The University of Texas has established a five-year exchange agreement with Aga Khan University in Pakistan.
The agreement will expand UTeach-Liberal Arts' Muslim Histories and Cultures Program, a training program for Texas high school teachers. The program offers seminars and workshops on Muslim history and cultures. More than 80 secondary school teachers from school districts in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston have participated in the program.
Under the agreement with AKU, the program will train additional Texas teachers from an expanded number of districts during the next three years.
"The agreement formalizes many relationships that are already in place between our two universities," says Richard Flores, senior associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts. "Our hope is that the collaborations will help to dispel many of the myths and stereotypes about Islam that persist, and foster greater understanding between Texas and the Muslim world."
AKU has 11 campuses in eight countries, including Afghanistan, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda, Syria, Egypt and the United Kingdom.