AKU Arusha Campus dream inches to reality
Sunday, August 27, 2023
By Zephania Ubwani
Summary
AKU is a private, non-denominational, non-profit international university of distinction, primarily serving the developing world.
It was initially established in Pakistan in 1983 and is one of the agencies within the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)
Arusha. The Aga Khan University (AKU) new campus project in Arusha is inching towards reality. Construction of various structures of the academic centre is expected to commence soon.
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"We are making progress in the realization of our dream to have an AKU campus in Arusha," said Prof Eunice Siaity-Pallangyo, the associate vice provost.
According to her, October this year may be a defining point for the project which is expected to cost millions of dollars.
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During the month, a high powered delegation of AKU headquarters abroad will be at the project site on the outskirts of Arusha, a mission likely to set in motion the project implementation.
Prof Pallangyo was briefing the minister for Education, Prof Adolf Mkenda who visited the site at a former coffee estate west of the city.
She acknowledged that the project, whose cost she did not reveal, has been subjected to delays after it was mulled way back in 2015.
She, however, appealed for support from the government of Tanzania so that the dream of having AKU campus in Arusha is realised.
"We appeal to the government to continue working with us. On our part we are ready to work with the government," she said. The proposed campus will be the third academic centre in East Africa under AKU which runs several universities elsewhere in the world, the largest being in Karachi, Pakistan.
AKU is a private, non-denominational, non-profit international university of distinction, primarily serving the developing world.
It was initially established in Pakistan in 1983 and is one of the agencies within the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
Speaking after visiting the site offices, Prof Mkenda promised that the government would fully support AKU to realise its dream.
The minister said that he was part of the government team which ensured AKU secured a 3,700 acre land at Kisongo for the purpose.
Prof Mkenda, who doubles as a scholar, lauded AKU for managing what he described as among "the best and iconic universities" in the world.
"Investments by Aga Khan have always been first class. The government of Tanzania highly appreciates what AKDN is doing in the country,” he went on,” he said.
He added that the new AKU campus in Arusha will increase the visibility of Arusha city and raise its status as yet another academic city in East Africa.
The move is viewed as a catalyst for positive transformation that will see the city expand as the intellectual, social and political hub for East Africa.
Within the East African Community (EAC) region, AKU operates two campuses in Nairobi and Kampala. The proposed one in Arusha will be the third.
At present AKU operates in three continents; Africa, Asia and Europe. Its universities have blended scholarly learning with human welfare in research, teaching and community service.