Shakofa Barakzi

Shakofa Barakzi is an accomplished academic, education strategist, and human rights advocate with over a decade of experience in higher education, policy research, and social empowerment. As the Director of Education at the Mother International Institute of Education (MIIE), she leads strategic initiatives focused on expanding virtual university and secondary education opportunities for Afghan female students. Her role includes coordinating global scholarship programs, monitoring online learning outcomes, and organizing international forums on gender and education policy. Before joining MIIE, Ms. Barakzi held academic positions at Herat University and Alghias University, where she taught courses in Political Science, Human Rights, and Law, and contributed to curriculum development and interdisciplinary research. She also served as Coordinator of Social Activities at the University of Turin, Italy, where she developed mentorship and integration programs for refugee and international students. Beyond academia, she is the President of the Afghan Solidarity Association (ASA) in Turin, where she leads community-based educational and advocacy programs for Afghan refugees and migrants. Shakofa holds a Master’s in Public Policy & Administration from Kabul University and a Bachelor’s in Law and Political Science from Herat University, and was a doctoral researcher in Political Science at the International Islamic University, Islamabad, and has given speeches at several international conferences across Europe. Her professional mission aligns deeply with MIIE’s vision to create inclusive, rights-based, and transformative educational opportunities for marginalized communities worldwide.