Values in Action
We select exceptional students from all backgrounds and give them the highest standard of education. Our vision is to nurture future leaders who will support positive development in their societies. Our students, therefore, take their skills beyond the classroom, embodying the ethos of the Academies in their lives.
“The ability to command and control has become less important than the ability to anticipate, connect and respond. And educational institutions which can instill and enhance those capacities have become essential to effective development.”
His Late Highness Aga Khan IV
Mombasa, August 2007
Our Aspirations for AKA Maputo Students
The Aga Khan Academies has developed a curriculum within the framework of the International Baccalaureate’s (IB) programmes. As such, the attributes of the Aga Khan Academies Learner Profile are closely aligned to those of the IB learner profile.
Read more below about the attributes we aim to instil in our students. The last two attributes, emphasising working with others and making the world a better place, are unique to the Aga Khan Academies Learner Profile.
We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.
We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.
We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.
We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.
We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.
We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.
We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives – intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual – to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognise our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.
We understand that multiple perspectives will allow us to make better decisions, and seek opportunities to work with a variety of others. We perceive and anticipate needs and problems, and are able to motivate ourselves and others to tackle problems, confidently and cooperatively.
We understand the interconnectedness of communities, striving to create harmony in our environment, while considering the needs of all members. We are motivated to leave the world a better place.
“The ability to make judgements that are grounded in solid information and employ careful analysis, should be one of the most important goals for any educational endeavour. As students develop this capability, they can begin to grapple with the most important and difficult step: to learn to place such judgements in an ethical framework.”
His Late Highness Aga Khan IV
Foreword to Excellence in Education, Aga Khan Academies, 2003
Our Vision in Practice
The Aga Khan Curricular Strands (AK Strands), the leadership curriculum and Service Learning elements of our programme support students to achieve the vision of the Academies.
The AK Strands consist of Ethics; Pluralism; Cultures (with an emphasis on Muslim civilisations); Governance and Civil Society; and Economics for Development. They underpin every aspect of the curriculum, preparing students to apply their talents to issues facing society.
While aspects of leadership can be discussed in the classroom, it takes real-world context to bring the theory to life. Role plays and simulations prepare students to participate in, and lead, teams. Their responsibilities increase as they progress, whether coaching sports, planning activities or taking on prefect duties. The Academy’s dedication to diversity exposes students to different cultures, religions, countries and socio-economic backgrounds, mirroring the global worlds they will move in. Students also learn to make a difference through serving their communities.
