About the Afghanistan Centre at Kabul University:

The Afghanistan Centre at Kabul University is the premier research institution and archive on Afghanistan in the region, with the most extensive collection of primary resources available in print and digital formats. The mission of ACKU is to promote literacy, facilitate scholarly work, and provide academic research training through its archive, digital library, and outreach and research programs.

ACKU was initially known as the ACBAR Resource & Information Center (ARIC). The concept was envisioned by Louis Dupree and Nancy Hatch Dupree, two of the foremost experts on Afghanistan's history and culture. After the death of Louis in 1989, Nancy continued to work for the protection of cultural heritage through ARIC and later ACKU, with a motto of “nation building through information sharing.”

Programs

The Library/Digital Resources

The ACKU library holds an extensive collection of documents on Afghanistan collected from various sources. Currently, it has more than 170,000 documents in Farsi, Pashto, English, and some other local and European languages. Its collection comprises monographs, posters, newspapers, slides, CDs, fact sheets, music recordings, periodicals, and magazines stretching back decades. The primary activities of the ACKU library include acquiring, cataloging, digitizing the documents, and making these accessible to local and international users through user-friendly online databases.

ACKU Box Library Extension

The mission of ABLE is to improve literacy among children and adults by promoting a culture of reading through easy-to-read books and educational material that is locally written and published. Since 1996, ABLE has established 277 libraries in communities across all 34 provinces. These libraries have over 200,000 annual users. ABLE has published 419 books in Farsi, Pashto, and, recently, in Uzbeki, on a variety of subjects based on the user suggestions, of which over 50 titles are for young readers.

Research

ACKU promotes and supports a strong research environment in Afghanistan by training local scholars in research methodology, critical analysis, and academic writing. University students and faculty members arethe  main beneficiaries of the research courses. An academic research project on the issue of migration was completed at ACKU in collaboration with City, University of London in late 2018. In addition, ACKU organizes various events, such as seminars, conferences, and workshops, and hosts sponsored events from partner institutions on its premises. Through this, ACKU aims to provide a platform for Afghan and international scholars to interact and exchange ideas.

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Digital Media Quality Controller to oversee the digitization and preservation of analog media into digital formats. This role involves supervising the digitization team, ensuring quality control, managing digital storage and metadata, and coordinating closely with IT and digitization staff. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in cataloging, equipment maintenance, and providing guidance and training to team members.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Supervision and Oversight:
   • Oversee the digitization process, ensuring accuracy, quality, and adherence to project timelines.
   • Supervise and support the work of digitizers, assisting them in resolving issues and maintaining efficiency.
2. Quality Control:
   • Conduct thorough quality checks throughout the digitization process to ensure digital files meet established standards.
   • Review metadata and file formats to ensure consistency, accuracy, and accessibility.
   • Address and correct errors in digitized content, such as syncing issues, audio distortions, or incomplete files.
3. Digital Reformatting and Preservation:
   • Oversee the digital reformatting of analog media, including VHS tapes and audio cassettes, into high-quality digital formats (e.g., WAV, MP3, MKV, MP4).
   • Manage file storage, organization, and preservation of digital objects to ensure long-term accessibility.
   • Perform regular backups of digital files onto external hard drives and shared storage systems.
4. Collaboration and Coordination:
   • Work closely with IT staff to troubleshoot and resolve equipment or software issues.
   • Coordinate with digitizers and catalogers to maintain accurate records of completed projects, file storage locations, and associated metadata.
   • Collaborate with the Library Manager to ensure project goals are met and provide regular updates on progress.
5. Equipment Maintenance and Troubleshooting:
   • Monitor and maintain digitization equipment, including VCRs, tape decks, audio interfaces, and video capture devices.
   • Conduct routine maintenance checks and repairs as needed to minimize downtime.
   • Troubleshoot equipment and software issues to ensure smooth operations.
6. File Management and Metadata:
   • Track digitization progress and maintain accurate records of completed projects and file storage locations.
   • Ensure proper metadata creation and management for all digitized materials.
   • Compile and provide manuals for accessing and citing digital and multimedia resources.
7. Reporting and Documentation:
   • Compile data and generate regular progress reports, highlighting completed tasks and any challenges encountered.
   • Provide documentation on file storage practices, metadata standards, and quality assurance procedures.
8. Additional Responsibilities:
   • Assist the Library Manager with other duties or tasks as requested.
   • Contribute to improving cataloging workflows and digitization processes to enhance overall project efficiency.

Interested Afghan applicants should submit their CVs along with a cover letter indicating their interest and suitability for the position.

Please indicate the position title and vacancy number (Digital Media Quality Controller ACKU-VA#2025003) in the subject line of your email.