Originally founded in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU) was Pakistan’s first private university and quickly established a reputation as a leading health-sciences centre. From 2000 onwards, the University then expanded into Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Afghanistan, and the United Kingdom to reach its position today, where it has become deeply rooted in six countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
AKU is now home to 3,400 students and its 17,000 alumni hold leadership positions in both locally and globally renowned institutions, from Karachi to New York City. With seven hospitals and 350 outreach clinics, it cares for more than 2 million patients annually, making it one of the largest private health care providers in Pakistan and East Africa. In addition to the comprehensive medical and nursing programmes it offers, AKU is developing new disciplines including the launch of a flagship Liberal Arts undergraduate programme this Autumn. In recent years, it has been ranked among the leading universities in Asia and Africa, and in some subjects, the world.
AKU was established as an agency of the
Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which focuses on health, education, culture, rural development, institution-building, and the promotion of economic development. It is dedicated to improving living conditions and opportunities for the poor, regardless of their faith, origin, or gender. In alignment with the mandate of the AKDN, the mission of AKU is to improve quality of life in the developing world and beyond through world-class teaching, research, and health-care delivery. The University empowers women and the disadvantaged, builds support for pluralism, and collaborates with local partners and world-renowned organizations to achieve shared goals.
The story of AKU constitutes an ambitious and inspiring vision for people around the world; of perseverance and success in the face of immense challenges; of the difference that the pursuit of knowledge and excellence makes in the lives of millions. AKU’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 and concerted investments in climate literacy demonstrate its determination to create a sustainable future for generations to come.
