What we do and our objectives
The Aga Khan University was founded in Pakistan in 1983 and expanded to East Africa in 2000 followed by the United Kingdom and Afghanistan. Today, the University has more than 2,300 students across campuses in six countries, including Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
At AKU, we go where the need is greatest educating leaders in developing societies and partnering with communities facing extraordinary challenges.
Our faculties of health sciences in Nairobi and Karachi educate midwives, nurses, doctors and specialists who deliver world-class, life-saving care to the people who need it most.
In Nairobi, the East African Institute looks beyond geographic and disciplinary boundaries in addressing issues such as regional integration, biodiversity and the creative economy. The Institute of Human Development focusses on developing creating large-scale, cost-effective early childhood interventions tailored to developing-world contexts.
The University’s Institute of Educational Development – in Karachi and Dar es Salaam – train educators in an effort to improve school performance in challenging environments, while the Examination Board in Karachi is transforming teaching and learning at middle and secondary schools in Pakistan.
The Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations is engaged in highlighting the historical and contemporary aspects of Muslim societies.
The Aga Khan University Hospitals are the only hospitals in Pakistan and East Africa accredited by the US-based Joint Commission International and receive 1.75 million patient visits annually.
Our culture
Our philosophy guarantees all our employees a dynamic learning and knowledge sharing environment. We accept responsibility for our attitudes, actions and results and take pride in being the best at what we do. We celebrate our diversity of cultures, religions, ethnic backgrounds and we interact and communicate with empathy, care and compassion.
Our employer value proposition
The University is dedicated to the growth of its employees and supports an entrepreneurial spirit challenging our employees to exceed measurable standards. At AKU everyone is treated with fairness and the need for a work life balance is respected.
Our Ambitions
At a time when the challenges the developing world faces refuse to be contained we must assemble networks of thinkers who can address issues in all their complexity and interconnectedness.
Our Faculties of Arts and Sciences in Karachi and Arusha, Tanzania, will provide liberal arts education with intellectual and social diversity at its heart. Our Graduate Professional Schools in East Africa and Pakistan will provide professional education marked by a common emphasis on ethics and leadership. These will offer master’s degrees in Leadership and Management; Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism; Architecture and Human Settlements; Government, Public Policy and Civil Society; Economic Growth and Development; and Law. The first of these: the Graduate School of Media and Communications in Nairobi, is already functional.