Dr Memon First Pakistani Director of IED                                                                

Dr Muhammad Memon became the first Pakistani national to head Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) when he formally assumed charge as Director on January 1, 2005. Dr Memon succeeded Dr Gordon MacLeod who, following his inspirational three-year tenure in Karachi, is now serving as Head of Planning at the University’s Institute for Educational Development, Eastern Africa, Tanzania.

Dr Muhammad Memon’s illustrious career at AKU-IED began in December 1993 when he joined the University as an Assistant Professor. Three years later, he was promoted to Associate Professor and became a full Professor in 2003. His contribution to the growth and development of the Institute, particularly in the areas of teacher education, educational leadership and management, research and curriculum improvement, has been widely recognised in Pakistan and abroad. He has been instrumental in developing a number of capacity building programmes for various school systems which were well received by stakeholders.

Prior to joining AKU-IED, Dr Memon served in various capacities in Pakistan’s public education sector and was a member of several national committees and task forces. Dr Memon received his PhD in Education (Curriculum Changes) from University of Surrey, England, MEd (Curriculum Planning) from University of Karachi, and MA (Educational Planning and Management) from Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad. He has also pursued specialisation at University of Sussex, England, and University of the Philippines in Manila.

Dr Memon has played a significant role in promoting educational leadership as a field of study in Pakistan by conducting research and designing professional development programmes for teachers, teacher educators, education officers and head teachers. Recognising his scholarly work and contribution to educational development in the country, various organisations and educational institutions have honoured him with merit awards. Dr Memon is a member of several professional associations within and outside Pakistan, and his research in the area of teacher education and educational leadership has been widely published in national and international journals.

Meanwhile in Dar-es-Salaam, planning has commenced for AKU-IED, Eastern Africa, under the dynamic leadership of   Dr Gordon MacLeod. Building on the success of AKU-IED in Pakistan and the Professional Development Centre Lead-in Project in East Africa, the new Institute will initially cater to the needs of teachers, teacher educators, policy makers and educational managers in Kenya, Tanzania including Zanzibar, Uganda and Mozambique. Over time, it may expand operations to other countries including Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Francophone Africa.

AKU-IED, Eastern Africa, will initially offer short tailor-made certificate courses as well as one-year advanced diploma and two-year Masters programmes. Eventually, perhaps within five to ten years, the Institute plans to offer a PhD programme to small groups of exceptionally qualified students. AKU’s primary mission is the development of quality human resources that are trained to respond to the unique needs of the developing world.