AKU-IED Marks its 15 th Anniversary
AKU-IED , Pakistan marked its 15th Anniversary on July 01, 2008. A cake- cutting ceremony was organised to commemorate the event on July 2, 2008. Faculty, staff and students enthusiastically participated in the ceremony and shared their reflections. Addressing the gathering, the Director of the Institute, Dr Muhammad Memon acknowledged and appreciated every one's contribution towards fulfilling the institute's mission.
AKU-IED was found in the context of continuing decline in the quality, relevance, effectiveness and access to education in Pakistan and other developing countries. It was established in July 1993 with a mandate to initiate educational reforms to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of educational institutions in the developing countries.
During the last fifteen years, AKU-IED has taken a lead role in testing innovations in teacher education, school improvement, educational leadership, influencing education policy, conducting research, and promoting scholarship in Pakistan . Thus, it has emerged as a dynamic learning institute, which is continually engaged in developing best practices of teacher education, school improvement, teaching and learning, institutional capacity building, educational leadership and management, and management of change.
Dr Shamshad Akhtar, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan visits the Professional Development Centre North (PDCN), Gilgit
Dr Shamshad Akhtar, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan visited the Professional Development Centre North (PDCN), Gilgit on June 5, 2008. During her visit to PDCN she met with the faculty, staff and students. A formal presentation on PDCN's programmatic activities and its achievements was made. The Governor visited some classes and briefly addressed the course participants of the Advanced Diploma in Education: Educational Leadership & Management programme. She also met the officials of Academy of Educational Planning & Management (AEPAM), Ministry of Education, Islamabad who were conducting a workshop on integration of ICT in Science and Mathematics Education for the government teachers from various districts of the Northern Areas. She was also given a tour of various facilities of the Centre. The Governor appreciated the role of PDCN in offering quality programmes to teachers and other professionals in the region. She showed a keen interest in exploring partnership opportunities between PDCN and the Institute of Bankers , Pakistan for conducting training programmes for bankers in the Northern Areas.
While writing her impressions in the visitor's book, she noted “My tribute to the great visionary for establishing this PDC which will play a significant role in economic and social transformation of this region. Best wishes to Administrators and Faculty”.
 AKU-IED has been offering summer programmes as part of CPE for the last two years. The following programmes were offered during the month of June 2008:
- Teaching of Science
- Library Development
- Counseling and Guidance
- Teacher Leadership
Two more programmes in the areas of Teaching of English and Mathematics will be offered during the month of July 2008. AKU-IED is in the process of planning to offer more CPE programmes in the evening, over the weekends, and during winter vacation
Provincial Roundtable Discussion on the National Education Policy held at AKU-IED
A provincial round-table discussion was organised at AKU-IED on May 22, 2008 to discuss the Draft National Education Policy 2008. This event was led by the ‘Campaign for Quality Education' in Pakistan . Key policies such as the role of public and private sector in providing access to quality education, professional development of teachers, alignment between quality elements and utilization of data for quality improvement were discussed at length.
The Quantitative Researchers’ Group at AKU-IED organizes a Student Mini-Conference
The Quantitative Researchers' Group (QRG) at Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development, Pakistan organised a student mini-conference on May 23, 2008. Students of Master in Education (MEd) programme from AKU-IED, Karachi University , and Notre Dam Institute of Education presented their quantitative research studies through posters presentations. The conference showcased research work of students in various areas including: learning disabilities of children in mainstream schools, aggressive behavior and discipline problems in schools, motivation of girls towards science learning, teachers' perceptions of leadership, etc.
The event provided an opportunity to create linkages among various research groups of the three educational institutions. It also provided a platform to share findings of quantitative research at AKU-IED. The conference participants appreciated the effort and recommended that such events should be organized on a regular basis to create interest in the quantitative research paradigm.
Dr Iffat Ara, Director, Institute for Educational Research, Peshawar University visits AKU-IED
The newly-appointed Director of Institute for Education and Research, University of Peshawar ( IER-PU), Dr Iffat Ara visited AKU-IED from May 8-9, 2008 to discuss matters related to the Pak-Norway Institutional Corporation project, of which AKU-IED, IER-PU and Oslo College , Norway are partners. During her visit, she met with the senior leadership of AKU-IED where she was briefed about the project activities, particularly related to research.
The three-year Pak-Norway Institutional Cooperation Project aims at building capacity of IER-PU and establishing a long term working relationship among IER-PU, AKU-IED and Center for International Education, Oslo University College, Norway.
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