By Yunus S Saliu
American International University West Africa (AIUWA) in The Gambia Friday, 13th May 2022 held an orientation program for 60 freshmen to different academic department of the university.
The orientation held at the university premises was also used to engage the freshmen to familiarize themselves with the university key areas as they were taken on a conducted tour of the university, while the outgoing five students on clinical experience from Colombia University, New York extolled AIUWA on its dispensation of quality higher education and produce powerful workforce of professionals.
American International University West Africa, The Gambia is one of the unique institutions of learning in the sub-region with the greatest institutions of science and teaching for professional development.
Among other respectable and lucrative courses at the university included Medicine; Nursing; Arts and Humanities and Pharmacy.
Addressing the freshmen, Mr. Dinesh Shukla, Chancellor of AIUWA identified what make a good institution to be the faculty, administration and students “not the sizes but quality.”
He informed the new intake that the university has very good Qualified quality faculties and administrators so “we want you (students) to be professionals too, it is a process.”
Therefore, Mr Shukla emphasized that it doesn’t matter whether they complete as nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and accountants but when they have transformed themselves from students to the practical aspect of their courses they should always put a smile on their faces.
“Always put a smile on your face, and when you do that 50 percent of those issues are resolved in peoples’ mind. Smiling is very important, you are coming here entering into a new phase of your life, you are here not only because of your academic achievements or your sponsors, so make the best use of this opportunity,” Mr Shukla advised freshmen.
As they are proud of the students, he assured them of the university readiness in transforming them to professionals they want to be and wished them success.
In addition, he valued and dilated on the collaboration between American International University West Africa, The Gambia and Colombia University, New York whilst disclosing that the five students of the Colombia University on clinical experience have done tremendously well.
Professor Makie A Taal, Vice Chancellor of AIUWA congratulated the students and urged them to consider themselves lucky to gain admission and to study in AIUWA.
He said their admission into the university is a new chapter of their lives, “which you (students) will be the soul author.”
More so, he reminded them, university is different from primary and secondary education as they will be treated as mature and responsible students in any of their endeavors. He urged them to make friends and embrace each other and the faculties.
Like other Head of Departments, Provost, Registrar and others, he urged them to be hard work if they are ready to achieve academic excellence.
The five students – McKenna Duffy –Pediatrics; Alison Legg – Pediatrics; Jacob Szczypek – Midwifery; Maddie Molot – Midwifery and Emma Paine – Pediatrics on clinical experience from University of Colombia all applauded the AIUWA, HODs, other lecturers and the university management.
They shared their experiences with the new intakes and as well members of the press, too.
Mr Prabodh Shukla – Registrar, Prof Yankuba Kassama – Provost of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences; Dr Benjamin Ozirigbo – Admin Head of the College of Management and Information Technology and series of other Head of Departments made statements and advised the students to work hard throughout their stay in AIUWA.
