Current Placement Spotlight: Sana Najafi in Nairobi, Kenya | Department of Global Development Studies

Sana Najafi is currently pursuing her 8-month placement with the Networks of Quality, Teaching and Learning (QTL) at Aga Khan University (AKU) in Nairobi, Kenya. She is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Scholarship Award. Currently, Sana’s is involved in a variety of projects undertaken by QTL. She is coordinating with the TL_net team in Karachi to redesign and update the department website. She is also working alongside the quality assurance team at AKU to review and assess the activities and workshops facilitated by the AKU Quality Academic Review Committee. She is also re-organizing and analyzing the current faculty databases and writing website articles for the Networks. Sana’s current research focus aims to explore how faculty at AKU implement blended digital learning and integrate technology into teaching to allow students to better understand real world problems.

Sana Najafi at the Rhino special campsite

In her free time, Sana volunteers at a Women’s Youth Committee at a local mosque in Nairobi. Sana also had the opportunity to attend the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi. The conference focused on marine ecosystems and emerging businesses such as blue fashion. During the conference, she had the opportunity to interact with local Kenyan business owners and was able to gain a new perspective on how businesses operate in Kenya. Sana has also visited several places in and around Nairobi such as the Nairobi National Museum, Ngong Hills, Maasai Mara National Reserve, and Hells Gate National Park. She hopes to explore and learn more in the upcoming months of her placement!

To follow Sana on her journey in Kenya, Click Here to visit her blog!