At AKU, we believe that the future of impactful research begins with the right support. The Research Initiative for Scholars Excellence (RISE) Programme is a university-wide effort to equip early-career faculty with the skills, mentorship, and opportunities they need to thrive as research leaders and secure competitive international grants.

Launched in 2024, the RISE Programme responds to the growing need for structured career pathways, dedicated research time, and holistic professional development. It combines technical training in grant writing with essential non-technical skills in leadership, collaboration, and strategic thinking. In doing so, it advances AKU’s long-term vision to expand human capital in resource-constrained settings and cultivate a strong, sustainable research culture across its campuses in Pakistan and East Africa.

Whether aiming to become a clinician-researcher, educator-researcher, or researcher-educator, the RISE Programme empowers faculty to tackle pressing global challenges, foster innovation, and contribute to equitable knowledge creation and sustainable development.​