The Aga Khan University (Urdu: جامىهء ﺁغا خان; popular as "AKU"), is a private research university located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.[1] Founded in 1983, the university was named for its famed benefactor and philanthropist, Aga Khan IV. The university holds the unique distinction of being one of the first private-sector universities in Pakistan.
The Aga Khan University maintains its central campus in Pakistan; teaching hospitals in countries in the African Great Lakes; and the United Kingdom. The university offers various academic programmes for undergraduate, post-graduate studies in biological and medical sciences. It is organized into five undergraduate and four post-graduate programmes on two main campuses— Pakistan and Tanzania.The University is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities of the United Kingdom.
It consistently maintained its top position in all rankings of HEC since 2005 and has been best university in health sciences category by the HEC as of 2014. In addition, the university secured its ranking among the 250 Asian universities ranking by the British Quacquarelli Symonds. Aga Khan pioneers the concept of modern medical science research in Pakistan and overall ranked its research in the top on the global impact of its research.
The Aga Khan University accounts for 75% of all biomedical research in Pakistan while the remaining 30 percent is shared by all the other institutions. AKU publishes more research articles in peer-reviewed, indexed internationally recognised journals than any other university in Pakistan. Faculty promotions are dependent on publications in indexed journals while most medical students have published by the time they graduate.[citation needed]
Its the only university of Pakistan which provides research facilities to students at undergraduate level. Many undergraduate medical students have published upto 40-50 research papers in indexed health journals.(Needs reference, many junior faculty have not published this many papers)
The university maintains a Research Office to guide and support research conducted at the University. A University Research Council also funds grants after a competitive review process facilitated by a Grants Review Committee. Particular emphasis is also placed on community related health sciences research. AKU organizes international and national research workshops and seminars. A Health Sciences Research Assembly is held annually in which faculty and students present their research
