The Aga Khan Academies’ Student Exchange Programme comes to Maputo

On Thursday 14 November 2019, the International Exchange Manager for the Aga Khan Academies, Elizabeth MacFarlane, conducted two sessions introducing the Student Exchange Programme, which will now engage Aga Khan Academy Maputo students. Introduced in 2018, the exchange enables Academies’ Year 9 students to study and live at another Academy for three months, from the end of August to the beginning of December.

Participants will share residences, classes and all activities with students from Aga Khan Academy Mombasa or Hyderabad. They engage in excursions, trips and other activities to deepen their understanding of other cultures. 

Participants of the exchange programme have lauded it for sharpening their adaptability skills and for teaching them how to work with people from different backgrounds. Aashna Lakhani (Year 9), a participant from Hyderabad said, “I believe that it is not an exchange of students but an exchange of thoughts, beliefs and perspectives. It has helped me step out of my comfort zone. Living away form home has helped me become a lot more independent than I used to be.”

The experience will help students transition successfully into the rigours of their forthcoming academic career and prepare them for leadership in a globalised world through cross-cultural interactions. 

The Exchange Programme has run two successful cycles between the Academies in Mombasa and Hyderabad in 2018 and 2019. The curriculum for all Year 9 students is aligned across the Academies and all grades obtained during the programme count towards students’ Year 9 transcript.

In 2020, the Academy in Maputo will both send and receive exchange students. Year 8 students who are interested can apply to participate and a small number will be selected in March after which they will be prepared for the programme.