Introduction

Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) was established in June 1993. Its establishment came about in the context of a continued and deepening decline in the quality, effectiveness, relevance and outreach of education system in Pakistan and elsewhere in less developed countries in the face of growing numbers of children and shrinking resources. AKU-IED aims to improve the quality of education through capacity building in less developed countries through research, educational programmes, partnerships, policy initiatives and commitment towards a wider social development. Since its inception, AKU-IED has, within a relatively short time frame, successfully established a set of educational initiatives which are recognised as credible and significant, and which form the basis for a coherent programmatic approach to school improvement and broader social development. Its programmes are attended by a diverse group of participants, representing East Africa (Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania-mainland, Zanzibar and Uganda), Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan), Syria, Afghanistan and South Asia (various parts of Pakistan, Bangladesh and India).

For its programmes in research and policy studies AKU-IED is committed not only to the development of knowledge through original contributions but also to improvement oriented outcomes through advocacy, action and strong dissemination.

Conference Objectives

• Provide a forum for dissemination of educational research on quality of educational reform, its impact and related issues;
• Enable discussion on issues of quality with reference to the conference themes;
• Promote networking and enable contact among the various stakeholders engaged in educational research.

Conference Themes

The following themes will be discussed:

• Comparative Perspectives in Educational Reform;
• Politics of Educational Reform;
• Impact of Educational Reform.