The
Aga Khan University is a coeducational
researchResearch can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
universityA university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
spread over three continents. It was granted its
charterA charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
in 1983 as Pakistan's first private, autonomous university. AKU was founded by
His Highness the Aga KhanPrince Karim, Aga Khan IV, NPk, NI, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH, GCM is the 49th and current Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. He has held this position under the title of Aga Khan since July 11, 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan...
, and is part of the
Aga Khan Development NetworkThe Aga Khan Development Network is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies that seek to empower communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities, in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East...
. AKU is an international University with 11 teaching sites spread over 8 countries -
AfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
,
KenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
,
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
,
TanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
,
UgandaUganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
,
SyriaSyria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
,
EgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Its principal campus is located in the metropolitan city of Karachi, Pakistan with another major teaching hospital in
KenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. A 450-million dollar campus is also planned for
ArushaArusha is a city in northern Tanzania. It is the capital of the Arusha Region, which claims a population of 1,288,088, including 281,608 for the Arusha District . Arusha is surrounded by some of Africa's most famous landscapes and national parks...
, in north-eastern
TanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
to be built in the next 15 years.
According to the
Higher Education CommissionThe Higher Education Commission , formerly the University Grant Commission, is the primary regulator of higher education in Pakistan. It also facilitated the development of higher educational system in Pakistan. Its main purpose was to upgrade universities in Pakistan to be centres of education,...
(HEC) ranking of Universities in Pakistan, The Aga Khan University ranked first in Health Sciences, with a cumulative rank score higher than any other university in Pakistan. The HEC also ranked the University number one overall in
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
based on the global impact of its research.
AKU's objective is to promote human welfare by disseminating knowledge and providing instruction, training, research and service in the health sciences, education, liberal arts, the sciences and such other branches of learning as the University may determine.
Academic Profile
AKU is a non-denominational institution open to all, irrespective of religion, ethnicity, gender or national origin. Student enrollment is non-discriminatory and among the most competitive in Pakistan. AKU alumni have gone on to assume faculty positions at several prestigious universities in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Forty-four percent of the University's faculty are women, many in senior posts. Fifty percent of students in the Medical College are also women. The University's admissions policy is needs-blind and based on merit. Over 33 percent of the students receive financial aid. AKU attracts students from all over Pakistan and several other countries, with diverse backgrounds, cultures and religions on one campus, fostering a sense of camaraderie, and friendship.
In its first two decades, AKU's major development focus was in the fields of health and education. In the decade ahead, the University plans to move beyond professional education towards becoming a comprehensive university, with the establishment of a Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The new Faculty will offer postgraduate and professional training, with the objective of developing leaders for the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
In addition, the University is in the process of planning new academic and research units. These include an Institute of Economic Growth and Society and an Institute of Planning and Management of Human Settlements. Another programme under consideration is an Institute of Human Development, which would be dedicated to advancing the understanding of the effects and conditions of
early childhoodEarly childhood education is the formal teaching and care of young children by people other than their family or in settings outside of the home. 'Early childhood' is usually defined as before the age of normal schooling - five years in most nations, though the U.S...
on subsequent well-being and performance, and the application of this understanding to the development of interventions and evaluation to assess their potential efficacy and applicability.
Scientific Research and Clinical Trials
The Aga Khan University accounts for 70% of all biomedical research in
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
while the remaining 30 per cent is shared by all the other institutions. AKU emphasizes the importance of scientific
researchResearch can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
and maintains an advanced and organized infrastructure to support this endeavour. AKU publishes more research articles in peer-reviewed, indexed internationally recognised journals than any other university in Pakistan. Scientific research is an integral part of the academic life at the University; faculty promotions are dependent on publications in indexed journals while most medical students have published by the time they graduate.
The University maintains a separate Research Office to guide and support research conducted at the University. A University Research Council also funds grants after a competitive review process facilitated by a Grants Review Committee. Particular emphasis is also placed on community related health sciences research. AKU also organizes several International and National research workshops and seminars. A Health Sciences Research Assembly is also held annually in which faculty and students present their research.
Recent discoveries made at AKU have made headlines in international and local news outlets.
The University is also the site for several
NIHThe National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
clinical trialClinical trials are a set of procedures in medical research and drug development that are conducted to allow safety and efficacy data to be collected for health interventions...
s.
Campuses and Facilities
The Aga Khan University is an international university, currently operating on campuses in
CentralCentral Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
and
South AsiaSouth Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
,
East AfricaEast Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
,
EuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the
Middle EastThe Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Existing campuses and international programmes include:
- Faculty of Health Sciences located on a stunningly gorgeous 84 acres (339,936.2 m²) campus in the heart of Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, built with an estimated cost of 450 plus million US $ in the 1980s
- Aga Khan University Health Sciences campus in Nairobi, Kenya
- A USD 500 million campus for the University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences is currently under development in Karachi Pakistan. An area of 1100 acres (4.5 km²) has been acquired just outside Karachi, and Payette Associates are the project architects. Student enrollment is planned for 2011
- Institute for Educational Development in the Karimabad
Karimabad is one of the neighbourhoods of Gulberg Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.Karimabad is named after, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV. It is situated at south of Gulberg Town bordering Liaquatabad, Gharibabad and Federal B. Area. The population of this neighborhood is predominantly Ismailis.People...
area of KarachiKarachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations in London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
;
- A USD 450 million campus planned for Arusha
Arusha is a city in northern Tanzania. It is the capital of the Arusha Region, which claims a population of 1,288,088, including 281,608 for the Arusha District . Arusha is surrounded by some of Africa's most famous landscapes and national parks...
, in north-eastern Tanzania to be built in the next 15 years.
- Advanced Nursing Studies (ANS) Programmes at campuses in Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, TanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and UgandaUganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
;
- Programmes for capacity development for teachers and nurses in Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, EgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and SyriaSyria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
;
Sports and Rehabilitation Centre
The Sports and Rehabilitation Centre is built in a landscaped setting at the AKU Health Sciences campus. The Centre offers facilities of international standard for various indoor, outdoor and water sports. Its Olympic-sized swimming pool is unique in Pakistan. Other features include a sports ground with three
cricketCricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
pitches and a 480-metre jogging track, four tennis courts, a patients' rehabilitation centre, a children's play area, and a well-equipped
gymThe word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium.
Libraries
On May 30, 2011, AKU announced launch of new integrated library system, Symphony, a product of world renowned ILS company SirsiDynix. The AKU libraries’ online public access catalogue (OPAC) called
SAFARI (
Search,
Access,
Find,
And,
Retrieve
Information). It is also reachable through the library pages at AKU internet and intranet websites.
AKU has several well-equipped libraries on its campuses in three continents. Brief is as under:
- The Faculty of Health Sciences Library at Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
supports educational, researchResearch can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
and clinical activities and programmes of Aga Khan University. This library has 20,000 books in print and online access to 50,000 e-books. The library also houses 40,000 bound volumes of scholarly journals and has online access to 12,000 scientific journals available from 25 different online resources that includes ScienceDirectScienceDirect is one of the largest online collections of published scientific research in the world. It is operated by the publisher Elsevier and contains nearly 10 million articles from over 2,500 journals and over 6,000 e-books, reference works, book series and handbooks issued by Elsevier...
, MDConsult, PubMedPubMed is a free database accessing primarily the MEDLINE database of references and abstracts on life sciences and biomedical topics. The United States National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health maintains the database as part of the Entrez information retrieval system...
, UptodateUpToDate is an evidence based, peer reviewed medical information resource published by a medical company called UpToDate, Inc. It is available both via the Internet and offline on personal computers or a PDA. An update is published every four months....
, MosbyMosby may refer to:Places:* Mosby, Missouri* Mosby, Montana* Mosby, Norway* Mosby Tavern, a 1740 historical building in Powhatan County, Virginia, also known as "Littleberry Mosby House" or "Old Cumberland Courthouse"People :* John S...
, Springerlink, McGraw-Hill's Access Science, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid and many others. The library is part of WHOWho may refer to:* Who , an English-language pronoun* who , a Unix command* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism- Art and entertainment :* Who? , a 1958 novel by Algis Budrys...
EMRO libraries network and actively involved in sharing material with partner libraries.
- The library at Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
provides resources to support the Institute's academic and researchResearch can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
work. The library provides a range of resources in print and electronic mediums to support teaching, learning and researchResearch can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
activities of AKU-IED. Over 24,000 books, 2,000 reports, and 66 subscribed journals are available for academic or research pursuits. The electronic collection includes audio and video cassettes, educational CDs, electronic journals and databases.
- AKU-IED's Professional Development Centre Northern Areas (PDCN) Library at Gilgit
Gilgit is a city in northern PakistanGilgit may refer to other terms related with the area of the city:* Gilgit River* Gilgit Valley* Gilgit District* Gilgit Agency * Gilgit Airport...
, PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
is the first educational automated library of northern areas of Pakistan that is providing excellent services and facilities to fulfill the information needs of its clients. The library also provides mobile library service to Whole School Improvement Programmes (WSIP) schools for teachers and students. The library has 18,000 books, selective thesis and subscribed to several journals with full-text access.
- AKU-IED's Professional Development Centre Chitral
Chitral or Chetrar , translated as field in the native language Khowar, is the capital of the Chitral District, situated on the western bank of the Kunar River , in Pakistan. The town is at the foot of Tirich Mir, the highest peak of the Hindu Kush, high...
(PDCC) library providing high quality services to course participants, faculty, and educational researchers. PDCC library has also introduced mobile library service in the area, that provides various type of reading materials to various schools (particularly schools under the projects of SIMS and ECED). The purpose of this service is to facilitate and enhance students’ learning capabilities and promote reading habits.
- Aga Khan University - Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (AKU-ISMC) library at London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
aims to meet the teaching needs of the Institute's academic programmes and to build a significant and distinctive scholarly researchResearch can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
collection on Muslim cultures and societies. Emphasis is placed on the published contributions of contemporary scholars in areas and languages of interest to the Institute. The research collection of the library comprises numerous primary and secondary texts and serials of scholarly value, in a range of languages. It generally avoids duplicating the significant holdings of neighbouring libraries such as School of Oriental and African StudiesThe School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
(SOAS) and the British LibraryThe British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
. Currently this library has over 8,000 titles and around 100 periodicals.
- The Faculty of Health Sciences Library at Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, KenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
is committed to supporting the functions of the University in realising quality education and health care. The library is proud to have rich collection in the health sciences area and will endeavour to make this a better collection and a point of reference for other institutions offering similar courses in Kenya. As a result of limitations in collection development, emphasis is put in the exploitation of e-resources. Through the local consortium, the library benefits from the PERI online resources and the (WHOWho may refer to:* Who , an English-language pronoun* who , a Unix command* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism- Art and entertainment :* Who? , a 1958 novel by Algis Budrys...
) HINARIHINARI is the Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative. It was set up by the World Health Organization and major publishers to enable developing countries to access collections of biomedical and health literature. There are over 7000 journal titles available to health institutions in 109...
database. The library also subscribes to e-databases like UptodateUpToDate is an evidence based, peer reviewed medical information resource published by a medical company called UpToDate, Inc. It is available both via the Internet and offline on personal computers or a PDA. An update is published every four months....
, Cochrane LibraryThe Cochrane Library is a collection of databases in medicine and other healthcare specialties provided by the Cochrane Collaboration and other organisations. At its core is the collection of Cochrane Reviews, a database of systematic reviews and meta-analyses which summarize and interpret the...
, Emeraldinsight and has access to others like MEDLINEMEDLINE is a bibliographic database of life sciences and biomedical information. It includes bibliographic information for articles from academic journals covering medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and health care...
.
- The Faculty of Health Sciences Library at Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
, TanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
has a book collection of over 2,235 volumes. In addition to this the library’s educational resources include audio and video DVDs, CDs and VCDs with a fully equipped multimedia centre. The library also has dissertations, educational reports, journal articles. The library is also accessing various online journals through PERI programme.
- The Institute for Educational Development Library at Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
, TanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
has a book collection of over 3,000 volumes. It also has a small collection of fiction. Educational Resources in DVD, CD, VCD, video and audio formats complete with a multimedia centre form part of the collection. Apart from print resources, the library has access to over 7,000 online journals.
- The Faculty of Health Sciences Library at Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, UgandaUganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
has an important role as a major partner in teaching, learning and researchResearch can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
activities of the Nursing programmes. The library complies with the rules and regulations for university libraries issued by the National Council for Higher Education of Uganda (UNCHE). This library is part of PERI programme and is accessing various online journals.
Student Life
Students come from all over
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and several other countries in the world, including the US, UK,
CanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the
Middle EastThe Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
after a highly rigorous admission process that includes a competitive entrance exam and interviews. AKU prides itself on the diversity of its student body. Most choose to live in the
hostelHostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available...
s on the gorgeous Stadium Road campus although a fair number of students are locally from
KarachiKarachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. Male and female students have separate
hostelHostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available...
s located on campus.
Medical College
Established in 1983, the Aga Khan University Medical College offers various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Its curricular objectives include clinical competence both in community settings and hospitals, as well as the assessment of health and prevention of disease in communities through the primary health care programmes that AKU monitors in a number of urban squatter settlements.
The College has agreements with leading academic institutions, including
Harvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
,
McGillMohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
and
McMasterMcMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
Universities in
CanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Karolinska Institute in
SwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, which have contributed to faculty and curriculum development. More recent affiliations have been established with the
Hospital for Sick ChildrenThe Hospital for Sick Children – is a major paediatric centre for the Greater Toronto Area, serving patients up to age 18. Located on University Avenue in Downtown Toronto, SickKids is part of the city’s Discovery District, a critical mass of scientists and entrepreneurs who are focused on...
in
TorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, the
University of British ColumbiaThe University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
in
VancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada and
University of Alabama at BirminghamThe University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
, USA. These partnerships enable higher training and research, specifically in areas where such opportunities are not available in Pakistan.
Programme offerings include:
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS
MBBS was a popular BBS system in the Nordic countries during the mid-1990s. It was created by a team of Oslo-based enthusiasts, led by Mike Robertson. As many BBS systems of that era, it was only available for the DOS platform. Since one process could only handle one node, multitaskers such as...
) degree (A five-year undergraduate programme equivalent to US MDDoctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
)
- Master
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
of Science in Clinical ResearchClinical research is a branch of medical science that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use...
conjoint with AKU-PGME residency/fellowship in clinical disciplines
- Master
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
of Science in EpidemiologyEpidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
& BiostatisticsBiostatistics is the application of statistics to a wide range of topics in biology...
- Master
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
of Science in Health Policy & Management
- Master
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
of BioethicsBioethics is the study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, and philosophy....
- PhD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Health Sciences
- Designed to train professionals as a leader in their respective fields of study.
- Extensive Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) programme comprised currently of an Internship, 25 Residency
Residency is a stage of graduate medical training. A resident physician or resident is a person who has received a medical degree , Podiatric degree , Dental Degree and who practices...
and 16 FellowshipA fellowship is the period of medical training in the United States and Canada that a physician may undertake after completing a specialty training program . During this time , the physician is known as a fellow...
programmes in clinical disciplines.
School of Nursing
The Aga Khan University School of Nursing (AKU-SON) was established in 1980, becoming the first academic component of AKU and its Faculty of Health Sciences. Since its inception, the AKU-SON has played a leading role in establishing an internationally acceptable model for nursing education and practice in Pakistan. The
Canadian International Development AgencyThe Canadian International Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Canadian government. CIDA administers foreign aid programs in developing countries, and operates in partnership with other Canadian organizations in the public and private sectors as well as other international organizations...
(CIDA) and
McMaster UniversityMcMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
have provided valuable assistance to AKU-SON.
Programme offerings include:
- A four-year Bachelor
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
of Science in Nursing BScN
- A two-year Post-RN BScN
- A Master
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
of Science in Nursing MScN
The University's first academic initiative outside Pakistan, the Advanced Nursing Studies (ANS) Programme, began in
UgandaUganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
in 2000 and was followed by programmes in
KenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and
TanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. The ANS Programme is designed to improve the quality of patient care by encouraging practising nurses to enhance their expertise through the pursuit of higher education.
In 2000, AKU-SON received its Charter in the
Sigma Theta Tau InternationalThe Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International exists to improve the health of people by increasing the scientific base of nursing research...
(STTI). STTI is an international honour society of nursing, with over a quarter million members representing more than 90 countries through its chapters in colleges and universities in
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
,
CanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
,
ChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
,
South KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
,
TaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Affiliated teaching hospitals
- Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi
- Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi
The Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi is part of the Aga Khan Health Services . Established in 1958, the Hospital is a 254-bed long-term care facility offering quality general medical services, specialist clinics and high-tech diagnostic services....
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Based on the strategic vision outlined in the Aga Khan University Chancellor's Commission Report of 1994 the University is in the process of creating a Faculty of Arts and Sciences (AKU-FAS). The Faculty will be located on a new campus just outside Karachi, Pakistan and by 2012 is expected to have up to 1,600 students. It will offer a
liberal artsThe term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
education with the aims of developing skills in
critical thinkingCritical thinking is the process or method of thinking that questions assumptions. It is a way of deciding whether a claim is true, false, or sometimes true and sometimes false, or partly true and partly false. The origins of critical thinking can be traced in Western thought to the Socratic...
and analysis, raising proficiency in verbal and written communication, enhancing human resource development in the region, and advancing understanding in particular academic disciplines.
The Faculty's academic prospectus has been developed by a planning group chaired by Dr Robert Edwards, an AKU Trustee and former President of
Bowdoin CollegeBowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
, and was approved by the University's Board of Trustees in December 2002. In addition to undergraduate programmes, the Faculty plans to develop a limited number of graduate programmes in its areas of strength, and expects to contribute to widening the curriculum for students in the Medical College and the School of Nursing.
Institute for Educational Development
The Aga Khan University
Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) was established in 1993. Its facilities are located in a Professional Development Centre (PDC) which functions as a training and support facility for professional teachers and education managers.
AKU-IED focuses on the development of educational systems in the developing world. Its major focus is on improving the performance of teachers and other stakeholders (education managers belonging to public and private sectors) through professional development, ultimately leading to school improvement. It also engages in outreach activities through a network of Professional Development Centres in Pakistan,
Central AsiaCentral Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
and
East AfricaEast Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
.
The Institute offers a series of professional development programmes for teachers and other educators, as well as graduate programmes.
Professional programmes:
- A two-month Certificate in Education: Curriculum Areas
- A ten-week Certificate in Education: Educational Leadership and Management
- A one-year field-based Advanced Diploma in Education: Curriculum Areas
- A one-year Advanced Diploma in Education: Educational Leadership and Management
Graduate programmes:
- Master
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
of Education programme
- Focused on teacher education
Teacher education refers to the policies and procedures designed to equip prospective teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and skills they require to perform their tasks effectively in the classroom, school and wider community....
. The aim of the programme is to produce graduates who are exemplary teachers and effective teacher educators.
- PhD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Education programme
- A four-year, full-time programme that aims to develop high quality educational researchers who will be able to undertake a range of responsibilities and leadership roles in research and development.
The Institute offers its programmes in cooperation with schools and a number of partner institutions including the
Aga Khan Education ServicesAga Khan Education Services is one of four agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network supporting activities in the field of education...
, non-governmental organizations, community-based organisations, and some public educational institutes. It has developed these programmes with assistance from its partners - the
University of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and the
University of OxfordThe University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
Examination Board
The Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB) offers high quality examinations in English and Urdu, conforming with international standards for examinations. It was established in response to appeals made to University in 1995 by a group of schools in Karachi seeking an alternate examination board that encouraged the development of reasoning and critical skills rather than rote learning in its examinations. Following consultations with educationists, policy makers and successive government administrations, the University's Board of Trustees approved the proposal in 2000. The AKU-EB was granted recognition by the Government of Pakistan through an Ordinance passed in November 2002. Partial funding for the establishment of the AKU-EB came from USAID, sparking opposition by conservative religious parties in Pakistan.
Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations
In 2002, the University established the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (AKU-ISMC) in the United Kingdom. The Institute aims to strengthen research and teaching about the heritages of Muslim societies as they have evolved over time, and to examine the challenges these societies face in today’s globalised world. It also seeks to create opportunities for interaction among academics, traditionally trained scholars and other professionals in an effort to promote dialogue and build bridges.
Location
The Institute is situated at 210
Euston RoadEuston Road is an important thoroughfare in central London, England, and forms part of the A501. It is part of the New Road from Paddington to Islington, and was opened as part of the New Road in 1756...
, London, NW1 2DA, United Kingdom.
MA in Muslim Cultures
The two-year MA in Muslim Cultures aims to introduce a process of learning about Muslim societies and cultures that is based on an inter-disciplinary approach in the social sciences and the humanities. The Programme offers the opportunity to reconsider the understanding of Muslim cultures, through methods of enquiry and analysis (including fieldwork), and by increasing awareness of the complex social and cultural processes faced by Muslim societies in the contemporary world.
The courses aim to generate diverse perspectives that reflect the mosaic of Muslim cultures across the world, their history, and the way they have been shaped through ongoing dialogue with other world cultures. It seeks to enable critical reflection about the emergence of Islam, the rich diversity of historical sources and traditions, and the way in which the past continues to shape the present.
Building upon this foundation, the MA course explores a wide range of topics relating to Muslim societies, such as governance, law, ethics, gender, poverty, migration, development, modernity, globalisation and artistic expression. Students will learn to engage with these topics from a number of intellectual and theoretical perspectives, and will be encouraged to develop their own capacity for critical thinking while having the opportunity to respectfully engage with the view of others.
Situated in the vibrant centre of London, the AKU-ISMC offers a unique and stimulating environment with a diverse student body. Students are taught by an international faculty composed of prominent scholars committed to supporting the development of their academic potential. The MA Programme aims to equip students with new knowledge and the necessary intellectual, analytical and leadership skills to be able to enable them to make a positive contribution to society.
The Institute has decided to reshape the curriculum of its MA in Muslim Cultures. This has led to the deferral of admission to the programme until Fall 2010.
Short Courses
Called a ‘Gateway to Big Ideas’ short courses at ISMC are springboard for learning about Muslim cultures. Academically sound and pedagogically stimulating, these courses are an excellent way to learn about the past and present of a major world civilisation. The primary rationale that guides and informs the short courses is the recognition that despite being rooted in a message accepted as sacred or divine by Muslims generally, the actual unfolding of the history of Muslims was and remains a cultural phenomenon. As Muslim cultures are integral parts of human history they must be studied as such, using the tools of the social sciences and humanities.
The study of Muslim cultures and civilisations is increasing around the world. AKU-ISMC, through its Professional Programmes Unit, is rapidly expanding its range of short courses covering a large number of topics. Weekend, evening and intensive summer courses are available. In the past our courses have been attended by professionals (i.e. lawyers, teachers, IT specialists, development practitioners etc.), diplomats, full-time students and others with a keen interest to enhance their understanding in this subject area.
The Unit also develops and provides customised courses, for professionals such as members of the diplomatic corps, lawyers and educators.
Other Activities
Muslim Civilisations Abstracts Project
The Muslim Civilisations Abstracts (MCA) is an innovative project that records and abstracts a large body of published work relating to various aspects of Muslim civilisations.
The abstracts are written in any number of the following eight languages (Arabic, English, French, Indonesian/Malay, Persian, Russian, Turkish and Urdu). These languages are selected on the basis of their association with the study of Muslim cultures. Many are under-represented in existing bibliographies and surveys of academic literature, and remain unfamiliar to those outside of their immediate contexts. The purpose of the MCA thus is to widen both knowledge of and access to literature produced in the Muslim world as well as countries with substantial Muslim communities.
To help achieve this, it seeks to make available online, abstracts and reviews in multiple languages; to initiate full-length translation projects of certain key works of scholarship; and to create an online resource and reference tool for scholars, students and the public at large.
Publications
The Institute’s publications fulfil an important vacuum in terms of representative scholarship and critical thinking about Muslim societies and are one of the Institute’s most effective vehicles for disseminating perspectives about Muslim societies that differ from those prevailing in larger academic and mainstream media discussions.
On 15 October 2009, the Institute launch of its new academic publications programme at the British Library, London. AKU-ISMC academic publications consist of 3 series published in partnership with Edinburgh University press:
1. Muslims Civilisations Abstracts This series heralds an original reference catalogue of annotated bibliographies and supplementary abstracts of scholarship published during the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries concerning the Muslim world.
2. Exploring Muslim Contexts This series brings together the scholarship of leading specialists from various fields into a series of contemporary debates that seek to address salient and urgent issues faced by contemporary Muslim societies from a wide range of theoretical and practical perspectives.
3. In Translation: Modern Muslim Thinkers This series aims to identify and translate pioneering works which have engendered important debates within their own indigenous settings, thereby introducing them into the domain of the larger discussion about Muslim civilisations taking place on the world stage.
Impact of AKU on Society
Since its inception, AKU has had a significant impact on the Pakistani society.
- AKU has brought international-quality medical education and health-sciences education to Pakistan.
- AKU's role in nursing education in Pakistan is unparalleled removing the stigma associated with a nursing profession and instead making it a prestigious and competitive career.The nursing program has helped give women a noble profession, a dignified profession, and given them social standing in a community where women are not generally held in high standing.
- AKU holds regular clinics and teaching sessions at the katchi abadis or slums of Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
- AKU played a major role in the relief efforts after the 2005 Pakistan earthquake
AKU flood relief cordination centre established medical camps in flood affected areas devastated by fatal flood ever came in Pakistan in fourth quarter of 2010. Besides medcial facilities the university also collected data of flood affectees to provide monthly food items by cordinating with donators.
Role of religion in the University
Although AKU was established by the
ImamAn imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
of the
Ismaili' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
Muslims, the University is open to people of all religions and does not discriminate on the basis of religion. The campus has students, faculty and staff of both genders and a variety of religious backgrounds, including Muslims, Christians,
JewsThe Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
, Hindus, Buddhists, Parsis, Sikhs, Agnostics, Humanists, Satanists and atheists. The fact that the number of Ismailis among the student and faculty body is low, is a testament to the merit-based admissions and hiring process at the university. AKU is among the few institutions in Pakistan where open and contentious academic debate on religion is possible.
Seal
The Seal (Logo) of the Aga Khan University is a visual representation of the principles which underlie the founding of the University. The circular form of the Seal has its visual roots in the rosettes of early Islamic periods. It also symbolizes the
worldWorld is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
and reflects the
international----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
ity of the Aga Khan University. At the centre of the Seal is a star or
sunA representation of the sun is used as a heraldic charge. The most usual form, often called sun in splendour or in his glory, consists of a round disc with the features of a human face, surrounded by twelve or sixteen rays, alternating wavy and straight.It is a common charge in the heraldry of...
representing
lightLight or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light has wavelength in a range from about 380 nanometres to about 740 nm, with a frequency range of about 405 THz to 790 THz...
- a universal symbol of the enlightenment that
educationEducation in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
provides. The light is also symbolic of
Nur- Places :* Nur, Iran* Nur, Poland* Nur County, in Iran* Nur Mountains "Mountains of Holy Light", a mountain range in Turkey* NUR Reactor, a research reactor in Algiers* Nur University * National University of Rwanda* National Union of Railwaymen...
(Divine light). The star incorporates 49 points to commemorate the University's founding by
Prince Karim Aga KhanPrince Karim, Aga Khan IV, NPk, NI, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH, GCM is the 49th and current Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. He has held this position under the title of Aga Khan since July 11, 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan...
, the Forty-Ninth Imam of the
Ismaili Muslims' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
.
The outer ring circumscribes a Quranic Ayat (3:103) rendered in classic
thuluth scriptThuluth is a script variety of Islamic calligraphy invented by the Persian Ibn Muqlah Shirazi, which made its first appearance in the 11th century CE . The straight angular forms of Kufic were replaced in the new script by curved and oblique lines. In Thuluth, one-third of each letter slopes, from...
and reads as follows:
The
EnglishEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
translation reads:
All together, by the rope
Which God (stretches out for you),
And be not divided among yourselves,
And remember with gratitude
God's favour on you:
For ye were enemies
And He joined your hearts
In love, so that by His grace
Ye became brethren
And ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire,
And He saved you from it.
Thus doth God make His Signs clear to you
That ye may be guided.