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The Aga Khan University has won the inaugural edition of the Award of Excellence for Disruptive Education, of the prestigious and competitive Zairi International Award in Higher Education 2022.

AKU received the award based on the work of the University's Network of Quality, Teaching and Learning, QTL_net, which supports excellence in academic programmes to ensure students have a strong learning experience during their academic years.

AKU was selected from amongst applications received from 31 countries with winners announced at a ceremony at the MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum in Dubai, UAE.​

The Award of Excellence for Disruptive Education considers innovative higher education institutions that stand out in their approach to shaping and re-imagining the future of higher education to meet the challenges of the future. Announced by Dr. Peter J. Wells, Chief, Higher Education at UNESCO, the award was received by AKU's Professor Tashmin Khamis, Vice Provost, Quality, Teaching and Learning and Ms. Azra Naseem, Director, Blended and Digital Learning.

“Whilst AKU is a University 'of and for the developing world', this international award of excellence in higher education is an acknowledgement that AKU promotes global best practices in quality, teaching and learning. Educational cxcellence is not a choice for AKU, it is our mission!" said Prof. Khamis.

Despite AKU's geographic spread and varied contextual needs, QTL_net has been successful in bringing faculty members from different disciplines and entities together through interdisciplinary and need-based faculty development programmes.

“The panel recognises Aga Khan University's innovation and impact in three areas: peer-led transformation of teaching practices; professionalizing teaching and rewarding excellence; and digital disruption for transformative teaching," said the award organizers.

The Zairi Award is international recognition of outstanding performance for higher education institutions around the world in research, digital transformation, community engagement and to those who have successfully addressed global education challenges. The award is administered on an annual basis by the Center for Learning Innovations and Customized Knowledge Solutions, CLICKS.