Aga Khan University (AKU) for Collaboration with Partner Institutions for Research Initiatives on Healthcare and Education in LMICs.

Founded in 1983 by His Highness the Aga Khan IV, the Aga Khan University (AKU) is an international university rooted in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and is committed to improving the quality of life through education, healthcare, and research. Operating across Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and the United Kingdom (UK), it has consistently prioritised leadership, service, and meaningful impact in the communities it serves. Its mission—to educate leaders and generate solutions to enduring local and global challenges—has guided its growth over the past 40 years. With its broad geographic presence, investments in excellence across disciplines, and unwavering focus on social responsibility, AKU is uniquely positioned to address the complex research needs of LMICs.  

AKU is guided by its core principles of Impact, Quality, Relevance, and Access (IQRA), grounded in the ethics, humanistic ideals, pluralistic worldview, and philosophy of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The University is committed to fostering an environment that champions intellectual freedom, excellence in scholarship, pluralism, compassion, and a shared human responsibility for sustaining the physical, social, and cultural environment. These principles permeate every aspect of its operations—informing decisionmaking, shaping policies, and driving strategic planning—as AKU works to meet the needs and expectations of its diverse stakeholders, including students, patients, faculty, staff, partners, donors, alumni, volunteers, AKDN, and the broader community. 

AKU has recently been awarded Platinum-level certification in Kenya and Gold certification in Pakistan for research administration and grant management from the Science For Africa Foundation. These distinctions underscore AKU's leadership in internationally benchmarked research administration and its commitment to the highest standards of accountability and governance.   

VISION 

AKU will be an autonomous, international institution of distinction, primarily serving the developing world and Muslim societies in innovative and enduring ways. 

MISSION 

AKU is committed to the development of human capacities through the discovery and dissemination of knowledge, and application through service. It seeks to prepare individuals for constructive and exemplary leadership roles, and shaping public and private policies, through strength in research and excellence in education, all dedicated to providing meaningful contributions to society.  

  AKU Research Pillars 

1. Identifying and Cultivating Emerging Research Themes. 

2. Improving on Research Strengths, Coordination and Governance. 

3. Establishing a supportive environment for next generation of researchers at AKU. 

4. Enhancing AKU’s impact in the Knowledge society by identifying contextually relevant research metrics and improving knowledge dissemination.

 Funders worked with 

Between 2013 and 2025, AKU has received 1,500+ research grants from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Gates Foundation, Gavi, the Hilton Foundation, the ELMA Foundation, the Government of Canada, and many other leading funding agencies. 

AKU has also worked with prominent European Funders including the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI), National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), European Research Council, Wellcome Trust, German Research Foundation, and Horizon Europe. With the help of the funding support received, the University has implemented various research initiatives, including those on Artificial Intelligence, Climate Change, Maternal and Child Health, Cardiometabolic and Infectious Diseases. 

Important Links 

Research at AKU 

AKU Research Strategic Plan 2024-2028 

AKU Strategic Plan 2024-2028 

AKU Social Media Hub 

AKU Research Magazine