Members of Huron University visit the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad

On 8 February, students and staff at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad met with faculty and staff from Huron University, including President and Vice Chancellor of Huron University Dr Barry Craig, to strengthen the university’s partnership with the Aga Khan Schools (AKS).  

During their visit to the Academy, Dr Craig and his team participated in a student-led tour of the 100-acre site and spent time with the Academy’s Diploma Programme (DP) 2 students. Dr Craig shared his personal journey with the students, and Dr Sara MacDonald, a political science professor at Huron, also shared examples of what teaching looks like at the university. The students also learnt about student life at Huron as international students from Moustafa Ezz, the associate vice president of recruitment and international relations at Huron and an alumnus of the university. They were also joined by Namra Amrohi, the university’s international admissions advisor for South Asia.

Before the visit concluded, the visitors met with the DP2 students who applied to Huron and generously awarded four students with the Tuition Waiver Scholarship as part of the Huron - Aga Khan Schools “Leaders with Heart” Awards Scholarship Programme, which reduces annual tuition fees from CAD $50,000 to CAD $15,000 for all four years. This scholarship is part of Huron and AKS’ Agreement of Cooperation, which annually provides one full-ride scholarship covering four years to AKS students undertaking the International Baccalaureate (IB) DP, totalling CAD $200,000, and one reduced tuition scholarships at each school across AKS offering the IB DP. Currently, seven students from AKS are studying at Huron through this partnership. 

"We are very proud of our partnership with the Aga Khan Schools,” Dr Craig said. “What was clear to me during my visit to the Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad is our shared commitment to improving the equity and accessibility of education globally. We have visions to offer an educational environment that prioritises ethical leadership and community engagement as much as academic achievement and career success. Huron's vision of developing ‘Leaders with Heart’ is completely unique among post-secondary institutions in Canada and we have seen the ways by which Aga Khan students at Huron have made transformative impacts on our campus, in the community and globally. Visiting the school and personally awarding these inspiring future leaders with one of Huron's most prestigious scholarships was a moving experience and I look forward to welcoming more Aga Khan students to the Huron community." 

The students and staff at the Academy in Hyderabad were grateful to receive the scholarships from Huron. 

“I am incredibly grateful to receive this scholarship and excited to contribute my part towards the betterment of our community,” said DP2 student Naisaa Goawala, one of the scholarship recipients. “The minute I heard that I was selected for the scholarship, I just could not help but smile from ear to ear, and I was so thrilled; I was on cloud nine! I can't wait to embark on this beautiful journey full of endless opportunities and spend the next four years of my life at Huron.” 

With this visit, AKS hopes to continue strengthening its relationship with Huron University and provide its global leaders of tomorrow with high quality higher education.