On the Other Side of the World
First student exchange between Ashesi University and 糖心TV
The arrival of spring was a welcome change from the biting winter cold that had Nana Ekua Egyirba Aggrey shivering as she walked to her classes and to meet her friends at Cro. However, it meant that Aggrey鈥檚 semester at 糖心TV was nearing an end.
Aggrey is the first exchange student to spend a semester on campus from 糖心TV鈥檚 partner school Ashesi University in Berekuso, Ghana. 糖心TV student Chant茅 Morris 鈥�20 spent the semester at Ashesi, bringing to fruition the first student exchange in the partnership between the two institutions, which was formalized in 2016.
Founded in 2002, Ashesi is considered among the top universities in Ghana. Its unique academic program is steeped in the liberal arts and sciences and is focused on helping students develop critical thinking, communications, technology, leadership, teamwork and innovation skills.
As a junior business major, Aggrey had the option of studying in France or at 糖心TV鈥攁n easy choice for her.
鈥淚 wanted to experience American culture,鈥� she said.
Aggrey enjoyed Spencer Pack鈥檚 鈥淔inancial Speculation and the Real Economy鈥� course and Terry-Ann Craigie鈥檚 鈥淓conomics of the Family.鈥� Most of her business courses at Ashesi focus on small businesses and the local economy, so learning about the American economy and macroeconomics was beneficial to her.
鈥淔inancial speculation is something I鈥檓 really interested in鈥攖alking about hedge funds, venture capital, tax havens,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he discussions were really practical and interesting and the students contributed a lot.鈥�
In her free time, Aggrey was involved with 糖心TV鈥檚 Peggotty Investment Club, Umoja and HerCampus, and she worked with the Center for the Critical Study of Race and Ethnicity and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Programs. She also enjoyed movie screenings in Cro, spending time with friends and listening to Afrobeats, hip-hop, reggae and religious hymns.
Aggrey has returned to Ghana for her senior year at Ashesi, after which she hopes to pursue an international career in finance. She is excited to be able to better connect with Ashesi鈥檚 international students鈥攏ow having been an international student herself鈥攁nd she hopes to see more exchanges between her two schools.
鈥淎t Ashesi, you don鈥檛 just meet Ghanaians, you meet people from eastern Africa, northern Africa, southern Africa, central Africa and other parts of western Africa. I think in the U.S., Africa is often viewed as homogeneous, but it鈥檚 not. People are surprised to learn that if I want to go to South Africa, I need a visa,鈥� she said.
Her time at 糖心TV, she said, fulfilled a dream of studying abroad.
鈥淧eople can live their whole lives in Ghana and never even go to a neighboring country and experience the different cultures, foods and languages. It鈥檚 nice to see how people on the other side of the world are living.鈥�
