Dr. Asad Zaman — Economist, Educator, and Advocate for Transformational Learning
About Me
Dr. Asad Zaman — Economist, Educator, and Advocate for Transformational Learning
I am an economist with over four decades of experience in academia, dedicated to the use of education as a tool for intellectual and moral transformation. My work integrates insights from Islamic intellectual traditions with modern economic thought, with the aim of cultivating knowledge that serves humanity with justice, purpose, and ethical clarity.
If you want the longer (and more personal) “archive-style” About page—with interviews, autobiographical notes, and many additional links—see:
https://azprojects.wordpress.com/about/
If you came here for…
- Course materials for teaching (fast adoption): https://asadzaman.net/
- A general “HOME hub” of the website: https://asadzaman.net/home/
- Urdu materials (home): https://asadzaman.net/home-urdu/
- Guidance for students (research + decolonization + inspiration): https://asadzaman.net/my-students/
- Online lectures & courses: https://asadzaman.net/online-lectures/
- Publications (full lists): https://asadzaman.net/writings/my-publications/all-publications/
- Blog guides (theme navigation): https://azprojects.wordpress.com/guides/
Mission & vision
The central mission of my work is to reform the foundations of economic education and research—shifting them from technical abstraction toward moral and social relevance. Education should shape character as well as intellect, cultivating scholars committed to serving their communities and building a more equitable world.
For a deeper reflection on education, worldview, and the need to rebuild from first principles:
https://azprojects.wordpress.com/2025/10/02/from-the-mirage-of-western-education-to-the-eternal-wellspring-of-revelation/
Current work and resources (a practical directory)
1) Rethinking Economics (Islamic and plural foundations)
A “textbook-in-progress” project to challenge dominant paradigms and rebuild foundations.
For now, the best entry points are:
- Guide to Economics: https://asadzaman.net/my-academic-research/economics/
- Guide to Islamic Economics: https://asadzaman.net/my-academic-research/islamic-economics-2-2/
- Courses index: https://asadzaman.net/online-lectures/
2) Video lectures and seminars
Recorded courses, lectures, and talks (organized for classroom use and self-study):
https://asadzaman.net/online-lectures/
3) Research and publications
A centralized directory of publications (with themed lists):
https://asadzaman.net/writings/my-publications/all-publications/
4) Resources for teachers and students
- Guide for Academics (course materials directory): https://asadzaman.net/
- Student Guide: https://asadzaman.net/my-students/
- Blog Guides hub (themes): https://azprojects.wordpress.com/guides/
Academic background (quick snapshot)
I received my Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University (1978). I have held academic and administrative positions in institutions across the globe, including the International Institute of Islamic Economics (IIIE) and the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).
- CV & Academic Record (living page): https://asadzaman.net/about-me/cv/
- Academic biography (how my thinking evolved): https://asadzaman.net/about-me/academic-bio/
Personal journey, interviews, and reflections
My academic work is inseparable from a personal journey—learning how modern education shapes worldview, and how revelation restores meaning, purpose, and responsibility.
Start here:
- Extended About (interviews, autobiographical list, many links): https://azprojects.wordpress.com/about/
- Autobiography (site essay): https://asadzaman.net/insight-autobiography/
- Purpose of life and identity (a gateway essay): https://azprojects.wordpress.com/2019/06/01/learn-who-you-are/
Let’s collaborate
I welcome collaboration with educators, researchers, and institutions interested in:
- Transforming curriculum design
- Co-creating research in Islamic and heterodox economics
- Building global networks for values-based education
If your goals align with this mission, I encourage you to reach out.
Contact and stay connected
- Email: [email protected]
- Subscribe to the mailing list: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAngBO-10SRUkw4zOJiM6xdbjeNWeB7mUsMfGST5Pb8RZbSA/viewform?usp=sf_link
Final note
This site serves as both a record of my academic journey and a platform for collaborative knowledge creation. I invite you to explore its contents—and, if useful, adopt these materials in your courses, reading groups, and research work.