The Aga Khan University (AKU) has contributed four papers to a special issue of the Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice (JUTLP), examining how universities can rise to the demands of a rapidly changing world through more intentional teaching, research, and community engagement.
The special issue, Purpose-Driven Universities, explores how universities can move beyond conventional measures of success and orient their work more deliberately toward the needs of the societies they serve.
"We are living in a time of rapid and far-reaching change," said Dr Anil Khamis, guest editor of the special issue. “Universities are navigating challenges that have no simple solutions, from global health crises like COVID-19 to the rise of artificial intelligence in education, environmental pressures, and shifts in international cooperation. Universities have a responsibility to confront these realities with knowledge, and a genuine commitment to the public good."
The papers draw on work across AKU's Institute for Educational Development (IED), the Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD), and the Research Office.
At the heart of the collection is a commitment to transformation, examining how the IED equips educators to become agents of change through immersive learning, deep community engagement, and leadership cultivation. This extends to inclusion, with a study demonstrating how thoughtfully designed digital learning can dismantle barriers and broaden women's participation in science and research.
The papers also turn to sustainability, exploring how students at AKU's Karachi, Pakistan campus understand the university's decarbonisation commitments and their potential as future educators to champion environmental responsibility. Together, these threads converge in a study of impact, led by Dr Maha Inam, an AKU alumna , which maps 293 research grants against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering a clear picture of where AKU's research is making the greatest difference, and where greater ambition is warranted.
"Research that is purposefully aligned with the SDGs has the power to move beyond academic inquiry and drive tangible, lasting change. This work underscores how universities can serve as catalysts for sustainable development by linking funding to meaningful impact," said Dr Salim Virani, Vice Provost for Research at AKU and an author of this study. "We are committed to advancing research that not only generates knowledge but also translates this into real-world solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities."
Dr Khamis added that the publication speaks to a pivotal moment for universities everywhere. "This volume addresses fundamental questions about the purpose of universities in a changing world. It shows where we are making a real contribution, and where we can do even more."
Published on March 26, 2026, the special issue firmly positions AKU within a growing global conversation about the evolving responsibilities of universities, and the profound difference they can make when purpose drives everything they do.
