Aga Khan University

Aga Khan University
آغا خان یونیورسٹی

AKU seal
Type	Private
Established	1983
Endowment	over US $10 billion
Chancellor	Aga Khan IV
President	Firoz Rasul
Students	~2,313
Location	Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Campus	Urban Karachi (main campus) African Great Lakes (KEN, TZA, UGA) United Kingdom
Colours	White, green, white
Nickname	AKU
Affiliations	HEC, UGC, ACU
Website	aku.edu

The Aga Khan University (Urdu: جامىهء ﺁغا خان; known as "AKU") is an independent non-denominational research university located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, with a satellite campus in London.^[1] Founded in 1983, the university is named after its benefactor Aga Khan IV.^[2] It is one of the first independent universities in Pakistan.^[2]

The Aga Khan University maintains its central campus in Pakistan; teaching hospitals in countries in the African Great Lakes; and the United Kingdom. The university offers various academic programmes for undergraduate and post-graduate studies in biological and medical sciences.^[3] It is organised into five undergraduate and four post-graduate programmes on two main campuses— Pakistan and Tanzania.^[3] The university is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities of the United Kingdom.^[4]

AKU has maintained its position as the top medical university in Pakistan since 2005.^[5] In addition, the university secured its ranking among the 250 Asian universities ranking by the QS University Ranking.^[6][7] Aga Khan pioneers the concept of modern medical science research in Pakistan and overall ranked its research in the top on the global impact of its research.^[8] AKU is one of the most selective universities in Pakistan, its primary focus is on medical sciences, and it runs the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations in London.^[9]

Scientific research and clinical trials

The Aga Khan University accounts for 75% of all biomedical research in Pakistan while the remaining 30 percent is shared by all the other institutions.^[10] AKU publishes more research articles in peer-reviewed, indexed internationally recognised journals than any other university in Pakistan.^[10] Faculty promotions are dependent on publications in indexed journals while most medical students have published by the time they graduate.

Its the only university of Pakistan which provides research facilities to students at undergraduate level. Many undergraduate medical students have published up to 40-50 research papers in indexed health journals.

The university maintains a Research Office to guide and support research conducted at the University.^[11] A University Research Council also funds grants after a competitive review process facilitated by a Grants Review Committee.^[12] Particular emphasis is also placed on community related health sciences research. AKU organizes international and national research workshops and seminars. A Health Sciences Research Assembly is held annually in which faculty and students present their research.^[13]

The university is the site for NIH clinical trials.^[14]

Campuses and facilities

The Aga Khan University is an international university, operating on campuses in Central and South Asia, the African Great Lakes, Europe and the Middle East.In Pakistan, the university is an 84-acre campus including a hospital with two on-campus male and female hostels having a capacity of 300 each.It has got a sports and rehabilitation center which is one of the best in Pakistan.With Olympics standard swimming pool, cricket practice nets, tennis courts, indoor Gymnasium with wooden flooring, squash courts and gyms. It is unparalleled in quality and maintenance. It has cricket and football grounds with jogging tracks. Free WiFi is available all over the campus. Hostels are three storey buildings and two blocks. There are common rooms on each floor along with Kitchens, and Laundry rooms facilitated with washing machines and dryers. Students have air conditioners in their rooms. Meals are served at main cafeteria which is open 24/7 with discounts for students and staff. Saturdays and Sundays are off for year 1 and 2 students while seniors have different schedules.

Existing campuses and international programmes include:

• Faculty of Health Sciences located on an 84-acre (340,000 m²) campus in the heart of Karachi, Pakistan, built in the 1980s^[15]
• Aga Khan University Health Sciences campus in Nairobi, Kenya^[16]
• A USD 500 million campus for the university's Faculty of Arts and Sciences is under development in Karachi Pakistan. An area of 1,100 acres (4.5 km²) has been acquired just outside Karachi, and Payette Associates are the project architects.
• Institute for Educational Development in the Karimabad area of Karachi, Pakistan and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations in London, United Kingdom;
• A USD 450 million campus planned for Arusha, in north-eastern Tanzania to be built in the next 15 years.^[17]
• Advanced Nursing Studies (ANS) Programmes at campuses in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda;
• Programmes for capacity development for teachers and nurses in Afghanistan, Egypt and Syria;

Impact of AKU on society

• AKU played a major role in the relief efforts after the 2005 Pakistan earthquake ^[18]

Role of religion in the University

Seal

The seal (logo) of the Aga Khan University is a visual representation of the principles which underlie the founding of the university.^[19] The circular form of the seal has its roots in the rosettes of early Islamic periods. It also symbolizes the world and reflects the internationality of the Aga Khan University. At the centre of the Seal is a star or sun representing light – a universal symbol of the enlightenment that education provides. The light is also symbolic of Nur (Divine light). The star incorporates 49 points to commemorate the university's founding by Prince Karim Aga Khan, the Forty-Ninth Imam of the Ismaili Muslims.

The outer ring circumscribes a Quranic Ayat (3:103) rendered in classic thuluth script and reads as follows:

وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتََ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ اِذْ كُنْتُمْ اعْدَاءً فَالَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَاصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ اِخْوَنًا وَكُنْتُمْ عَلَى شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِنْ النَّارِ فَانْقَذَكُمْ مِنْهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءايَتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

The English translation reads:

And hold fast,
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.

Notable alumni, professors and staff

Professors and staff

• Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, former foreign minister of Pakistan
• Abdul Gaffar Billoo, pediatric endocrinologist, professor clinical pediatrics at the Aga Khan University (AKU)^[20]

Notable alumni

• Adil Haider, Trauma Surgeon and Outcomes research Scientist in the United States.^[21]
• Naeem Rahim, Nephrologist^[22] and founder of Idaho based JRM foundation For humanity^[23]
• Fahim Rahim, M.D - Nephrologist , Recipient of Ellis Island Medals of Honor, in 2011.^[24]

Aga Khan University in popular culture

In international news

• BBC News: AKU, Leading the Y2K campaign^[25]
• BBC News: the remains of a Persian Princess found in Pakistan were X-rayed at AKU. Dr. Jeffrey Rees of AKU was interviewed by the BBC,^[26] however, CAT scans done at AKU confirmed the mummy to be forged.

See also

• Aga Khan University Hospital
• Aga Khan Development Network

References

1. "Address of AKU". AKU Press. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
2. AKU University Press. "University Charter". AKU University Press. AKU University Press. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
3. "Academics in AKU". Academics in AKU. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
4. Association of Commonwealth Universities. "Members of Association of Commonwealth Universities". Association of Commonwealth Universities. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
5. Higher Education Commission. "HEC ranking". Govt. of Pakistan. HEC press ranking. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
6. Staff (30 May 2013). "Six Pakistani universities among top Asian universities and was at 117th spot : QS Ranking-2012". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
7. Imam, Myra (June 17, 2013). "Three Pakistani universities among top 200 in the world". The News Internationale, Islamabad Bureau. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
8. Khalid Khattak (April 8, 2007). "AKU researches have most impact". Daily Times. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
9. "HEC ranking 2016". www.aku.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
10. "Need stressed to promote research". Retrieved 2007-03-29.
11. "AKU Research Office". Retrieved 2007-04-08.
12. "AKU Grants Review Committee". Retrieved 2007-04-08.
13. "Health Sciences Research Assembly 2006". The Aga Khan University Newsletter 7 (2). September 2006. p. 4. Archived from the original on 1 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
14. "NIH trials at the Aga Khan University". Retrieved 2006-12-21.
15. "HARVARD TO AID IN DEVELOPING PAKISTANI TEACHING HOSPITAL". The New York Times. 1981-12-21. Retrieved 1981-12-21. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
16. "Aga Khan University Announces the Faculty of Health Sciences in East Africa". Retrieved 2007-03-19.
17. "Aga Khan Announces the East African Community's First Regional University to be based in Arusha". Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
18. "News on AKU Efforts for the Earthquake Relief Operations". Retrieved 2006-12-02.
19. "The Seal - AKU Convocation 2006". Archived from the original on 2007-02-06. Retrieved 2006-12-02.
20. Aga Khan University Profile
21. CSPH Names Adil Haider, MD, MPH as New Director
22. "Dr. Naeem Rahim, MD". Health Grades. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
23. "Rahim Farhim and JRM Foundation reach out". Idaho State Journal. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
24. "Liberty Dialysis Physicians Fahim Rahim and Naeem Rahim to Receive Ellis Island National Medals of Honor for Their Contribution to Achievements in Dialysis and Kidney Care". Business Wire. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
25. "AKU leading the Y2K campaign". BBC News. 1999-08-24. Retrieved 1999-09-20. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
26. "The Mystery of the Persian Mummy". Retrieved 2001-09-20.

External links

• Aga Khan University (website)
• Aga Khan University Alumni Association (website)
• Video: AKU President Firoz Rasul speaks on next 25 years of the Aga Khan University

Coordinates: 24°53′34″N 67°04′29″E / 24.8928°N 67.0747°E