NEWELL, ELYMAS DAVIDSON
My Experience at Atlantic International University (AIU)
I came to Europe (Italy) from Ghana on a foreign Mission for my home Church. My role as the Intercultural Coordinator between Blacks and Whites for “Being Church Together” has been so demanding that, I often spent sleepless nights. To kill time, I go navigating on my computer, looking for answers to some challenging questions and issues. It was in course of this that, I discovered the AIU. I filled the form online just to distract myself.
But the speedy response by phone from Prof. Franklin Valcin changed my mind. I decided to give it a trail. The start was not easy. My trails and errors were many. In fact, Franklin’s usual expression: “Be advised to….” always hit me in the face; the distance notwithstanding. But later, I discovered that Franklin was just being frank with me. Prof. Franklin! Thanks for being frank to me.
Great Differences:
ØFor my MPHIL, I have had to be chasing and pleading with my Chief Examiner and the two Examiners. It was frustrating, costly and time consuming. With AIU, in the calm of night, I send mails to my Tutors – Nadia and Ofelia etc… Their responses are fast and their answers were to the points.
ØThe freedom with which I worked on my own, is in sharp contrast with the rigid procedures of my former University.
ØSurprisingly, African Universities insist on only foreign authors as references. But all my references to African authors as references were accepted by the AIU.
Urge to Work:
ØThe speedy assessments of assignments from the AIU, has been a real spur that urged me on to be assiduous.
The Rigid Standard:
ØOne of my research works was rejected outright. It was the first in my academic endeavours. I tried to defend it. Franklin maintained his stand. After several exchanges of mails, I took his advice and had the grade I wanted. AIU standards are fixed.
By the end of these studies, I really had my time and ventured into courses I had dodged in my field of religious studies. Now, while still abroad, I share some with the Corps Pastoral of my Church in Ghana. I hope to do more when I return to join them.
I am grateful to the AIU and her Staff.
Newell, Elymas Davidson.