| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | Community Health Sciences (CHS) | | The intern will be working closely with the Occupational Health Team to increase the body of knowledge through research that addresses the adverse health effects of environmental and occupational exposures.
S/he will also aid the department to advance the education, research and leadership in human health and its relationship with the environment and to improve the health of the people in Pakistan and other developing countries.
| - Assist the department to create and disseminate guidelines on Environment and Occupational Health and its inclusion to national health policies.
- Assist the department to create awareness and strengthen the health sector in Pakistan, particularly on regulatory and non-regulatory practices related to healthy consumption under the social determinants of the health framework.
- Application of concepts in risks associated with Environmental and Occupational Health in the community level.
- Organizing a capacity building workshops for the national stakeholders on ‘climate change and human health.
- Developing the course material and pedagogies on climate issues in developing country and impact on human health.
- Reviewing existing literature on health impact of climate change.
- To put together a presentation on various data section as needed so as to present a coherent argument for particular changes.
- To provide research support towards determining strategies and methods by which CHS can consider as it seeks to imbue its environmental agenda into aspects of the department.
| - Enrolled in or completed an undergraduate or a Master’s Degree in Public health, Health systems, Global Health or related fields.
- Data management skills - basic to intermediate level.
- Report writing skills.
- Quantitative skills - intermediate level data analyses.
- Familiarity with quantitative analyses software.
- Strong research, IT, Digital skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and a team player.
- Ability to work independently and be self-motivated to learn.
- Practices effective cross-cultural communication and possesses excellent interpersonal skills.
| | Aga Khan University's (AKU) Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS) is the preeminent public health institution in the country. The vision of the Chancellor set the direction for the University to take a lead in community development and the creation of an innovative curriculum that emphasises a balance between tertiary care and population health.
CHS has taken a major role in that development. Over the past three decades, CHS has led national development of primary health care, public health practice, health systems development and the evidence based approach at the University and in the nation. CHS has developed successful models in urban and rural settings in Pakistan that emphasise empowerment - building on the strengths of communities. As part of an international university, CHS collaborates in a global network of outstanding research and teaching institutions including AKU affiliates in East Africa and Central Asia.
| Health Sciences / Environmental Science & Sustainability | - Intern will develop skills on workshop coordination and development for national stakeholders.
- Intern will be able to develop the national health care policies in Pakistan.
- Intern will be able to practice and apply concepts various risks that are associated with the environment.
| Dr Syed Zafar Ahmed Fatmi |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | Community Health Sciences (CHS) | | The Community Health Sciences department at AKU has ongoing projects in the field in maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, environmental health, and chronic disease though a variety of on-going community based programmes and development programmes.
The Intern will be working in Health Services Department to support the implementation and enhancement of various projects, including organizational development, and service planning initiatives. The intern will be introduced to change management in a healthcare setting.
| - In-depth cost analysis of medical services offered by the Community Health Workers to the general community.
- Developing and implement quality indicators in Community Health Services.
- Proposal writing for new initiatives.
- Preparing evaluations, status reports and concept papers on current healthcare service initiatives and programs.
| - Enrolment in a Graduate or Masters’ program in Health Science, Management, Business Administration, Health Informatics or related fields.
- Excellent analytical and report writing skills.
- A self-starter with great leadership skills.
- Strong research, IT, Digital skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and a team player.
| Dr Maryam Huda, Faculty in Health Policy & Management unit of Department of Community Health Sciences, the Aga Khan University, Pakistan.
Medical doctor, public health specialist, trained in Health Economics & Financing. As part of Health systems and policy research group, working in the areas of Health Economics and Financing, Urban primary care, Health, Community engagement, Narrative medicine, Community health workers, NCDs and Immunization.
| Aga Khan University's (AKU) Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS) is the preeminent public health institution in the country. The vision of the Chancellor set the direction for the University to take a lead in community development and the creation of an innovative curriculum that emphasises a balance between tertiary care and population health.
CHS has taken a major role in that development. Over the past three decades, CHS has led national development of primary health care, public health practice, health systems development and the evidence based approach at the University and in the nation. CHS has developed successful models in urban and rural settings in Pakistan that emphasise empowerment - building on the strengths of communities. As part of an international university, CHS collaborates in a global network of outstanding research and teaching institutions including AKU affiliates in East Africa and Central Asia.
| Health Sciences | - Intern will be able to develop a cost analysis framework for the department.
- Intern will be able to develop a quality assurance framework strategy.
- Intern will develop report writing skills.
| Dr Maryam Huda |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | Community Health Sciences (CHS) | | The Intern will be working closely with the Community Health Science Faculty to establish and nurture partnerships with relevant interdepartmental, local, national, and international institutions for the promotion of child health and related community engagements.
The intern will also assist all faculties to develop and engage in policy dialogues with provincial and district governments to translate research knowledge into practice for improvement of maternal, newborn, and child health and for reduction of intrapartum stillbirth.
| - Assist the department in technical report writings for the on-going projects.
- Creating training modules for communities which can be translated to local language to train people in AKU’s rural offices.
- Application of concepts in risks associated with infectious diseases in reproductive health decisions.
- Critical appraisal of literature in reproductive health in synthesizing research questions.
- Grant and proposal writing and literature reviews.
- Project reporting, post project evaluations, final report.
| - Enrolled in or completed an undergraduate or a Master’s Degree in Public health, Health systems, Global Health or related fields.
- Data management skills - basic to intermediate level.
- Report writing skills.
- Quantitative skills - intermediate level data analyses.
- Familiarity with quantitative analyses software.
- Strong research, IT, Digital skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and a team player.
| Dr. Sarah Saleem, Professor, Senior Foreign Investigator - SFI & Principal Investigator of multiple Global Network projects, USA. She also leads projects from other renowned platforms; agencies such as WHO. She is Head, Population and Reproductive Health Section, Director, Continuing Education Program, Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi. Professional Associations with AKU, CHS since 1991 to date.
Her qualifications are Community Medicine (FCPS), Masters in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Diploma in Child Health, MBBS.
Member of several associations within and outside AKU both national and international; servings the society in the health sector. Is a receiver of several awards illustrating her contributions and achievements. Dr Saleem also has to her credit a large number of published manuscripts of her work.
| Aga Khan University's (AKU) Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS) is the preeminent public health institution in the country. The vision of the Chancellor set the direction for the University to take a lead in community development and the creation of an innovative curriculum that emphasises a balance between tertiary care and population health.
CHS has taken a major role in that development. Over the past three decades, CHS has led national development of primary health care, public health practice, health systems development and the evidence based approach at the University and in the nation. CHS has developed successful models in urban and rural settings in Pakistan that emphasise empowerment - building on the strengths of communities. As part of an international university, CHS collaborates in a global network of outstanding research and teaching institutions including AKU affiliates in East Africa and Central Asia.
| Health Sciences | - An intern will be able to develop and implement a community based training module on reproductive health.
- The intern will learn how to contextualize research and data to support various departmental operations.
| Professor Sarah Saleem |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | School of Nursing and Midwifery | | Research Project Title: Development of electronic decision support system (eDSS) in perinatal mental health.
The intern will be supporting in literature reviews/synthesis, electronic support system designing and formatting and manuscript/ report writing and its presentation.
| - Providing assistance to the faculty with ongoing research study.
- Assist in developing material for knowledge translation such as dissemination and publications etc.
- Assist in developing study protocols.
- Assist in drafting attractive presentations for scholarly events.
- Assist in analyzing quantitative data set.
- Assist in Literature review & synthesis as guided by mentor.
| - Education: Open to any backgrounds but best suited to those in social/health sciences, public health or data science.
- Technical skills: some experience with data analysis and visualisation. Basic knowledge and some experience of manuscript writing or literature synthesis.
- Desired Skills: Good command in computers/IT skills (office, statistical software’s), English language competency (written & oral), should be creative, Ability to work well under pressure, multitasker, manage time, flexible and prioritise tasks to meet the tight deadlines. command over additional/ contextual language and software knowledge of creative art, visualization technology will be an added advantage.
| Ms. Shahnaz Shahid Ali is a Senior Instructor at the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan. She is associated with Aga Khan University for more than 20 years. She has completed Masters of Science in Nursing from Aga Khan University and her area of expertise includes maternal and newborn health, and midwifery. She has conducted several studies as a Principal Investigator and has also contributed as a Co-investigator.
| Aga Khan University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery in Pakistan offers nursing and midwifery programmes that are recognised for their internationally benchmarked quality, innovation and affordability and prepare students to join diverse teams of clinical experts, researchers, academicians and policymakers. We focus on producing leaders who are trusted to be the best in their field and are able to make an impact in the healthcare landscape.
Opened in 1980, the School has collaborated with several public and private sector institutions, regulatory bodies and federations, and NGOs within Pakistan and internationally. This has enabled us to bring a diverse pool of expertise in developing innovative curriculum and evidence-based practices and has opened up opportunities for our faculty and students to connect with knowledge experts in Pakistan and globally.
| Health Sciences | Intern will be able to advance their literature review skills while collecting data on the electronic Decision Support System.
| Shahnaz Shahid Ali |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM) | | The project aim is to develop contextually based (SM-ART) intervention and evaluate its effectiveness in improving resilience, marital harmony and decreasing depression, and pregnancy related anxiety. The intern will be supporting in data analysis, literature reviews/synthesis, module formatting and manuscript/ report writing and its presentation. The intern may also be supporting in adapting a contextually developed SM-ART module to web browser or App.
| - Providing assistance to the faculty with an ongoing community based research.
- Assist in developing material for knowledge translation such as dissemination and publications etc.
- Assist in Literature review & synthesis as guided by mentor.
- Contribute in converting manual module to web browser or App (If match with timeline).
- Assist in drafting attractive presentations for scholarly events.
- Assist in analyzing quantitative data set.
| - Education: Open to any backgrounds but best suited to those in social/health sciences, public health or data science.
- Technical skills: some experience with data analysis and visualisation. Basic understanding of web/app designing, some experience of manuscript writing or literature synthesis.
- Desired Skills: Good command in computers/IT skills (office, statistical software’s), English language competency (written & oral), should be creative, Ability to work well under pressure, multitasker, manage time, flexible and prioritise tasks to meet the tight deadlines. command over additional/ contextual language and software knowledge of creative art, visualization technology will be an added advantage.
| Ms. Shireen Shehzad Bhamani is an Assistant professor at Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery. Currently, she is doing her PhD in Health Sciences from Ghent University, Belgium. She is associated with Aga khan University more than 20 years. Her major area of expertise in education, practice and research has been in public health with a special emphasis on women’s mental health, and its intergenerational effects. Her research philosophy is to promote women’s mental wellbeing across their life span more specifically community women residing in an ultra-poor community that are inflicted by different life challenges/adversities. She has been involved in multiple researches targeting mental health of adolescents and women. She has been part of various community based studies aimed to address and prevent violence against women and children. Her grant awards ranged from $6000 to $1 million, where she has been contributing as a Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator. Currently she has developed an ART module (accessible resilience training) for safe motherhood (SM-ART) as part of her PhD.
| Aga Khan University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKU-SONAM) in Pakistan offers nursing and midwifery programmes that are recognized for their internationally benchmarked quality, innovation and affordability and prepare students to join diverse teams of clinical experts, researchers, academicians and policymakers. We focus on producing leaders who are trusted to be the best in their field and are able to make an impact in the healthcare landscape.
Opened in 1980, the School has collaborated with several public and private sector institutions, regulatory bodies and federations, and NGOs within Pakistan and internationally. This has enabled us to bring a diverse pool of expertise in developing innovative curriculum and evidence-based practices and has opened up opportunities for our faculty and students to connect with knowledge experts in Pakistan and globally.
| Health Sciences | - Ability to learn and familiarize oneself with the process of Block Randomized Controlled trial.
- Ability to develop and validate the process of contextually based module for mental wellbeing.
| Shireen Shehzad Bhamani |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | School of Nursing and Midwifery | | The study aims to assess the effectiveness of bereavement counselling by midwives, for women undergoing miscarriages or perinatal loss. The intern will be supporting in literature reviews/synthesis, module formatting and manuscript/ report writing and its presentation.
| - Providing assistance to the faculty with ongoing research study.
- Assist in developing study protocol.
- Assist in developing material for dissemination of study.
- Contribute in publication.
- Assist in Literature review & synthesis as guided by mentor.
| - Educational Requirement: Open to any backgrounds but best suited to those in social/health sciences, public health or data science.
- Technical skills: some experience with data analysis and visualisation. Basic knowledge and some experience of manuscript writing or literature synthesis.
- Desired Skills: Good command in computers/IT skills (office, statistical software’s), English language competency (written & oral), should be creative, Ability to work well under pressure, multitasker, manage time, flexible and prioritise tasks to meet the tight deadlines. command over additional/ contextual language and software knowledge of creative art, visualization technology will be an added advantage.
| Ms. Sadia Abbas Ali is a Senior Instructor at the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery. She is associated with Aga khan University since 10 years. Her major area of expertise is in maternal and newborn health. She has been part of various studies as Principal investigator and Co investigator.
| Aga Khan University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKU-SONAM) in Pakistan offers nursing and midwifery programmes that are recognized for their internationally benchmarked quality, innovation and affordability and prepare students to join diverse teams of clinical experts, researchers, academicians and policymakers. AKU focuses on producing leaders who are trusted to be the best in their field and are able to make an impact in the healthcare landscape.
Opened in 1980, the School has collaborated with several public and private sector institutions, regulatory bodies and federations, and NGOs within Pakistan and internationally. This has enabled us to bring a diverse pool of expertise in developing innovative curriculum and evidence-based practices and has opened up opportunities for our faculty and students to connect with knowledge experts in Pakistan and globally.
| Health Sciences | Intern will create a research proposal and contribute towards the development of a research paper on bereavement counselling by midwives’ women undergoing miscarriages or perinatal loss.
| Sadia Abbas Ali |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | Institute for Educational Development | | COVID-19 led to the abrupt closure of schools, colleges and universities around the world, and many institutions have rapidly moved to online and remote teaching modalities. While guidelines have been written on how to teach using online tools to support the rapid transition, many of these guides have been produced with examples from the global north.
Transition to teaching and learning in online and remote modalities in the global south has taken many different trajectories. While some educational institutions were able to continue the teaching and learning process, according to various estimates, many children have remained out-of-school in Africa, Latin America and Asia.
In this project, we aim to identify examples of educational practices during COVID-19 and produce a digital guide based on the actual experiences of online and remote teaching and learning during the pandemic and advice from the literature. The digital guide will include stories from various levels of education (early years through higher education), disciplines (e.g. science, mathematics, languages) and countries in the global south (e.g. South and Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America). The literature review will assist in the analysis of the experiences and to draw conclusions about promising practices and pitfalls for remote and online teaching practices in the global south.
This guide will be relevant for those looking for examples of good practice and lessons learnt about schools/online and remote teaching. It will also be helpful for teacher educators who can use teachers’ examples of promising practices as case studies in their programmes.
| - Conduct a literature review.
- Help develop tools to gather data about teachers practice during COVID-19.
- Pilot test the tools by developing and publishing three stories (text, audio-visual) with lessons.
- Attend meetings and submit an end of internship reflection on the experience.
| - Strong academic writing skills in English.
- Problem solving, creativity.
- Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
- Should be able to work effectively across time-zones especially for online data collection.
- Consistent connectivity and good IT skills.
| Ms. Azra Naseem is Senior Instructor at the Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED). She is also the Director Blended and Digital Learning at the Aga Khan University (AKU) in South-Central Asia, East Africa & London, UK. She has designed, led and managed multi-disciplinary teams to implement innovative use of technology in higher education. She is the Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy UK and recipient of Best Teacher Award by AKU-IED.
Ms. Naseem is the lead architect and implementer of a multi-continent, multi-disciplinary programme enabling university faculty to design and offer courses through blended learning approaches across Pakistan, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in 2011. In addition, she has a vast experience of teaching and research with eLearning design, mobile learning, digital literacy, accessibility and teacher education as core areas of interest. She coordinates and teaches courses in the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in Education, Curriculum and pedagogy, and ICT literacy. She has actively contributed to the discourse of ICT integration and multi-disciplinary usage in developing country contexts through publications, invited talks, workshops and conference participation.
During COVID-19, Ms. Naseem has led AKU’s transition to online teaching and supported ~2000 faculty and staff members to rapidly shift face-to-face courses to online teaching modalities. Moreover, she has collaborated with the UNESCO Chair in ICT for Development for a report on “Education for the most marginalised post COVID-19” and “Guidance for governments on the use of digital technologies in education” building on a series of regional and sectoral consultations with education experts. She has mentored EdTech entrepreneurs and supported innovations in the industry.
| Established in 1993, the Institute for Educational Development (IED), Pakistan is an academic entity of the Aga Khan University. IED is mandated to make valuable and relevant contributions towards improving the quality of education in Pakistan and other developing contexts. It works as a catalyst for educational change by developing passionate and transformative educational professionals, influencing educational policies and practices and modelling educational reforms in the under-served areas. Learn More: https://www.aku.edu/iedpk/about/Pages/home.aspx
| Education | - Receive training in developing audio, video, website.
- Mentoring on qualitative data collection and analysis.
- Learn to conduct a literature review.
- Opportunity to learn how to work with teachers and others in the developing world.
| Azra Naseem |
| | Nairobi, Kenya | Twelve (12) Weeks | Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Medical College | | The research assistant shall be expected to be open to learning new skills, new data capture methods and understanding of referencing applications, that allow the incumbent function effectively within the research team. The incumbent would be expected to participate in background information search, simple data analysis and report writing under supervision.
| - Perform background research and summary as assigned.
- Abstraction of collected project data and entry into REDCap.
- Learn and implement referencing using ENDnote.
- Attended and participate workshops or conferences relevant to ongoing projects as appropriate.
| - Bachelor's or Master's in Biostatistics, Biology or any other educational background in the sciences degree.
- Prior experience as research assistant would be an advantage.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong research, IT, Digital marking skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a team player.
- Ability to work independently and be self-motivated to learn.
- Good computing skills.
- Familiarity with Microsoft word, excel and power point programs.
- Working knowledge of SPSS and / or R would be an advantage.
| Prof Pauline Samia is a Paediatric Neurologist and is currently chair of the department of Paediatrics. Her research interests range from Childhood epilepsy, ADHD, Autism spectrum disorders and cerebral palsy. Her previous work in this field includes evaluation of aetiology (causation), management of these conditions, evaluation of childhood quality of life and other outcomes. Prof Samia has hosted interns previously with valuable experience reported by them and effective support realised to her projects.
| The Department of Paediatrics and Child Health is committed to achieving a vision and mission of a “Children’s Hospital within a Hospital,” building on pillars of service quality improvement, client satisfaction and efficiency.
Over the years, they have steadily grown highly qualified faculty in order to ensure that quality and personalized training is available to residents. The paediatric service facilities at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi provide a fully equipped, modern medical learning environment.
Faculty is well qualified and offer dedicated inpatient and outpatient services at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi with various areas of specialization that include; critical care and emergency medicine, endocrinology and metabolic disorders, neonatology, neurology, hematoncology, respiratory medicine, gastroenterology, nutrition and infectious diseases.
Over and above clinical and teaching responsibilities, many members of faculty engage in research with publications on various topics such as leukemia in children, HIV and epilepsy, neonatal growth parameters as well as drug therapy for children in Africa.
| Health Sciences | - To learn new skills in research data analysis and referencing skills.
- Learn report writing under supervision.
- Expand the interns cultural experience.
| Dr Pauline Samia |
| | Lisbon, Portugal | Twelve (12) Weeks | Education Programme | | Two interns will work closely with the Education Programme Director to contribute to the development of a communications strategy and its respective content to deliver key messaging around AKTC’s various programmes and the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto to broad and diverse international audiences.
| - Carry out an in-depth review of the existing and potential audiences for AKTC content messaging and themes.
- Work with various AKTC directors on a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) of existing publications strategies, methodologies, and content.
- Work on the branding of AKTC programmes, support social media strategy development, and interfacing with partners and stakeholders to monitor and evaluate these efforts.
- Develop various kinds of copywriting content for different stakeholders.
- Support the Director with various academic and special projects as needed.
| - Bachelor’s in a Social Science discipline (Humanities, communications, etc.).
- Excellent knowledge and skill in written and spoken English.
- Advanced training in, or excellent grasp of digital communications tools, including social media.
- Great understanding of the centrality of culture to our individual and collective lives.
| Raj’s professional life has straddled several different aspects of cultural theory and practice. He is currently the director of the Education Programme of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Geneva. He is an Emeritus Professor of Cultural Policy Studies at The American University of Paris, and the founding co-editor of the Cultures and Globalization Series (published by SAGE London 2007-12). He is a lead writer for the United Nations Creative Economy Report 2013, and a scientific coordinator and team leader of the EU inquiry ‘Culture in EU External Relations’. In addition, he is an Editor of UNESCO’s 2015 and 2018 reports Re|Shaping Cultural Policies. At UNESCO from 1973 to 2003, Raj was notably Executive Secretary of the World Commission on Culture and Development. He is also a past President of the civil society platform Culture Action Europe.
| The Education Programme of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture seeks to share with young people across the world key learnings distilled from the knowledge and experience accumulated over four decades by the flagship programmes of the Trust. As regards the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme, AKTC Education has developed a range of collaborations with university-level institutions, notably architecture schools, as well as secondary schools, that are interested in developing teaching modules or courses informed by such learnings.
Currently, AKTC Education is currently embarking upon a wider public information and education initiative that aims to reach out to a broader audience, by sharing news, insights and knowledge emanating from the above-mentioned programmes as well as the Aga Khan Music Programme and the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto.
| Cultural Development / Communications, Marketing & Finance | - Deepen their command of state of the art communications tools and methodologies appropriate to the needs of a private international cultural foundation.
- Learn about key issues in cultural development, notably the ways in which conservation and revitalization of cultural heritage (tangible and intangible), and their role in strengthening cultural identity, resilience, energy and pluralism.
- Learn about the key role of contemporary cultural expression in enhancing the quality of life of individuals and communities.
- Ability to demonstrate their capacity for independent professional level work in the field of public communications for cultural development.
| Yudhishthir Raj Isar (Raj) |
| | Nairobi, Kenya | Twelve (12) Weeks | Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) | | The intern assigned will be required to work closely with the Project and Media Broadcast Managers on the development, implementation and management of a curriculum framework for the Graduate School of Media and Communications. | - Assist in producing and developing capacity for various trainings as part of the programme.
- Assist with the creation of training and meeting content and run logistics (notetaking, breakout rooms, etc.).
- Create social media reports (monitoring and engagement schedules, reports and feedback), create social media content (video, audio, and image editing).
- Work to develop curriculum frameworks, application protocols and data analysis.
- Support communications functions: developing communications collateral, branding, supporting social media strategy, and interfacing with partners to monitor and evaluate the programme.
- Support project manager as a project support officer in various academic and special projects.
| - Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Business, or other related fields.
- Necessary oral and written fluency in English. Second language an asset (French, Portuguese, German, etc.).
- Good understanding of social media platforms, how to leverage them and be interested in learning how to cross-populate across the platforms.
- Good grasp or keen interest to learn Photoshop, video editing, audio editing, etc.
| | Launched in 2015, the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) is the premier source of education and tailored training for journalists, communicators and media executives and entrepreneurs in East Africa and beyond. Guided by the principles of global excellence and local relevance, GSMC helps individuals to transform their careers and organizations to seize on opportunities and reap the benefits of innovation.
The Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications (AKU-GSMC) is the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. AKU-GSMC will change the way media and communications training is delivered in Africa by curating programs that are globally competitive and locally relevant.
| Education / Communications, Marketing & Finance | - Learning how to operate in a professional, educational environment.
- Learn about the intricacies of curriculum planning, costing, student enrolment, etc.
- Receive training on digital content skills management and application.
- Exposure to various functions in an academic institution.
- Opportunity to work within a small team of professionals across strategy and operations.
| Soraiya Shah & Alykhan Peermohamed |
| | London, United Kingdom | Twelve (12) Weeks | Academic Development | | The intern will work to develop a framework to be used in AKES and AKA climate change and environmental education, against the existing curriculum and standards for students in primary and secondary schools.
| - Work with curriculum leaders to understand the scope of the educational network and current practices with environmental education.
- Review a range of national and international curriculums for children between the ages of 3 and 18, including that in schools considered to be leaders in the field, to determine global best practice in education about climate change and environmental issues.
- Prepare a summary report of the research to brief curriculum leaders within AKA and AKES, and the AKDN colleagues working on the environmental agenda.
- Develop a database of climate change and environmental education materials for students aged 3-18.
- Assist with writing of a set of standards for education about climate change and environmental education in AKES and AKA schools.
- Other duties will be determined by the department depending on skills and experience.
| - Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Education and/or Environmental Sciences.
- General IT competence and command of main Office software programmes.
- Strong research and analysis skills.
- Good communication skills, particularly the ability to write clear, succinct and accurate reports.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a team player.
- Ability to work independently and be self-motivated to learn
- Knowledge and skills to support the described tasks.
- Reliable internet connectivity.
- Ability to work in a pluralistic environment.
- Ability to be flexible, adaptable and work in situations requiring quick turnaround of deliverables and across time zones.
| Alexandra Holland is an experienced school leader and curriculum developer. She has worked in schools in the UK, Hong Kong and South Africa before joining the Aga Khan Academies in 2010. Based in the UK, she has worked across the AKA network to support the implementation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, and the distinctive elements of the Academies programme, including the Aga Khan Curricular Strands, Service Learning, bilingual education and Student Exchanges. She is a member of the International Baccalaureate Educator Network, reviewing curriculum for other IB schools and leading both face-to-face and online professional development for teachers.
| Aga Khan Education Services (AKES) and the Aga Khan Academies (AKA) are working collaboratively to develop a framework for education about climate change and environmental issues within their networks of schools. The schools currently implement 20 different local, national and international curriculums. AKES and AKA will develop a framework which can be used to audit current practice, and set out core understandings, dispositions and skills which can be implemented in a range of national contexts and curriculums.
| Environmental Science & Sustainability / Education | - Learn how to develop locally contextualized educational curriculum frameworks on emerging issues such as climate change.
- Develop critical skills in succinct report writing for professionals in the academic development field.
- Better understand the scope of Education Networks and current curriculum practices in environmental education.
- Learn best practices in research, data management, and literature review.
- Opportunity to work with leading educators to develop innovative curriculums.
| Alexandra Holland |
| | Khorog, Tajikistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | Khorog Urban Resilience Project | | As part of the Khorog Urban Resilience Programme, AKAH will be working with MSDSP (Mountain Societies Development Support Programme) and Business development partners to set resilience-orientated enterprises in Khorog, Tajikistan. The first such initiative being set up is related to Gabion Weaving, which would support families to weave gabion baskets which can then be used for structural mitigation projects and to protect communities from natural hazards.
The intern will help to support research, the development of modules and communications materials for social enterprises with a resilience-oriented lens.
| - Conduct desk review of relevant literature related to social enterprises or resilience-oriented enterprises in Tajikistan.
- Conduct research on best practices of women-led enterprises, particularly in South and Central Asia.
- Support with the development of livelihood training plans and modules for families to set up and scale up their enterprises.
- Develop a toolkit for enterprise leaders to continue developing their enterprises
- Create communications and reporting products related to the work.
| - Bachelor’s degree In Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Business, other related fields.
- Experience in the fields of entrepreneurship and social development.
- Strong research, analysis, and communications skills.
- Demonstrated adaptability, flexibility, and problem solving skills.
| Malika Giles has around 10 years of experience in the development sector. She is currently the Manager for Khorog Urban Resilience Project with AKAH. Prior to that she was working as a Global Programme and Policy Officer for AKDN's Poverty Alleviation Project, and as a Communications Manager for AKAH in Central Asia. She has also worked with a number of other institutions including the University of Central Asia. Malika achieved an MSc degree in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies from the London School of Economics, and a BA degree in History from University College London.
| The Khorog Urban Resilience Programme is implemented by the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat and is a five-year partnership with the Government of Tajikistan and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), with co-funding from the agencies of the AKDN, the EU and the Embassy of Japan.
It was developed as an initiative to link Government planning and investments to initiatives by the community, the private sector and the AKDN and International partners. The programme will work to: - Strengthen the capacity of public, private and community institutions at national and municipal level, proof of concept projects demonstrating the value of resilience tools
- Resilience-informed planning through the creation of a resilience knowledge base and
- Mobilize investments in resilience through decreasing the risks to key infrastructure from natural hazards and environmental deterioration, thus leading to increased economic growth.
| Environmental Science & Sustainability / International Development / Policy & Partnerships | - Opportunity to learn from and with communities of resilience-oriented social enterprises to promote resilience and support for vulnerable communities.
- Learn about natural disaster management and climate change mitigation in disaster-prone regions.
- Support communities in building capacity and developing resources.
- Opportunity to interact with international partners and funders of climate change and disaster programmes.
| Malika Giles |
| | Ottawa, Canada | Twelve (12) Weeks | Global Programme Team | | Data plays a key role in understanding and improving AKF’s impact. Increasingly, there is a need to improve the quality and consistency of the programme data (impact, outcome, reach, output) AKF collects, as well as the systems through which this data is collected. Improved programme data has the potential to substantially improve AKF’s ability to work as an evidence-driven organisation and improve programming for the communities it seeks to serve.
This position will support AKF to migrate, structure, analyse and visualise programme indicator data for evidence-driven decision-making. This position will work closely with the Global Programme Team as well as Results & Learning staff in all AKF country offices.
| - Migrate historical data from previous Management Information Systems in to the Awards Information Management System (AIMS) to promote institutional memory and trend analysis.
- Support the development of reports and dashboards in AIMS.
- Draft top headlines for each award and theme with key findings from the data.
- Support the development of “This Quarter at AKF” overview documents to share data, visuals, and key insights – likely using PowerBI.
- Support the development of blended learning courses on AKF’s Global Approach to Data.
| - Bachelor’s in various backgrounds, but most suited to those in Social Sciences or International Development.
- Experience doing data entry and analysis.
- Strong skills in adaptability, reliability, cultural sensitivity, takes initiative, are solutions-oriented, and possesses a growth mindset.
| Amanda leads the management of AKF’s data and knowledge management platforms. She has been with the AKDN for over six years in global and regional civil society programme-related roles based in Bishkek and Nairobi. Amanda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs and Policy Management from Carleton University and a Graduate Certificate in International Project Management from Humber College in Toronto. Amanda was an AKF Canada International Development Management Fellow in 2014.
| AKF’s Global Programme Team provides leadership for AKF’s global programme portfolio. Distributed across a number of countries, members of the team lead the overall strategic programme direction, provide ongoing technical assistance to field-based teams, lead programme design, support resource mobilisation, nurture and sustain partnerships within AKDN and with key institutions, mainstream gender equality in programme design and delivery, foster innovation and ensure programme quality, amongst other responsibilities.
| Data Sciences & IT | - Learn how to leverage data in demonstrating impact for a large scale private foundation.
- Develop familiarity with Information Management and Analytics systems and software
- Explore nuances and intricacies of global programmes management and curriculum planning.
- Opportunity to work across multiple AKF offices with professionals focused on creating impact.
| Amanda Sullivan |
| | Damascus, Syria | Twelve (12) Weeks | Management Office | | The intern will primarily develop a training module/curriculum for operational staff capacity building and sustainability through a Green Human Resources Management approach.
| - Do background research of the implementation of a Green Human Resources Management (GHRM) framework in health sector organizations, particularly in the developing world.
- Perform research and needs analysis on effective HR training modules for AKHS Syria’s Management Office.
- Develop training modules and its content around GHRM frameworks.
- Assist in organizing data and information, and preparing reports.
- Contribute to the development of communications materials for AKHS Syria.
| - Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business Administration, Human Resources, Environmental Management or Social Science.
- Strong command of spoken and written Arabic and English is key.
- Experience in training or curriculum development is an asset.
- Demonstrated strengths in adaptability, open-mindedness, and flexibility.
| Rasha obtained a Masters in Business Administration at the Syrian Virtual University with a focus on Human Resources Management. She is currently a Management Officer at the Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) Syria. Previously, she has worked with the Aga Khan Foundation on the management of various Health Programmes.
She has keen interest in the use of a Green Human Resources Management in approaching sustainability for organizational management, specifically for health service organizations like the AKHS.
| The Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) is one of three agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) that support activities in health. They provide quality healthcare and perform work around planning, training and resource development. AKHS also works with the Aga Khan Education Services (AKES) and the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) on the integration of health issues into specific projects.
The management office is responsible for the management, finance, and human resources activities to provide support for all units of AKHS Syria.
| Environmental Science & Sustainability / Communications, Marketing & Finance / | - The intern will learn how to contextualize research and data to support the operations of health organizations like AKHS Syria.
- The opportunity to work with operational managers, health care providers, and staff in the Syrian health system.
- Gain experience and understanding of multiple pathways to strengthen health systems.
| Rasha Haider |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM) | | The intern will contribute to various projects within the School of Nursing and Midwifery, particularly around studies pertaining to non-communicable diseases, mental health, and COVID-19.
| - Develop systematic reviews on the prevention of non-communicable diseases in low and middle income countries (LMICs).
- Develop research and review of psychological and spiritual interventions as coping strategies for individuals during COVID-19.
- Develop grants, research proposals and qualitative research methodologies for the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
| - Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Public Healt or the Social Sciences.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a flexible team player.
- Ability to work independently and be self-motivated to learn.
- Strong academic and scientific writing skills.
| Dr Rubina Barolia completed her RN, Post RN BScN and Master’s degree in Nursing from the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKU-SONAM) and doctoral studies from the University of Alberta Canada. Dr Barolia is currently working as an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for clinical practice at AKU-SONAM. She has been working at AKU since 1991 and has served in various clinical and administrative positions at Aga Khan University Hospital and School of Nursing. She has worked extensively in critical care areas in different capacity. Her current research focus is on prevention of non-communicable diseases in people of low socioeconomic status. She has extensively work on systemic reviews and evidence practice modules.
Her focus of the work is enhancing clinical nursing and midwifery practices. She has developed Clinical Track from Master’s Program to prepare student for the clinician role in order to provide direct patient/client services at an advanced level. She has developed started Midwifery Led Model with MNCH stream and Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Currently she is leading APN initiatives at AKUH and able to launch lactation services as an Advanced Practice model.
Dr. Barolia has also published her research work in National and International Journals. She has been awarded several awards in recognition of her scholarships including a prestigious IDRC (International Development Research Centre) doctoral award from International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada and MRC grant.
| The Aga Khan University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKU-SONAM) programmes are recognized for their internationally benchmarked quality, innovation and affordability and prepare students to join diverse teams of clinical experts, researchers, academicians and policymakers. We focus on producing leaders who are trusted to be the best in their field and are able to make an impact in the healthcare landscape.
Opened in 1980, the School has collaborated with several public and private sector institutions, regulatory bodies and federations, and NGOs within Pakistan and internationally. This has enabled us to bring a diverse pool of expertise in developing innovative curriculum and evidence-based practices and has opened up opportunities for our faculty and students to connect with knowledge experts in Pakistan and globally.
| Health Sciences / Communications, Marketing & Finance | - Learn the key processes of writing scientific systematic reviews and learn to implement those processes.
- Develop skills involved in the process of qualitative research, including relevant software training.
- Opportunity to get hands-on experience in publishing articles, and become a co-author for academic publication.
| Dr. Rubina Barolia |
| | Nairobi, Kenya | Twelve (12) Weeks | Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) | | The intern will work on performing key research and developing formal and communications content for various projects under the Graduate School of Media and Communications.
| - Create editorial content (stories, photos, contests, campaigns, audio, video, infographics, etc.) in cooperation with faculty and staff at GSMC.
- Contribute to research on short courses, webinars, and pandemic-focused activities.
- Gather and analyze data of events and activities, undertake (upon request) research functions and maintain accurate records
- Aid in the preparation and distribution of reports, proofread and review documents, facilitate the exchange of information and prepare technical documents and presentations.
- Contribute to online content and propose new tools to be used.
| - Bachelor’s degree in Media and Communications, Information Technology, Public Relations or other other relevant fields.
- Previous internship or other related experience in media, communications, information technology, or coding is an asset
- Knowledge of softwares, creative arts, and technology is an asset.
- Proficiency with managing social media platforms and developing key messaging.
- Excellent skills in Office 365/MS Suite.
- Effective and professional communicator (both written and oral), with focus on strong writing skills.
- Has a developed critical and analytical eye with strong online etiquette.
- Self-motivated, flexible, excellent organizational skills, detail-oriented, ability to prioritize, and meet deadlines.
- Team player, ability to work independently in a pluralistic environment.
- Flxible, adaptable, and can work in situations requiring quick turnaround across different timezones.
- Creative, observant and enthusiastic.
| Gitonga has worked in higher education for two decades, within the arena of strategy, corporate affairs, public relations, partnership, communications, student affairs, and other varying administrative capacities. He currently serves as Director, Strategic Initiatives in the Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC), at The Aga Khan University (AKU).
A photographer, avid volunteer, and Toastmaster, he is passionate about the environment, hiking and the outdoors, and is a follower of emerging technology trends and how they can be used to enhance our lives as productivity, entertainment or other tools. Committed to education, Gitonga believes in the value and importance of continual education. He is an avid follower of emerging technologies, and values open mindedness, creativity, enthusiasm and humor.
A strong believer in enhancing the customers experience as well as efficiency, the mentor seeks to create a conducive and fertile learning environment for all involved. Gitonga believes in the value and importance of service and the potential of each individual, and places great value in data analysis as a decision-making tool. Mentor is an optimist and believes in the power of positive reinforcement and encourages “thinking outside the box” in all situations.
| The Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) is working to influence the way media and communications training is delivered in Africa by curating programs that are regionally relevant and globally competitive. GSMC’s offering consists of world-class faculty, Masters, Executive Masters and professional development short courses in a state-of-the-art facility. The school is designed to have a regional reach and is focused on positively impacting and contributing to the continually changing needs of media and communication throughout East Africa. GSMC is also growing its capacity in documentaries, storytelling and online teaching content. The school also houses the Media Innovation Center that explores the future of journalism, its viability and sustainability.
| Communications, Marketing & Finance | - Develop strong writing skills for communications materials.
- Receive training in the various tools used in Media and Communications research, data synthesis, and organization.
- Gain skills in the management and analysis of digital data.
| Gitonga Mbijjewe |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | University Partnerships Office | | The intern will contribute to various ongoing and new programmes around student, faculty, and staff international mobility. These programmes include AKU’s International Internship Programme (Virtual and On-site), Reciprocal Virtual Internship Programme (AKU-RVIP), and Scholarship programmes (Erasmus+ and Queen Elizabeth Scholarships).
The intern will assist in various stages of project management of AKU-RVIP, an internship programme to provide AKU students with access to an international experience. The programme gets AKU’s partner universities to recruit AKU students as virtual interns at their respective institutions. The intern will also work on the implementation and creation of communications pieces for the Partnerships Office.
| - Assist in implementing the ongoing development of the RVIP. This includes stakeholder management, developing communications materials, and more.
- Developing communications material for the UPO (departmental newsletters, bulletins, social media management).
- Assisting with the development of an alumni professional network via LinkedIn.
- Work on grant writing for the growth and expansion of UPO’s mobility programmes.
- Developing risk management strategy, policies, and quality assurance criteria for UPO’s mobility programmes.
| - Bachelor’s degree or higher in the Social Sciences, Marketing, Graphic Design or other related fields.
- Previous project managementand graphic design experience is an asset.
- Strong writing skills for both formal report writing and communication pieces.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a flexible team player.
- Ability to work independently and be self-motivated to learn.
- Organized, creative, and innovative thinker.
| Fareena is the Manager of AKU’s International Internship Programme. She has successfully run the programme for over 7 years, being responsible for the management and development of the programme. The programme brings over 100 international students every year from more than 25 universities internationally to AKU and the AKDN spanning over 33 countries in East Africa, South and Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Her work has greatly contributed to providing international interns access to high quality opportunities and projects that allow them to gain new skills, access new networks, and develop new competencies.
In addition to her current role, she also assists the Director of University Partnerships on various initiatives and collaborations with national and international universities. In her previous role, Fareena worked in the Office of the President at AKU where she was responsible for providing essential administrative and communications support to the President and senior staff on University initiatives.
| AKU’s University Partnership Office serves as the central gateway to advance partnership opportunities with local and international academic institutions as well as with other AKDN agencies. The main aim of the UPO is to support the building of strategic partnerships in alignment with AKU’s global mission; to build the visibility of AKU's international and local partners; to leverage institutional partnerships; to grow and develop our mobility programmes; and build the capacity of faculty, staff and students to engage in partnership projects.
The University Partnerships Office conveys AKU’s global vision through its partnership activities and actively works to establish meaningful and reciprocal partnerships that also include student, faculty and staff mobility. The UPO runs AKU’s largest student mobility pathway—AKU International Internship Programme (AKU-IIP). The AKU-IIP provides international experiential learning opportunities to students from AKU’s partner institutions. Over the past 12 years, the programme has brought over 350 interns to AKU and AKDN agencies in 14 countries across the Global South.
| Policy & Partnerships / Communications, Marketing & Finance | - Gain extensive knowledge and experience in all stages of project management.
- Hone writing and communication skills specific to various different stakeholders.
- Work on innovative programmes that promote reciprocity and bridge international access gaps.
- Gain knowledge of the intricacies of higher education partnership management.
| Fareena Feroze |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | Office of the President | | The Environment and Climate (E&C) Research Intern will have a unique opportunity to make hands-on contributions to new initiatives at the country-level and institution-wide that promise to help mitigate climate change, risks and vulnerability. S/he will take the lead on researching and developing the Aga Khan University’s first environmental agenda.
| - Support the development of AKU’s first environmental agenda and strategy through primary and secondary research leading to substantiating specific domains of the agenda (e.g. in energy, transportation, water, waste, community engagement, research, etc.).
- As needed, collaborate with other agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and its partners, to coordinate and exchange practices on shared areas of activity in developing strategic plans on the environment and climate, including in reporting and reducing carbon emissions towards AKDN-wide aims of achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
- Assist in the planning, development and potentially the execution of a student- entered hackathon on creating a greener campus.
- Prepare and present a report with the findings of the research and recommendations for AKU to consider in its development of an institutional environmental agenda.
- If time permits, and the above reporting is completed and finalized for AKU, support and carry out the implementation of aspects of the environmental agenda in conjunction with leads and departments to be identified.
| - Bachelor’s Degree (major/minor) in Environmental Studies, Environmental Design, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Policy, Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Climate Science, Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment, Sustainability (or Sustainable Development), or other related fields.
- An understanding of environmental challenges and systems, as well as familiarity with direct and indirect carbon emissions and schemes to reduce carbon emissions (protocols, agreements, offsetting, certificates, etc.).
- Proficient desk research skills. Proven ability to express researched information into summarized documents.
- Ability to work independently and be self-motivated to learn.
- Thrives working for culturally diverse settings, practices effective cross-cultural communication and possesses excellent interpersonal skills.
| Fayaz Noormohamed joined the Aga Khan University (AKU) in 2015 in the Office of the President as Deputy Board Secretary. In 2019, Fayaz assumed his current role at AKU as a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Provost. Fayaz supports engagement with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and AKU’s Board of Trustees. A key priority in Fayaz’s work is to assist in the development of strategies in support of the launch of AKU’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences in Pakistan.
This includes strategies for student recruitment, academic and co-curricular programming, internships, partnerships and fundraising. He also supports the design process of academic spaces that will house Arts and Sciences programming. Into the future, Fayaz will support the launch of AKU’s Graduate School of Government, Civil Society and Public Policy. As AKU’s lead on environment and climate work, Fayaz is guiding and coordinating the institution’s capacity development and plans towards greater environmental stewardship.
| Since 1983, The Aga Khan University has been making a difference in the developing world by enabling promising young men and women to realize their potential and by creating innovative solutions to pressing problems.
| Environmental Science & Sustainability / Education | - Learn about environmental management systems and practices.
- Learn about the development and implementation of large-scale institutional agendas.
- Learn and contextualize environmental sustainability priorities and areas of concern in various regions of the Global South.
| Fayaz Noormohamed |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | Office of Events and Ceremonies (OOEC) | | The eligible candidate will be working under the Office of Events and Ceremonies portfolio at the Office of the President.
The candidate will manage projects assigned including research, website/portal development, guest list development, training documentation, event standards and forms documentation, virtual event coordination and facilitation of the Global Events Team training and meetings.
One of the major objectives of this position will be to provide consulting services to event organizers at our campuses.
| - Research options for Virtual Convocation for the 2021 Convocations in Pakistan and East Africa.
- Provide support with Virtual Convocation planning.
- Support all ongoing events
- Facilitate coordination of Global Events Team consisting of members from six campuses globally.
- Create Convocation documentation manual for East Africa.
- Support the organizers of virtual events university wide.
- Help with the content management of the OOEC Portal Site including revision of the meeting room inventory.
- Assist with the creation and management of OOEC Website
- Maintain and update VIP Events Manual.
| - Enrolment in an Undergraduate or Graduate programme in Social Sciences or any other related field.
- Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail.
- Strong interpersonal skills with ability to communicate with constituents at various levels within the organization.
- Excellent written and verbal communications in English language.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Ability to work independently.
| Munira Janmohamed is the current Head of Global Events at the Aga Khan University. Aga Khan University operates in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the UK, through 6 campuses and 7 teaching hospitals that provide transformative education as well as prepares our graduates for local and global leadership in healthcare and education.
Munira loves her current position as it utilizes perfect combination of her technical and creative skills. Munira's expertise include capacity development in regions where we work and mobilising resources to deliver high quality International events with culturally diverse and virtual teams in multi country environments.
| The Office of Events and Ceremonies is responsible for the coordination and management of all the high-leveled events, which are led by the President, Provost or other Senior Leadership Members.
The office provides consulting services to various campuses located in Asia, Africa and the United Kingdom and ensures best practices are followed.
| University Advancement | - Learn how to coordinate high leveled meeting and events virtually for various Aga Khan University Campuses across the globe.
- Learn some aspects of higher education management.
- Learn how to create relevant content and communications materials for various stakeholders.
| Munira Janmohamed |
| | Nairobi, Kenya | Twelve (12) Weeks | Medical College, Department of Medicine | | The intern will be given an opportunity to work on multiple projects including the research expansion of cervical cancer screening programs for rural coffee farmers, examining the effects of indoor air pollution on lung disease, supporting HIV care and treatment at one of the largest antiretroviral treatment centers in the country, facilitating and analyzing the impact of e-learning to train healthcare workers, and understanding disease presentation and treatment of non-communicable disease at a Kenyan tertiary care hospital.
| - Work on a case report on retroperitoneal fibrosis.
- Collecting literature review on the Impact of COVID on education.
- Conducting a research study/project on mental health outcomes in providers taking care of COVID patients.
- Work closely with the assigned medical resident on their research project, including data collection, analysis, and presentation of results.
- Work closely with the assigned resident and faculty mentors to assist with the overall research objectives and study design.
- Assist with database development, data entry, and data analysis.
- Work to ensure that data collected is collected and stored according to human subjects’ guidelines and patient privacy is protected at all times.
- Work with the resident and mentor to develop an abstract and/or manuscript that is suitable for publication in a peer-review journal.
| - Enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree program in a relevant field such as public health, global health, epidemiology, social sciences, economics, statistics, and demography.
- Basic skills in data collection and analysis and presentation of results.
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
- Coursework in epidemiology methods and biostatistics is a plus.
- Ability to work independently and with a diverse group.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
| Dr. Sayed K. Ali currently serves as the Internal Medicine Residency Program Director and a faculty in both internal medicine and palliative care at Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya. He is an associate professor at Aga Khan University and the University of Central Florida, College of Medicine. Dr. Ali trained in the United States of America completing his undergraduate studies at Stony Brook University in Long Island, New York with a summa cum laude in 1999. He got accepted into an early acceptance medical school program at Stony Brook School of Medicine, New York, where he completed his medical degree in 2003. A recipient of the United States Army Health Professions Scholarship, he completed training in internal medicine at North Shore University Hospital in 2006.
In 2017, he received certification as a hypertension clinician from the American Hypertension Society. He is currently dual boarded by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) in both internal medicine and hospice and palliative care medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the Royal College of Physicians. Dr. Ali has been the chair to many committees most notably the ethics committee at the Orlando VA Medical Center. He has also served as the Chair of Medicine at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait with the US Army. Dr. Ali is a recipient of many teaching awards including the Osler’s Teaching Award from the University of Central Florida in 2016 and 2017. He has multiple scholarly publication in various peer-reviewed journals and has co-authored many abstracts presented both nationally and internationally. He is a recipient of the Veterans Integrated Service Network Innovation Grant looking at fostering end of life conversations in medical learners. He is heavily involved in Graduate Medical Education, teaching both residents in students as well as assisting with research projects, abstracts and peer review publications. His special interests lie in the role of various arts in medicine and the healing process.
| The Medical College in East Africa is part of the Faculty of Health Sciences. We are working with the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, and Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam to build a new academic community.
This community will provide outstanding health professional education, build strong programmes of research that support graduate students and postdoctoral training and provide programmes and services that will be relevant to and have an impact across East Africa.
| Health Sciences | - To learn new skills in research data analysis and referencing skills.
- Learn essential skills in scientific research and writing.
- Learn how to manage scientific research data.
| Dr Sayed Karar |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | Division of Women & Child Health | | The intern will work towards developing research initiatives, manuscripts, and data visualization projects in the fields of pediatric health and genomics.
| - Conduct additional background research as and when required, performance of basic statistical analysis, manuscript preparation and report writing.
- Contributing to a great measure of scientific information related to the advances in pediatric research.
- To work closely with the senior data analyst to update or create a new microsite.
| - Bachelor's or Master's in Biostatistics, biology or any other relevant degree.
- Strong research, IT, Digital marketing skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a team player.
- Good communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and be self-motivated to learn.
- Computing skills.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint programs.
| Dr. Salman Kirmani is a Medical Geneticist & Pediatric Endocrinologist associated with Aga Khan University as an Associate Professor of Paediatrics and Medicine, Chair (Division of Women & Child Health), and Interim Chair (Department of Paediatrics & Child Health). Dr. Kirmani did his MBBS (MD) from Dow Medical College, Karachi followed by Residency & Fellowships from Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Dr. Kirmani is certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics (Clinical Genetics), and the American Board of Pediatrics (General Pediatrics & Pediatric Endocrinology). He was on faculty at the Mayo Clinic till he returned to Pakistan to join the Aga Khan University in 2014.
Dr. Kirmani has a rich and diverse experience in education, clinical service, research and advocacy. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles and two book chapters, and is part of numerous well-funded research studies in his field. He has won a number of teaching awards, and has successfully trained Pakistan’s first genetic counselor, Ms. Fizza Akbar. Together with his multidisciplinary team at AKU, he has developed a Pediatric Genetics Clinic, Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Adult Neurogenetics Clinic, and a Perinatal Genetics Clinic, the first of their kind in Pakistan. He is on the board of a number of parent support groups for rare genetic disorders, including the Karachi Down Syndrome Program, and DEBRA Pakistan. He continually strives to make the advances in Genetics and Genomics accessible to people in Pakistan, and create a team of healthcare professionals who may deliver Precision Medicine solutions to populations with the highest burden of genetic disorders.
| The cross-university Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health serves as a platform for exchange of ideas, development of best research and training programmes to serve the needs of the AKDN and the developing world. It provides a platform for academic and research activities related to several entities and contributing departments.
The Centre focuses on establishing high quality education, research and training programmes in women and child health. It specifically targets clinical services, educational programmes and research by optimally utilizing shared resources to teach innovative courses in areas of high relevance to maternal and child survival and wellbeing in developing countries.
| Health Sciences | - Will receive training in clinical research data entry and management.
- Will receive training in research proposal writing and manuscript preparation.
- Will receive training in genomics data interpretation.
- Will receive training in research bioethics in Genomics.
| Salman Kirmani |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | Design Department | | This internship will focus on evaluating the sustainability of ongoing construction of the project: 17 Storey "University Administration Building" at the AKU National Stadium Campus. This sustainability assesment includes feasible action plans on reducing light pollution, use of sustainable lighting technologies, ensuring that the building energy systems work efficiently, meeting the baseline of energy consumption, use of re-newable energy resources and together with other areas (Architecture & Mechanical) of assesment, playing a significant role in the preparation of proposals for achieving the minimum LEED certification scores.
| - Collect complete building design data and analyse it.
- Propose ideas in adaptation of sustainablility
- Understand the USGBC requirements and study building parameters for fullfilment.
- Prepared a detailed report on outcomes of reasearch
| - Should be proactive and have innovative ideas.
- Goal oriented person .
- Should have positive attitude and eagerness to Learn.
- Should have good verbal and written communication skills.
| Muhammad Shaheryar Afzal is a practicing Professional Engineer since March 2007 having overall experience of 14 years+ in the field of Design, Field Design Support Services (FDSS) and Construction Supervision of various multi- dimensional projects.
| At the Design Department, architects, mechanical and electrical engineers work in tandem to design innovative buildings, interior spaces for clients/users of the Aga Khan University as well as the University Hospital in Karachi. The Chancellor has emphasised the importance of exploring sustainable design options for our future buildings as well as modifiying existing for a more environmental friendly campus.
| Environmental Science & Sustainability | - Practicing on Design Softwares like Dialux, ABB DocWin etc.
- Learning of IEC, NFPA and other healthcare/building related codes & standards.
- Will perform research on sustainable development design of building electrical systems.
- Learn design calculations and complete building electrical distribution network.
| Muhammad Shaheryar Afzal |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | Design Department | | The concept of green building is no longer an alternative but a necessity in the current world. The designation of a building as “green” depends on having a certificate. LEED is one of the world wide used green building certification systems developed by the US green building council (USGBC).
The intern will analyze and examine variations in the achievement of LEED certification level (silver, gold or platinum) for AKU’s ongoing construction of the University Center (UC) building.
| - Identify and minimize the adverse impacts of excessive energy consumption.
- Identifies and discusses patterns in achieving points relative to certification levels.
- Participate and contribute to a team effort, exchanging ideas and recommending improvements.
| - Must be undergraduate Engineering student.
- Computer & Software knowledge in AutoCAD, MS Word, Excel required and Revit a plus
- Good time management habits, ability to multi-task, ability to sustain focus on long tasks.
- Strong initiative and problem solving abilities.
| Farah is a mechanical engineering graduate from NED University of Engineering and Technology. She has 8 years of experience in HVAC design. She is passionate about HVAC engineering and energy conservation, and has been associated with the Aga Khan Design Office since January 2020. | The Design Department coordinates with users and consultants to prepare schematic designs in accordance with user requirements.
| Health Sciences / Mechanical Engineering | | Farah Kanwal |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | Design Department | | This internship will focus on evaluating the existing ‘green’ footprint of the AKU campus based on the UI Greenmetric scale and create innovative proposals that are geared towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The Universitas Indonesia (UI) Greenmetric rating draws attention to universities that are an exemplar for fighting global climate change, energy and water conservation, waste recycling and green transportation. By participating in this self-evaluation, AKUH is constantly working on becoming a more sustainable campus.
| - Stakeholder research generate user requirements.
- Review and understand the campus's existing carbon footprint and propose new ideas on ways to reduce it.
- Understand the UI Greenmetric and coordinate with services around campus to fill the requirements.
- Identify opportunities of improvement within architectural spaces on campus.
| - Bachelor’s degree or higher in Architecture, Urban Planning, Sustainable Development, Engineering, and other related fields
- Have a keen eye for detail and aesthetics.
- Have good verbal and written communication skills.
- Be capable of working under pressure and understand the importance of schedules and timelines.
- Have basic understanding of Auto CAD.
| Zahra Hirji graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Geography and Architecture from the University of Toronto. She has been working with the Design Office as an Architect for three years and has worked on various design projects around campus and has held workshops for Global Encounters participants.
| At the Design Department, architects, mechanical and electrical engineers work in tandem to design innovative buildings, interior spaces for clients/users of the Aga Khan University as well as the University Hospital in Karachi. The Chancellor has emphasised the importance of exploring sustainable design options for our future buildings as well as modifiying existing for a more environmental friendly campus.
| Environmental Science & Sustainability | - Study existing campus layouts and standard practices as a case study.
- Learn about Architecture features that are unique to AKUH, Karachi.
- Work with a talented team of Architects, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and learn softwares such as CAD and Revit.
- Learn to interact with users/clients and understand their requirements for detail designs.
| Zahra Hirji |
| | Karachi, Pakistan | Twelve (12) Weeks | University Partnerships Office | | The position entails working with the Director on developing a cohesive and internal programme on AKU's Partnerships Office focused on faculty and staff mobiity, establishing policies, working with partner universities and building a core framework for a first of its kind iniative at AKU. The intern will have an opportunity to develop a programme, do the analysis and research around the iniative, develop a plan and have a chance to present it to the university community.
| - Assist on the development of an internal mobility programme for faculty and staff at AKU to partner universities and vice-versa.
- Research on such a programme, analysis, market research and innovation in establishing such an initiative.
- Work on the implementation of a clear programme plan, policies, implementation, etc.
- Assist in the communications and branding initiative for this programme.
| - Bachelor’s degree or higher in the Social Sciences or other related fields
- Previous project management experience is an asset
- Strong writing skills for both formal report writing and communication pieces
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a team player
- Ability to work independently and be self-motivated to learn
- Organized, creative, and innovative thinker
| Ms. Farzana Karim-Haji joined the Aga Khan University (AKU) in 2001 to work on strategic planning and development of AKU’s emerging international projects in Afghanistan, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. In 2006, she took on a new and expanded role of establishing and developing AKU’s University Partnerships Office, responsible for the management, development and strengthening of academic partnerships and collaborations with national and international Universities both within AKU and also within the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
Before joining AKU, Farzana worked at the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP), based in New York, as a policy specialist on international development issues, focused on poverty alleviation and gender development supporting UNDP offices in 166 countries. In addition, she has consulted for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in the area of human rights and gender development.
She received her BA (Honors) in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley, and her MSc in International Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She also completed a Post Graduate degree in Islamic Studies and the Humanities from the Institute of Ismaili Studies.
| AKU’s University Partnership Office serves as the central gateway to advance partnership opportunities with local and international academic institutions as well as with other AKDN agencies.
The main aim of the UPO is to support the building of strategic partnerships in alignment with AKU’s global mission; to build the visibility of AKU's international and local partners; to leverage institutional partnerships; to grow and develop our mobility programmes; and build the capacity of faculty, staff and students to engage in partnership projects.
The University Partnerships Office conveys AKU’s global vision through its partnership activities and actively works to establish meaningful and reciprocal partnerships that also include student, faculty and staff mobility. The UPO runs AKU’s largest student mobility pathway—AKU International Internship Programme (AKU-IIP). The AKU-IIP provides international experiential learning opportunities to students from AKU’s partner institutions. Over the past 12 years, the programme has brought over 350 interns to AKU and AKDN agencies in 14 countries across the Global South.
| Policy & Partnerships / Communications, Marketing & Finance | - Develop skills in strategic thinking to establish meaningful and reciprocal relationships.
- Learn how to advance and leverage academic institutional partnerships.
- Gain extensive experience in research and writing for various different partnership stakeholders
- Learn about the intricacies of building partnership programmes, policies, research, analysis etc.
| Farzana Karim-Haji |
