The Aga Khan University's Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (AKU-ISMC) was founded in 2002 as an educational and research unit. The Institute advances the University's commitment to academic excellence and social development. AKU-ISMC's ambitious remit is to carry out excellent research and teaching that can enable future and current leaders to effectively address complex challenges facing the world.

AKU-ISMC is a research-driven and nondenominational humanities and social science academic institution producing internationally recognised research, education and outreach founded on a scholarly and plural understanding of Islam and Muslim cultures.

The Institute's aim is to present a non-dogmatic perspective by employing and contributing to the development of new methods and theories in the study of Islam and Muslim cultures. At AKU-ISMC, critical questions are being asked regarding the production of Islam rather than discussing what Islam is. AKU-ISMC also adopts an interdisciplinary, comparative, collaborative and analytical approach within a framework of the study of cultures and civilisations to realise its goals. Read more​