID-funded Higher Education Project (HEP-2) provides support to the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) through four activities considered critical to the success of the MoHE’s efforts to improve the quality of higher education.  These activities are directly linked to the National Higher education Strategic Plan (NHESP).  Activities include: a) technical assistance to the Ministry to strengthen its technical and administrative capacity to establish and practice sound management, policy and academic procedures; b) operational and technical support to design and implement a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) at Kabul University and a Bachelor’s in Public Policy and Administration (BPPA) in key universities, both of which are critical to developing the capacity of Afghanistan's civil service; c) support to design and implement an Afghan Master’s of Education and enroll five cohorts throughout the project of 22 students each.  Half of each cohort is reserved to qualified female faculty. Upon graduation, the students are expected to return to their respective universities and use their newly acquired knowledge to improve the quality of instruction of future secondary school teachers. Finally, HEP supports the establishment of Professional Development Centers (PDCs) to provide a learning and networking environment for faculty of education in 18 universities to strengthen research, pedagogy, English and computer skills. HEP will support the extension of PDCs to other faculties and to serve as quality assurance and accreditation centers.