Three Naga students share their experience at Asian University for Women
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 6
When most people their age had already settled into colleges within their comfort zones, in late August of this year, three young Naga women boldly set out to begin their new academic journey at the Asian University for Women (AUW) in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The process to get into this international liberal arts university of high repute with full scholarship was rigorous.
AUW had offered 10 full scholarships for Nagaland this year, but only the three could take advantage of it. The girls were selected after rounds of written tests as well as Skype interview. Getting into the university, which seeks to, among others, educate women to become highly motivated and effective professionals, leaders, and service-oriented citizens, was exciting news for the three.
Now at the university, the young women are juggling hectic schedules five days a week. Apart from the academics, the university encompasses wide range of extra-curricular activities from karate classes to fairs.
The AUW education, as pointed out on the university website, teaches students to go beyond simple memorization and instead critically think and solve problem. Topics ranging from Asian Studies to Biological Sciences to Economics are not merely learned but are explored and discovered. At AUW, students go beyond the classroom and engage with international faculty, attend prestigious conferences, and work on projects that address current day issues.
With an emphasis on social justice and empowerment, the university also provides higher education to those who would otherwise not have the access, the website said. “AUW students are among the best in their classes and are willing and able to become change-makers in their lives after university.”
The Morung Express had a Q&A via e-mail with the three young women to know their experiences so far in the university.
“I have discovered potential in me which previously remained hidden”
Athunglo B Ngullie Currently doing Access Academy (AA) – it prepares students from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds for the rigorous, American-style undergraduate liberal arts curriculum. She will major in Economics at the undergraduate level.
The Morung Express (MEx): Share about your experiences at the university so far? What were your expectations from AUW and are those expectations being met?
Athunglo (A): So far, I am having new experiences and learning a lot. AA , getting appointments with teachers via e-mail, attending student elections, karate classes, club fair, food fair and much more. I am adapting to a whole new environment. Getting the opportunity to study in an international university, I had huge expectations and AUW has no doubt offered much more than what I expected.
MEx: What does your daily routine look like at the university? Give an overview of the course you are doing?
A: I have a hectic schedule on working days, namely Sunday to Thursday. Classes are from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm followed by quizzes/ study/ assignments hour, then leisure time, followed by dinner and an hour of online reading and study.
MEx: What is your impression of the university? How is it facilitating in your growth as a person and also academically?
A: AUW has impressed me in many ways. I am happy I chose this place. Not because it adopts an international education system but because it has helped me realise what I am capable of. I have discovered potential in me which previously remained hidden. It has also helped me realise the importance of being a woman and the capabilities one has as a woman. In the few weeks I have been here, it has helped me improve my learning ability, vocabulary, writing skills and speaking skills. At AUW, students recognise that brilliant students are not the ones who copy from the text but rather those who understand the concept and elaborate on their own.
MEx: What are the challenges, if any, that you are facing?
A: It’s a huge life changing decision to make up your mind about where to go and what to study. We have an opportunity to meet different people from different cultures and countries. It is more challenging than staying at home as one is more or less alone with the often new responsibilities of living in one's own household, having to additionally build up a new social network, etc. Getting to know people from different cultures and trying to learn their language is a unique experience. Overall my experience till date has been overwhelmingly positive. Besides that, staying far away from home and family was a bit challenging.
MEx: Would you encourage others to join the university? If yes, why?
A: Yes, I would definitely recommend AUW. I consider myself lucky for choosing what I've chosen and with just three Nagas here, I would love to see more of our Naga sisters joining this university. That way we can also make Naga culture popular among other countries like Vietnam, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Syria, etc as there are students here who often ask us about our origin.
MEx: How does the future look like for you at the university?
A: The future is unpredictable. It all depends on an individual's choice in life. I hope dedication, hard work and determination, and above all God's guidance, will help us decide our future. I am trying my best to achieve my goals and make the best of what education has to offer and make Naga society proud.
“The university empowers women to be at the best”
D. Hrüzüni Currently undergoing Pathways/Pre Access Academy. Plans to study Environmental Science.
MEx: Share about your experiences at the university so far? What were your expectations from AUW and are those expectations being met?
Hrüzüni (H): My experiences in AUW have been so far, so good. The one thing I like about people around here is that they are ever ready to help one another in almost everything. They share their knowledge and experiences to one another and motivate people to excel. The environment is very motivating and supportive. I find the students very actively involved in almost all the clubs of the university. Some of the clubs I have joined are the Photography Club, Film Club, Women across Borders and Awareness square. I can say that AUW is a safe place for women with high security. The faculties, staffs, students, everyone here are very warm and good. AUW has a good working primary health center (PHC), Residential Life, Student life, Office of the Student Affairs (OSA), Student Government and Writing Center and many more.
MEx: Give an overview of the course you are doing?
H: As of now, I am in Pathways which is a comprehensive course on developing communication skills such as speaking, listening, writing and reading. Mathematics is included in this as per the needs of the intended course. I have opted for the course of Environmental Science which will begin shortly. There are also other courses such as Biological sciences, PPE (Political science, Philosophy and Economics), Public Health and Asian Studies.
MEx: What is your impression of the university? How is it facilitating in your growth as a person and also academically?
H: AUW is different and unique because it is a liberal arts education. The teachers, students and seniors relationship is really amazing. Everyone feels like an equal here. It is very much different from the state education system. It is also a very safe place for women to concentrate, learn, socialize, and a wonderful environment to improve our leadership skills. It is a university that builds women to voice up from across countries and most of all, it empowers women to be at the best.
MEx: What are the challenges, if any, that you are facing? H: My challenge comes from the academics. I find difficulty in Math and pre-calculus including some of my mates. The teachers are giving us more time for that reason.
MEx: Would you encourage others to join the University? If yes, why?
H: Yes, I would like others to join the University because it is a fully funded scholarship and as a student to study under scholarship is a huge privilege; it would very much help people who genuinely want to study but have financial difficulties at home. The facilities are very good and it has very good opportunities and exposure to do internships in other universities as well.
MEx: How does the future look like for you at the university?
H: Well, I cannot say much on the future as the future will speak for itself but I am very happy that I made this decision to be here. As long as we are sincere with our work, the platform here is a place to push and prove ourselves that good things are on its end.
“The university teaches us how to be self independent women in life”
Zuboni R Jungio Currently in PA (Pre Access). She plans to take Public Health Studies at the undergraduate level.
MEx: Share about your experiences at the university so far? What were your expectations from AUW and are those expectations being met?
Zuboni (Z): It is good meeting different people from different countries, and the college infrastructure is good compared to Nagaland. The mates out here are kind hearted which I did not expect because we all come from different religions. The worst part here is the karate class, which I had not experienced in my life, but the university has made it compulsory for all the students.
MEx: What is your impression of the university? How is it facilitating in your growth as a person and also academically?
Z: The thing that impressed me the most was the quality of teaching faculties; they are well educated.They teach us in an easy method which eveyone can understand easily. Besides, the university infastructure is good, the hostel facilities are also good.
MEx: What are the challenges, if any, that you are facing?
Z: The problem which I am facing right now is about subject matter. I skipped Math in my 11 and 12 standard, so I am facing some problem and going through a hard time. But, I took this matter as a challenge for me to overcome it.
MEx: Would you encourage others to join the university? If yes, why?
Z: Yes of course, I would like to encourage my Naga sisters to join this university. The main reason behind is that the university teaches us how to be self independent women in life, and also the college infrastructure, hostel facilities, teaching faculties are great. Also, the university is a safe place for women, the seniors are very kind hearted, and we meet different people from different countries.
MEx: How does the future look like for you at the university?
Z: I can see a bright future for all the students that one day all the students will become educated women. And we the students from AUW would try to help other women to encourage them to live as self independent women and to work for the society.
