Excellence for Curriculum Development
I follow the Backward Curriculum Design framework in all program and course development. An example is the MPhil course on Endocrine Reproduction, co-designed in 2021 and launched in 2022. I began by developing a concept map aligned with broader program goals, followed by drafting learning outcomes, teaching and learning approaches, learner activities, and aligned assessment tasks. The course emphasized debate, discussion, and skills-based sessions to enhance critical thinking. It underwent rigorous scrutiny at both the university and Higher Education Commission levels and met high standards of quality assurance. Regular feedback sessions were embedded to identify and address learner needs. I have successfully developed and launched two MOOCs and contributed to course design for Online Teaching in Higher Education. I was selected to represent AKU for the ASPIRE-to-Excellence Awards by AMEE.
I was part of the team that designed and implemented a vertically integrated AI curriculum across MBBS Years 1 to 5. My role included conceptualization, needs assessment, focus group discussions with students, synthesis of findings, curriculum alignment with Russell Group principles, the National AI Policy, and the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, as well as mapping to existing MBBS learning outcomes. I facilitated teaching sessions, supported faculty orientation, and led evaluation through systematic analysis of student and faculty feedback. Early implementation showed improved confidence, ethical awareness, and readiness to engage with AI, with approximately 80% of respondents reporting positive outcomes.
My engagement with AI education extended to national and international capacity building. During a three-day Crash Course on Generative AI offered to 500 university faculty across Pakistan, I led a session on redesigning assessment in the post-ChatGPT era. Participants reported applying these strategies within their courses and mentoring others. I also designed and conducted a workshop series with QTL_net titled “On a Voyage with AI: Teaching Literature Review.” Participants valued the hands-on approach, and several applied the learning directly to their research. These initiatives led to the integration of AI into the master’s research curriculum at AKU and invitations for further training nationally and internationally. Collaborative papers on authentic assessment and instructional design have been published.
As Director of the MPhil Research Methodology course, I introduced practical assessments, team-based learning, and troubleshooting sessions. I also teach PhD and MPhil courses, including Cell and Molecular Biology, Scientific Writing, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiology, the Brain-Body Axis, and AI ethics sessions across graduate programs, including MSc Epidemiology.
