A mentor, teacher, leader, and innovator, Alison Hampshire is a woman of many virtues. She is an experienced K–12 Principal recognized for fostering change and innovation in education. She is highly skilled in K–12 Education, Educational Technology, and Curriculum Development.
The popular quote by Michelle Obama, “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish,” is a perfect fit for Alison Hampshire. Originally from the UK, the inspirational lady has been a school leader in the UK, Hong Kong, Africa, and Asia. Since 1998, when she was Assistant Head of a Girl’s School in Buckinghamshire, she has been in school leadership. She was one of the first teachers in the UK to receive Advanced Skills Teacher recognition. She subsequently spent eight years as the vice principal at South Island School in Hong Kong before moving to Malaysia to become the head of Nexus International School Malaysia. As Head of the Academy, she began working at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa in 2018. And, she successfully completed her term from August 2018 to August 2023.
The Aga Khan Academy Mombasa: Creating a Blend of Academics, Sports, Cultural, and Community Life
What fuel is to the world, education is for all, with the stumbling blocks being consistency and quality! The Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, incorporated in 2000, is a renowned day and residential International Baccalaureate World School for students in Years 1–12. Envisioned to develop young people who are rooted in their local communities and enriched by a global perspective, the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa is the first of a planned network of Aga Khan Academies being created in nations around Africa, Asia, and Europe.
With a blend of invention and nurture, the academy has been delivering excellence to equip young people to lead and effect positive change in the society they live in and offers the Primary Years Programme (Years 1–5), the Middle Years Programme (Years 6–10), and the Diploma Programme (Years 11–12). It seeks out the most intelligent and forward-thinking individuals and offers Merit-based admission, ensuring that all qualified students can enroll, regardless of their financial situation. The academy empowers them for lives marked by leadership and service and urges them to accept and appreciate other people’s cultures, social systems, values, and beliefs.
It is the first in the network of Aga Khan Academies established by His Highness the Aga Khan to serve the local and wider East African community. The Academy strives to strike a balance among academics, athletics, extracurricular pursuits, and community involvement. It is further planning to create a worldwide learning community made up of roughly 18 schools spread across 14 nations that will eventually graduate 1,500 students a year while serving 14,000 extraordinary girls and boys.
The Key Driving Force Behind Alison’s Progress as an ‘Education Leader’
Alison has grown personally and professionally as a result of her experiences attending school in a variety of settings. Key details that have helped her do this have changed over time, but in her opinion, they are still useful.
A new approach that helped instructors change their pedagogy was to change the length of the school day in Hong Kong to two hours with a late start one day per week. The culmination of a journey to develop the use of technology in learning was Malaysia’s recognition as an Apple Distinguished School in 2016.
An exercise in resilience and strategic planning was COVID-19 in Mombasa. The magnificent woman discovered throughout those months that remaining upbeat, having faith in the people she works with, and having the strength of a team is essential for success in a crisis. “My understanding of diversity and the value of empathy has grown as a result of working with students and colleagues from many cultures and backgrounds”, she mentioned.
Feathers in the Cap
According to Alison, the most valuable award the academy has achieved is the positive feedback received from existing students, parents, and alumni. Further, the academy has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions, including:
- Microsoft educators receive grants for outreach work in the community from international organizations such as World Vision.
- Teacher preparation programs are recognized and accredited by Concordia University and Cambridge Education Group (CEG).
- The Aga Khan Academy Mombasa hosts annual training in a purpose-built, top-notch IB facility, making it the only such facility in Africa.
- World-class service-learning program with many Students who have received awards for projects in the community, e.g., the Princess Diana Award.
- Many students compete at National levels in basketball, swimming, chess, and badminton.
Innovation and Adaptability: A Norm
Online materials are curated and allow teachers to customize instruction to meet the requirements and preferences of each individual student. Teachers create films for students to view if they miss lessons. Additionally, educators use adaptive learning tools that change the level of difficulty based on how well students perform.
Simulators and animations are used by teachers to simplify complex ideas, and online tests or games are used to reinforce concepts and get rapid feedback. The curriculum includes instruction in coding and graphic design for websites and apps. AI is currently being used by students to assist them in selecting materials and formulating their answers to questions.
Sync with Techno: The Aga Khan Academy Mombasa
Today’s technology is developing quickly, enabling quicker change and advancement and accelerating development. The Aga Khan Academy Mombasa team wants to make sure that students are aware of all the most recent technological advancements. This year, a 3D printer was installed in the Academy, enabling students majoring in digital design to design and print 3D objects. They make sure to combine physically located classroom approaches with online educational resources and possibilities for online engagement. Students who have access to immersive VR learning and our skilled teachers—all of whom are masters in different digital fields—consistently attain test scores substantially above the global averages and have an understanding of cutting-edge technology.
Changing Industry Trends
As dinosaurs that are very slow to adapt, schools won’t appear all that different, but staff members will need to embrace technology and put a major emphasis on both academic performance and student well-being. Exams may move online and become more authentic as AI is easily able to respond to knowledge-based questions, but good schools are more than just testing grounds; they are places where students learn to develop their morals, personalities, social and emotional abilities, and find their hobbies. That cannot be replaced by technology.
Crafting for Future Success
The Academy’s journey ahead is to scale greater heights in the field of education. It strives to move ahead with His Highness’s goal of producing moral, well-rounded leaders where every child experiences the right to freedom of expression and learning in a happy and nurturing environment. The Aga Khan Academy Mombasa’s plans to provide a more impressive experience using AI, such as VR learning, are underway, and they look forward to venturing into marketing avenues through videos and animations and expanding the Academy’s brand into new markets and countries.
“Be adaptable and open to change. Always put the needs of the students first, and have faith in your employees to act morally. Nobody ever gets out of bed in the morning believing I’m going to fail at teaching. Support them in being the best version of themselves”, the inspirational lady shared.
