In this first episode of Season 2 of the podcast, I had the opportunity to sit down with Kamal Ahmad, the Founder of the Asian University for Women, and learn about the mission of the university and how it has become a global model for educating some of the most disadvantaged young women in Asia and beyond—including Rohingya refugees and students from Afghanistan. The university was founded on the belief that education for women is a critical pathway to leadership development, economic progress, and social and political equality in societies.
A lawyer by training, Kamal has devoted his life to forging social change through education and, during his career, has worked with the World Bank, Rockefeller Foundation, UNICEF, and the General Counsel of the Asian Development Bank. He is a recipient of several awards including the United Nations Gold Peace Medal & Citation Scroll, given by the Paul G. Hoffman Awards Fund; a Time magazine Award; and the World Economic Forum Global Leader for Tomorrow Award. He serves on several boards, including on the Council of Luminaries of the Yidan Education Foundation in Hong Kong.
Episode Themes:
Kamal’s early awareness of lack of educational access in Bangladesh which led him, at the age of 14, to found a group of schools for underprivileged children. His subsequent journey from Bangladesh to the U.S. as a high school student, and the influence of a global education in his family.
The early inspiration and vision that led to the creation of the Asian University for Women, and the reason for focusing on women.
The experience of repatriating 148 Afghan students who are now studying at campuses across the U.S., including at Brown University and Arizona State University. Read the recent NYT article about this here.
The importance of the humanities in educating global citizens and how AUW is expanding its humanities offerings with support from the Mellon Foundation.
How Kamal’s training as a lawyer has helped him focus on international development and building a university.
Kamal shares his lessons learned as a university founder
Resources:
Follow the Asian University for Women on Twitter
My book: America Calling: A Foreign Student in a Country of Possibility
Newsletter sign-up: www.rajikabhandari.com
LinkedIn: @rajikabhandari
Twitter: @rajikabhandari
