Students from across the Academies network participate in inaugural Climate and Environment Conference
Educational Philosophy
Education is a creative, joyful process that engenders hope and curiosity. Through a diverse and rigorous curriculum, the Aga Khan Academies strive for the development of the whole person. Academies students will be able to contribute to and positively influence their communities. Through academic, athletic and artistic pursuits, they become lifelong learners and leaders.
Education is most relevant and inspiring when it connects young people to the world around them. By encouraging students to think flexibly and to connect their learning to real issues, the Academies build curiosity, compassion and a desire to make a difference.
The programmes of the International Baccalaureate curriculum have therefore been adapted to the specific environment of each Academy, with students developing a deep grounding in their local context alongside learning about relevant international issues and ideas.
An Academies education engenders a pluralistic and ethical approach to life and leadership.
Diverse educational experiences mean that students develop the willingness to embrace difference, and to learn from it. From the very youngest years, everyone works together to develop a sense of civic responsibility and service.
All students are encouraged to use their understanding and skills to take meaningful and sustainable action that makes a real difference to the lives of others.
"...above all, it is my hope that these schools will stimulate creativity, intellectual curiosity and honest inquiry so that their students can adapt and thrive in a world of rapid change; can make informed judgements on life’s daily challenges, and place those judgements in an ethical framework."
Shad Bherani: Making the connection between classroom and career
In his final year of the Diploma Programme at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, Shad Bherani is ambitious, curious, and driven to become an engineer – or, as he describes himself, “simply one of 7.6 billion people who is passionate to pursue his career.”
Sticking to his motto that “opportunity only comes once,” Shad opted to use his summer vacation last year to bridge the gap between his classwork in the sciences and his calling in mechanical engineering. “I just thought not to sit back at home – to do something for me, for my career,” he says. And so, at home in Karachi, he inquired at the Aga Khan University (AKU) if they might consider taking him, a keen and talented International Baccalaureate (IB) student, as a summer intern through the Academies internship programme.
They fortunately agreed – and the placement, Shad’s first professional role, turned out to be a thrilling and fulfilling hands-on learning experience. He spent several weeks working closely with engineers and technicians in the AKU Hospital’s Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing department. With their supervision and support, Shad learned how to operate the Building Management System, which runs the air conditioning across campus, including filtering air and controlling the temperature of every air conditioning unit. He also came to understand the ins and outs of the campus’s primary, secondary, and tertiary or emergency power sources, which are essential for critical wards in the hospital.
By helping to repair various machines and air conditioning units, assisting with reports and handling secondary power unit operations, Shad applied the theories he had learned in his math, physics and chemistry classes at the Academy to the complex machinery and inner workings of the hospital and university campus.
For Shad, that was the most memorable outcome of his internship: the reward of having his classwork and textbooks come to life in real-world applications. His strongest subject at school is physics, and he gained a new appreciation for the course, as it is arguably “the most important component in mechanical engineering.” Now, he enjoys discussing the class topics and their real-world relevance in more depth with his teacher.
It was also a joy for Shad to find that he could handle the chemical formulas used in filtering atmospheric air, and could understand the mechanics of supply and exhaust fans, chillers and boilers. Shad found that he could confidently approach new, unfamiliar tasks and challenges by combining his previously acquired knowledge with the skills he was developing in practice at the internship.
In addition to applying and developing his technical knowledge and skills, Shad also gained insight into the workforce: “I saw how the ‘official’ world works – the life of a student is different from that of a person who is working!” he reflects. He points out that in the working world, everything is on time, and one of the major transferable skills he has gained from the Academy is the ability to manage his time and meet deadlines while balancing a heavy workload.
And balance, for Shad, is key: “I also got the opportunity to see the other side of engineers working in control rooms – by getting involved in jokes during lunchtime”, he recalls, which he welcomed as a way to relieve the stress of the 10-hour work days. Shad also maintains balance in his school life: despite his continuous deadlines for assignments and university applications, Shad values spending time in activities and service. “The Aga Khan Academy is known for its holistic development…in our enrichment, we do service for other people; we go on adventures, we serve our community.”
In this spirit of collaboration and service, Shad aspires to use his education and career as an engineer to give back and to serve his country and its people, by assisting in Pakistan’s development through technology.
Shad’s inspiring internship renewed his motivation to keep working towards those goals. “Before, I didn’t actually know what will happen in my career,” he says. “But now, I know how I’ll be working, after my undergrad, if I pursue that career.” As he looks ahead and plans for that academic and professional journey, he is keeping his options open: “I’ve already applied to universities worldwide.”
The internship at AKU exceeded all Shad’s expectations and instilled a stronger sense of self-confidence. He especially appreciated being encouraged to undertake tasks normally handled by engineers, and to be an integral part of the team. “My supervisor was impressed with me,” he says proudly. “He told me that he can see an engineer in me.”
By Natasha Pirani
International Exchanges
As the network of Aga Khan Academies becomes further established, we will offer our students the opportunity to broaden their experience through exchanges with other Academies.
The Aga Khan Academy Dhaka will include an international exchange programme as part of the Senior School curriculum. This will provide our students with the opportunity to study for an extended period in another of the 18 Academies (planned or currently under development) in Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Middle East.
An inaugural programme is planned for the 2018-19 academic year for grade 9 students at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa and the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad. The programme will grow over the coming years, drawing in more Academies as they open and giving students the opportunity to experience life in a range of different countries and cultures.
Campus life
Students from Dhaka who participate in an exchange with another Academy will live in residential facilities in a secure campus setting.
Campus life is an important part of the international exchange programme. Many of the least tangible but most important elements of an education – the development of practical leadership skills, the capacity to make ethical judgments, the ability to navigate through complex cultural settings – are formed outside the classroom. Mealtimes and other informal gatherings offer opportunities for discussion, meetings, and study groups.
The exchange will offer a structured programme of activities, both on and off-campus. This is designed to increase students’ understanding of their own and other cultural identities, to recognise different components of culture, to interact with the local community through service learning, and to reach a comparative understanding of the process of development in another country.
Benefits of study abroad
The International Baccalaureate programme is implemented through the medium of English at all Aga Khan Academies. The common curriculum will allow students to study abroad without facing uncertainties regarding compatibility of course study or examinations. Students will also learn to appreciate and respect other nationalities, cultures and intellectual traditions through direct contact with people in other countries. They will broaden their worldview and learn to be at ease in different cultural settings.
The exchange will increase students’ willingness and ability to collaborate across borders and cultures, as they form networks of friendships across the world. It will build the strength of character necessary for ethical and pluralistic leadership. Students will develop greater adaptability and resilience as they learn to overcome the challenges of living in a new cultural setting with local peers.
For further information on the educational programme offered at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, please visit the Academic Programme page.
Living on Campus
Residential life at the Academy complements and extends the academic experience. The residential programme includes a broad selection of activities and leadership opportunities to enhance students’ learning and growth.
Our residential programme launched in April 2019, allowing students from across Mozambique to study at the Academy. Student residences are designed to accommodate students and dorm parents – teachers that have been chosen carefully and trained to live in the faculty apartments and student residences.
Up to four students share a room. The rooms are spacious with high ceilings and large windows. Facilities include a student lounge with IT facilities, wifi and a large-screen television along with laundry facilities.
The Commons building, when completed, will house the dining hall and an array of spaces for school activities. It will be the hub of student activity and serves as the main space for major school functions including music and drama performances and public lectures.
A photo gallery of the Aga Khan Academy Maputo Campus is available here »
Learning beyond the classroom
The culture of the Academy is based on respect, integrity, honesty, fairness, empathy and good humour. Our students, teachers and administrative staff create and sustain this positive learning environment.
The experience of our pluralistic learning community is especially rich for students in residence given the constant interactions among students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.
The focus of the residential programme is on students’ intellectual, social, spiritual and physical growth in a structured and ethical environment. In the words of Aziz Batada, Head of the Residential Programme and Dean of Students at AKA Maputo, “The residential experience allows the typical school day – where the vision of the Aga Khan Academy is continuously being lived – to be extended, and education itself is seen as a part of every moment of an individual's life.”
International Baccalaureate - Primary Years Programme
International Baccalaureate - Primary Years Programme
Message from the Head of Academy regarding school closure
Academy hosts 8th annual Peace Summit
Meet Ria Devani: Our new Academy Fellow
Meet Cameron Chertavian: Our new Academy Fellow
