(WNAM Report): The Aga Khan University received the prestigious Zairi International Award of Excellence for Research Impact in Higher Education during the 6 th MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum
(MENA HELF) held in Dubai, UAE, on April 18, 2024. This forum is as an exclusive gathering of
higher education leaders from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a few
notable educational and political leaders from the US, Australia, Ireland and the UK.
The Zairi International Awards for Excellence in Higher Education, which have six categories,
were launched in 2021. The Research Excellence Award was presented by Her Excellency
Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future in
the UAE, on behalf of the Center for Learning Innovations and Customized Knowledge
Solutions (CLICKS), which presents the Zairi awards on an annual basis. The research award,
in particular, recognises higher education institutions for their outstanding contributions to
groundbreaking research, that addresses real-world challenges in a variety of disciplines
including social, economic, political, and cultural spheres. The prize, which focuses on tangible
impact within communities and disciplines, celebrates achievements that demonstrate
meaningful benefits.
“This award is a testament to the untiring efforts by our faculty members, research teams,
research administrators, and university leadership to ensure that research is foundational in
everything we do as a university,” said Dr Salim Virani, AKU’s Vice Provost Research. “Our core
values of Impact, Quality, Relevance and Access (IQRA) are fully represented in the research
performed at our university and this award validates those core values of the Aga Khan
University.”
The Zairi awards recognise higher education institutions that develop and implement creative
responses to current and ongoing issues in the field. It considers many factors, including
research priorities and strategies that address local, regional, or global issues; innovative
approaches that foster sustainability and growth; institutional culture and how well it cultivates
leadership and support; measurable impact and results through publications, citations, patents,
and external funding; as well as productive partnerships and collaborations for knowledge co-
creation.
“This accolade reflects the dedication and collaborative efforts of our faculty, researchers, and
staff who continuously strive for excellence in research. We remain deeply committed to
fostering a culture that can drive positive change and address the real needs of communities
through impactful research and capacity building", said AKU President Dr Sulaiman
Shahabuddin.
The Zairi Award of Excellence for Research Impact follows the Zairi Award of Excellence for
Disruptive Education, which was granted to AKU in 2022 based on the work of the University's
Network of Quality, Teaching and Learning, QTL_net, which supports teaching excellence and
promotes scholarship on teaching and learning across AKU.
