The Aga Khan University

School of Nursing
In Syria, the Aga Khan University School of Nursing (AKU-SON) has been working with the Ministries of Health and Higher Education to improve nursing education and services since 2003. AKU-SON has revised the general nursing curriculum, which is being implemented at all 14 of the Syrian Ministry of Health’s Schools of Nursing. Syrian nurses have graduated from Bachelor and Master level programmes at AKU-SON and are now faculty members at nursing schools in Syria. Nurses from Syria have benefited from comprehensive clinical skills training at the University Hospital in Karachi and nursing quality procedures have also been introduced at five hospitals in Syria.

AKU-SON is also working directly with physicians and health care staff to promote awareness about the role of nurses. By completing AKU-SON-designed continuing education and professional development courses, nurses will be able to participate in the management and administration of health centres and hospitals. These developments will have a direct impact on improving hospital conditions and health care delivery.

Institute for Educational Development
In conjunction with other AKDN agencies, Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development, Pakistan is working closely with the Government of Syria to develop institutional capacity to improve the quality of education in the country, working with teachers, teacher educators and English Language Inspectors. Three Syrians have graduated from the Master’s of Education (MEd) programme at AKU-IED, Pakistan, with one returning to a senior position in the Ministry of Education; three Syrian candidates are enrolled in the MEd class of 2010. Discussions are being held with the Syrian Ministry of Education on establishing a Professional Development Centre in Damascus to ensure long-term sustainability for capacity development in education.

E G Y P T

The Aga Khan School of Nursing (AKU-SON) expanded its programme to Egypt in 2005, offering needs-based training courses to in-service nurses and opportunities to pursue higher education in Karachi. AKU-SON is also exploring partnerships and planning to establish new higher education opportunities for nurses in the Aswan Governorate of Egypt.