Nipael MrutuEducator & Researcher
  • Years teaching educators
  • M.Ed. researchers supervised

As I teach, I learn.As I learn, I grow.And as we grow, we transform.

Dr. Nipael Mrutu, assistant professor at the Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development, East Africa.

Dr. Nipael Mrutu speaking at a podium, holding a microphone

About

About me

I am Dr. Nipael Mrutu — an educator, researcher and lifelong learner. I believe teaching is not simply about transmitting knowledge, but about creating opportunities for discovery, critical reflection, meaningful engagement and transformation. I often describe my role as that of a tour guide: one who prepares the journey, opens up questions and supports learners in discovering new perspectives — while their experiences and reflections continually enrich my own learning.

Read my teaching philosophy

2023

Excellence in Teaching Award, Aga Khan University

Dr. Mrutu receiving a certificate for facilitating the Facilitation Skills Development Workshop
Certificate for facilitating the Facilitation Skills Development Workshop, QTL-Net, Aga Khan University, Nairobi
Dr. Mrutu at the ICERI 2022 conference in Seville, Spain
  • Teaching full-time and part-time M.Ed. programmes for students from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and beyond, and designing short courses delivered across all three East African countries.
  • A PhD in medical anthropology from the University of Amsterdam, and earlier careers in law and public-health research, shape research rooted in community.

Latest

Recent highlights

Conferences, keynotes and workshops: the most recent moments from my work across East Africa.

Dr. Mrutu giving the opening speech at the Regional Education Learning ExchangeConference chair

August 2026 · Aga Khan University & GPE

Regional Education Learning Exchange

Reimagining Teacher Preparation: Innovation, Collaboration and Practice across East Africa

As chair of the conference, I opened the exchange with the welcome speech and closed it with the final remarks.

  • Dr. Mrutu giving closing remarks at the podiumClosing remarks
  • Conference participants seated for a group photoParticipants
  • Delegates gathered outdoors for a group photoDelegates
  1. Participants of the Facilitation Skills Development Workshop celebrating together in Nairobi

    2–4 JulyFacilitator

    Facilitation Skills Development Workshop

    Nation Media Group, Cohort 2 · QTL-Net, Aga Khan University, Nairobi

    Awarded a certificate after facilitating the workshop.

  2. Dr. Mrutu delivering a keynote address at the Africa ELTA conference in Dar es Salaam

    June 2025Keynote speaker

    Africa ELTA 9th International Conference

    Innovating ELT in Africa

    With TELTA · University of Dar es Salaam, 20–22 June 2025

  3. Dr. Mrutu speaking at a Women’s Day event, wearing a purple ribbon

    CommunityOrganising committee

    Women’s Day celebrations

    Member of the organising committee

In practice

Classrooms, communities & the field

Teaching, study tours, research and service with educators, students and school communities.

  • Dr. Mrutu writing notes at a table during a workshop
    WorkshopsAt work during a workshop
  • M.Ed. students with a guest speaker after a gender in education session
    M.Ed. courseGender in Education, with guest speaker Abby Charms
  • Teachers working together around a table during a workshop
    Professional learningWorking alongside teachers
  • Students and staff at the entrance of Madrasat Tawfiq in Zanzibar
    Study toursStudy tour, Madrasat Tawfiq, Zanzibar
  • An outdoor gathering of pupils, teachers and parents at a school
    Research projectsResearch in school communities
  • Dr. Mrutu with colleagues in Aga Khan University shirts
    ServiceWith colleagues at AKU-IED, East Africa

Experience

From law and public health to the classroom

Before joining the Aga Khan University in 2015, I worked as a legal officer and magistrate, then coordinated public-health research and community programmes for vulnerable children across East Africa.

View full CV

  1. 2021 — Present

    M.Ed. Programme Coordinator

    Aga Khan University, IED East Africa · Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Coordinating the Master of Education programme across its full-time and part-time cohorts.

  2. 2015 — Present

    Lecturer

    Aga Khan University, IED East Africa · Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Teaching early childhood health, care, education and development, gender studies and research methods; supervising postgraduate research; designing and facilitating certificate courses in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

  3. 2009 — 2014

    Researcher & Principal Investigator

    Filling the Gaps: Social Institutions and AIDS · Kenya, Tanzania & Zambia

    A comparative study funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO-WOTRO).

  4. 2008 — 2009

    Community Engagement Coordinator

    Mkombozi Centre for Street Children · Kilimanjaro & Arusha, Tanzania

    Designed and coordinated community-based health and education interventions supporting vulnerable children to reach their full potential.

  5. 2006 — 2008

    Research Coordinator

    Public-health research studies · Tanzania, Zambia & Kenya

    Coordinated studies on AIDS treatment access, HIV testing, PMTCT and paediatric care for funders including SIDA, USAID, EGPAF, PharmAccess, TACAIDS and EATAM.

  6. 2005

    Magistrate

    Resident Magistrate Court of Dodoma · Dodoma, Tanzania

  7. 2003 — 2004

    Legal Officer

    United Law Chambers · Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

From student evaluations

The class was very engaging. The instructor has opened our mind to think critically and to think differently.
Student evaluation of teaching, 2019More student feedback

Research

Research rooted in community

Action research with teachers, parents and school communities in Tanzania and across East Africa.

An outdoor gathering of pupils, teachers and parents at a school

2016 — 2019Principal Investigator

Strengthening teaching and raising achievement in Southern Tanzania

Action research in pre-primary and primary schools, funded by Porticus Africa.

Cover of the Ujenzi wa Maadili teachers’ manual on values education

2020 — 2021Principal Investigator

Integrating values in early childhood education

Seed-funded research with teachers in Dodoma that produced a teachers’ manual on embedding values through games and arts.

Cover of Classroom Assessment Guidelines: Early Years and Class 1–3

2021 — 2024Principal Investigator

Teacher professional learning in East Africa

A longitudinal study of professional learning practices in pre-primary and primary schools, funded by the Government of Canada.

All research & publications

Writing

Opinion & public writing

Op-EdThe Citizen·7 Nov 2023

Building multicultural citizenship at school

Published in The Citizen

Op-EdThe Guardian·9 Nov 2021

The place of democracy in teaching and learning

When we engage children early on in decision making, we send a message that it is important to involve others in matters that affect them.

Read the article

Op-EdThe Guardian·6 May 2020

Teaching to support learning in times of crisis

As an educator and a parent, I constantly ponder on the impact of this pandemic on quality teaching and learning.

Read the article

Get in touch

Let’s continue the conversation

I welcome collaboration on early childhood education, teacher professional learning and community-based research.

nipael.mrutu@aku.edu +255 656 606 072