The AKDN has been involved in education in the developing world for over a century. Its education programmes cover a wide spectrum of activities, from early childhood to post-secondary education, teacher training, literacy programmes, school improvement and educational policy reform. The Aga Khan Education Services, the Aga Khan Foundation, the Aga Khan University, the Aga Khan Academies and the University of Central Asia are the Network's lead organisations in education.

The Aga Khan Academies are able to draw on the AKDN's long-standing partnerships with educational institutions around the world. These include:

• The International Baccalaureate
• Universities, including Harvard, Oxford, and Toronto
• Renowned secondary schools such as Phillips Academy, Andover (USA) and Schule Schloss Salem (Germany).