Graduated receives paper publication award

September 26, 2017. Our graduate, Patrick Kalyabanyama, was awarded with a Paper Publication Award from the Zambia Research and Development Centre. His paper, “Fighting Counterfeit Drugs Using Information Communication Technology (Fcdict) – Zambian Experience,” was selected for publication in the category of Computer and Information Sciences in the 2017 International Multi-Disciplinary Conference held from 23rd to 25th of August, 2017 in Lusaka. Patrick Kalyabanyama has completed a Master’s program in Social Sciences in Atlantic International University.

Book

September 19, 2017. One of our graduates, Rowan Van Dyk, published a book titled: “Why Great Leaders Are Catalysts,” and it is available on Amazon. You can find it on the following link: www.amazon.com/dp/ B0733H16X2/ This is an overview of his work: “Want to change the way you lead? Are you really a leader or are just administrating and controlling? Be honest with yourself and find out the truth behind the Leadership Formula.

As Christians, you will find how to lead others and find the original message that Jesus founded the faith of Christianity on.”

Rowan Van Dyk has completed a Doctorate program in Business Administration at Atlantic International University.

Graduated with Honors

September-October, 2017. These graduate students completed the majority of the requirements to obtain honors which included a 4.0 GPA, published works, recommendation from their respective advisors, patent a product, etc. Congratulations!



AIU accepts award

October 10, 2017. In the first ASIC International Conference 2017 celebrated in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this past September, AIU was honored to accept the ASIC Award for Outstanding Contribution to International Education. AIU has always strived to provide top quality education to all of our students via Distance Learning since 1979. This award form ASIC (Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges & Universities) aims to celebrate excellence in international education. Atlantic International University proudly teaches students from all over the globe by providing a high quality online academic experience through our Andragogy and Open Curriculum key components with the support of our uniquely modern and user-friendly student portal, renowned faculty, extensive online library, and many other components such as MyAIU elements for personal growth, AIU TV & Radio, social platform, MyAIU magazine, career center, and much more. By offering schedule flexibility, and affordability, AIU is able to assist its global student body in positively accomplishing their undergraduate and graduate degrees. All our programs are taught in three languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese, allowing for a very diverse international student population. Likewise, AIU celebrates Graduation Ceremonies twice a year in the United States, gathering students from over 65 different countries. This is a brilliant example of Internationalization implemented through online education. Atlantic International University is proud to have accepted this award and have participated in the first ASIC International Conference 2017 in Malaysia and looks forward to keep working closely with ASIC, and to continue upholding the core values that make AIU unique and its students globally successful.

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Luis Braga Leopoldo
Bachelor of Science
Civil Engineering
Angola
Gabriel Fernando Piñeiro
Bachelor of Science
Com puter Science
Argentina
Pablo Antonio Seghezzo
Bachelor of Science
Organizational Leadership and Management
Argentina
Nora Beatriz Martinengo
Master of Science
Applied Statistics
Argentina
Saad Masood Butt
Doctor of Philosophy
Com puter Science
Australia
Francis Erzuah Benle
Bachelor of Science
Electrical Engineering
Burkina Faso
           
Daniel Christopher Andreae
Post-Doctorate of Philosophy
Cognitive Neuroscience
Canada
Gabriel Enrique Taborda Blandón
Master of Science
Com puter Science
Colombia
Asdrúbal Plaza Calvo
Doctor of Science
Political and Social Sciences
Colombia
Carlos Araque Osorio
Doctor of Arts
Theater
Colomb iaColombia
Víctor Rafael Francisco Valencia Abadía
Doctor of Philosophy
Architecture
Colombia
Yesid Lopez Robles
Master of Business Adm inistration
Leadership and Management
Colombia
           
Rayden Zabala Reyes
Bachelor of Science
Electrical Engineering
Dominican Republic
Baltasar Nseng Mesian Abaga
Bachelor of Science
Political Science
Equatorial Guinea
Juan-Nsue Edjang Mayé
Bachelor of Sociology
Sociology
Equatorial Guinea
Oscar Arturo Morales Hernández
Bachelor of Economics
Risk Management
Guatemala
Helen Stefanie Carrillo Monterroso
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
William Giovany Cifuentes Esteban
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
           
Deymi Roxana García Villagrán
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Manuel de Jesús Garzona Reyes
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Julio Gilberto Leiva Muñoz
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Rolando Salvador Méndez Mendizabal
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Oscar Renato Méndez Rabé
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Iván Dario Quevedo Rossell
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
           
Mónica Raquel Solórzano Flores
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Enrique Eduardo Suram Martínez
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Brenda Eugenia Villatoro Sandoval
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Analy Darisabel Arreaga Vega
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Eduar Reginaldo Colindres Estrada
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Ana Cristina Flores Chajón
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
           
Marvin Daniel Fuentes Barrios
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Maria Patricia Herrera Cifuentes
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Evelyn Alejandra Lam Ramírez
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Juan Andrés López Reyes
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Lester Josué Méndez Rossell
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Oliver Efreen Moreno Franco
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
           
Juan Antonio Vanegas Romero
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Geramahel Abigail Aguilar Cipriano
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Maria Patricia Avila López
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Douglas Emmanuel Corzo Morán
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Ma. Elena Cojulún Velásquez de H.
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Claudia Patricia De León Mazariegos
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
           
Miriam Guadalupe Farnés Posadas
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Herbert Vladimir González Velásquez
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Juan José Lémus Castañeda
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Aura Alicia I. Matta Méndez de Villalobos
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Ericka Gabriela Mendizabal Durán
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Jacqueline A. Mendizabal Arévalo
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
           
Jocelyn Dayanne Milla Dávila
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Johhan Emmanuel Minera Pérez
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Douglas Mario Roberto Robles Juárez
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Edgar Leonél Sir Sisimit
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Jhonathán Saul Soto Ardón
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Eddy Fabián Villatoro Rodríguez
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
           
Deicy Evely Yat Chalí
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Marcos Estuardo Ventura Mendoza
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Alan Roberto Castellanos Reyes
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Ruben Eliú Cifuentes Hip
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Omar Roberto Ramírez Díaz
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
José Alvaro Arias Borrayo
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
           
Rita Lissette Castañeda Contreras
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Mario Ricardo Falla Girón
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
José Roberto Santizo De León
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Business Administration
Guatemala
Julien Swana Tansha
Doctor of Philosophy
Business Management
Ireland
Grace Wambui Gichobi
Doctor of Business Adm inistration
Project Management
Kenya
Anna Alessia Navarrete González
Bachelor of International Relations
International Relations
Mexico
           
Oluwadare Olukayode Koya
Master of Business Adm inistration
Business Management
Nigeria
Asiegbu Lawrence Fiwu
Bachelor of Science
Com puter Science
Nigeria
Elizabeth Damilola Oshin
Doctor of Philosophy
Educational Administration and Leadership
Nigeria
Juan Carlos Rivadeneira Franco
Bachelor of Business Adm inistration
Marketing
Panama
Renzo Roberto Arias Mendoza
Bachelor of Science
Nutrition
Peru
Kelvin Thomas Lamb
Bachelor of Science
Education
Philipp ines
           
Clara Maria Conceicão Batista De Sousa
Bachelor of Science
Nutrition and Public Health
Portugal
Alexis Niyonsaba
Bachelor of Science
Electrical Engineering
Rwanda
Mohammed Khursheed Akhtar
Doctor of Philosophy
Com puter Science
Saudi Arabia
Ayman AbdulKader Mohamed Saey
Doctor of Comm unication
International Comm unication
Saudi Arabia
Gbawuru Kelleh Mansaray
Bachelor of Science
Quantity Surveying
Sierra Leone
Rodney Linsey Adeyinka Wilson-Clarke
Bachelor of Science
Information Technology
Sierra Leone
           
Joseph Legge Pio Doggale
Bachelor of Social and Human Studies
Social Work
South Sudan
Mehmet Berat Battal
Bachelor of Science
Mechatronics Engineering
Turkey
Kenneth Lawrence Grover
Doctor of Philosophy
Business Management
USA
Danny Nsama Kasonde
Master of Accounting
Accounting
Zamb ia
   
           

Find More Graduates

Gallery: aiu.edu/Graduation/grids/currentgallery.html
Interviews: www.aiu.edu/Graduation/grids/interviews.html
This month we have graduates from: This month we have graduates from: Angola · Argentina · Australia · BurkinaFaso · Canada · Colombia · Dominican Republic · Equatoria Guinea · Guatemala . reland · Kenya · México · Nigeria · Panama · Perú · Philippines · Portugal · Rwanda · SaudiArabia · Sierra Leone · South Sudan · Turkey · USA · Zambia

Student Testimonials

Samuel Ansah
Bachelor of Telecom. Engineering
August 7, 2017

“Studying at AIU is one of the most wonderful things that has happen to me. Combining work and studies together was one of my biggest challenge in life. But with Atlantic International University’s self-pace and Nontraditional education, I was able to design and customize my curriculum based on my education, professional experience and, most importantly, I did not have to repeat courses I did in the past. The university have a wonderful online library equipped with lots of books and articles to aid in research projects and studies. Tutors are always willing to assist; direct and answer any question you may have at any point in time. I also love AIU’s level of seriousness in all aspect. Achieving a degree with AIU is a great turning point in my life and career. I am looking forward to experience more of AIU during my Master’s program.
Read full text:
Prakash Chandra Ghimire
Doctor of Renewable and Sust. Energy
August 18, 2017


“AIU provided me with a personalized learning opportunity that aligned with the idea that education systems must move away from ‘one-sizefits- all’ model to ‘tailor-made model’ for specific case. There was a complete reversing of the logic of education systems as it was built around me, the learner, rather than me being required to fit with the system. The learning system at AIU embraced diversity and forged new partnerships –all fueled by disciplined innovation and new technologies. I am happy that the learning system focused on my potential and the importance of effective teaching in realizing that potential. It would have been difficult for me to learn effectively as a spectator, as passive recipient of pre-packaged, bitesized pieces of knowledge delivered to me by experts. The approach of learning at AIU called for my active engagement in the whole process and the more I learnt, the more I was capable of learning. It helped me to understand my own potential and capabilities and become confident, competent and independent thinker and learner. ...
Ezekiel Shungu
Bachelor of Marketing
August 22, 2017

“Though geographical distance separated me from meeting my tutors in USA, the internet solved the challenge by bringing us together in Atlantic International University Online classrooms and offices where I could mix and mingle with my tutors and classmates. It was a fantastic period indeed. I liked the way my tutors could respond to my problems and questions. All was fantastic indeed. I really love it and do not hesitate to encourage all people who are thirsty of uplifting their academic profile and work status to make hay whilst the sun is still shining at AIU. I discovered that at AIU the sky is the limit to anyone who have the zeal to learn and bread themselves in this oven of Online learning University. The university offers multiple of scholarships which comes as an assisting hand to the less privileged people from less developing countries like mine, Zimbabwe. This makes it very realistic to earn an accredited degree from USA at very minimum cost.
Read full text:
Geoffrey Henock Mbuzi
Master of Business Administration
August 29, 2017
“In one of my weekend free time I was reading one of our local daily newspapers and came across the advert of AIU to which I jokingly responded with very little hope of getting what I had thought of in my lifetime the Masters Degree. Little did I know about the timeliness and motivating response from Atlantic International University. In two days’ time there came a response from academic department motivating me to pursue my master’s program. This was followed by a phone call encouraging me not to waste my valuable time to shape my future. That was the beginning of my career to upgrade myself to be one of the reputable and influential leaders in my community and society at large. It was amazing to note that when I thought all is lost due to some unforeseen circumstances such as the flush floods and later the death of my dear wife during my study period, which apparently had seriously affected me and almost made me to give up my interest to do masters. ...
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Ambassador’s Daughter

Script written by Thomson Ng’ambi | Master of Legal Studies | Part 1/2

I was only five, but I remember everything about that night. Natalie and I were jumping on the bed, giggling and hitting each other with pillows. All of a sudden, she put her finger to her lips and told me to hush. (Just because she was six minutes older, she thought she could boss me around.) When I stopped squealing, I heard quiet popping noises. They got louder and louder. Within minutes, someone was pounding on our front door. I had no idea what was going on. Oh, we’d overheard stories. People said living in Africa was dangerous, that even though our dad was an ambassador and we lived on a compound, my parents should think about Natalie and me. Mom would always give me a hug and tell me not to worry. Daddy would tousle my hair, say Jesus was taking care of us, and send me off to play. I figured there was nothing to worry about. With all the banging, I had a feeling that night would be different. My sister tiptoed over to our bedroom door and put her ear against it. Despite my objections, Natalie opened the door just far enough to squeeze through. Then she crept to the top of the steps. She whispered, “Daddy’s telling Mommy not to cry. He’s telling her everything will be OK.” Those are the last words I heard my sister say because she flew down the stairs. I, on the other hand, dove under the bed. No matter how hard I pressed my hands to my ears, I couldn’t block out the yelling and the crying. I heard Daddy say he wouldn’t go to the U.N. if the soldiers left my mom and Natalie alone. I could hear Mom begging them to stop. I remember biting my lip so I wouldn’t call out. The voices got quieter. Suddenly, there were three loud bangs. For a moment, everything was perfectly still. One of the soldiers started yelling at the others, telling them to find the computer files. There was a lot of banging and crashing. “It’s not here!” That’s when I heard one of the most terrifying sounds ever. Someone was stomping up the stairs. I curled up in a ball —and waited. I heard the hinges creak as he pushed the door open. Then, before the soldier came into my room, one of the others called out, “I found it! Let’s get going. We’ve got a lot more to do before we head back to camp.” When I finally went downstairs, it was awful. Daddy’s books and CDs were scattered all over the living room. Every drawer was open. Every cupboard. It was scary walking around the blood at the bottom of the stairs. I ran from room to room, but couldn’t find anyone… until I went into the kitchen.

I was only five, and for a long time I couldn’t remember what happened that night. But it all came back to me. Lisa and I were playing in our room, laughing and jumping on the bed. She loved that. It made her feel brave. Brave is not a word I would use to describe my sister. Sometimes I needed her to be brave, but she never was. Silly girl, even when I told her what to do, she wouldn’t do it —except that night. I told her to stop hitting me with the pillow and be quiet. I don’t know why she chose right then to listen to me, but she did. We heard popping noises that got louder and louder. Soon, soldiers were banging on the door. I told Lisa what Father said to Mother. “Don’t worry…” Boy! Was he wrong! I always had to know what was going on. I couldn’t stand to be left out. And if I suspected someone was keeping a secret from me… Let’s just say I wouldn’t give up until I found out what it was. That night was no different. Curiosity got the best of me. I snuck out into the hall. Then, without thinking, I ran down the stairs. There, stood the biggest, most frightening man! He wore camouflage gear and had black stripes on his face. He was holding the biggest gun I’d ever seen. The soldiers kept yelling at my father. They wanted him to give them something. When Father said he didn’t know what they were talking about, the leader had a fit. He grabbed Mother by the hair. He threatened to do all sorts of horrible things to her —and to me, if my father didn’t cooperate. Father begged them to leave us alone, finally promising not to go to the U.N. They didn’t listen.

I rarely left the compound, but I didn’t know what else to do. Soon, I was outside the gates. I walked until it got dark. I was so tired, I didn’t even feel scared. Normally, I was terrified of the dark. Natalie loved to sneak out of the house after we’d been tucked in. Occasionally, she would talk me into exploring with her. I was glad our door squeaked. It was the perfect excuse for staying in our room. Eventually, I couldn’t walk any farther. I saw a pile of garbage beside the road and hid behind it. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I just wanted to rest for a few minutes, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Just before dawn, I woke up to the rumble of Jeeps passing by. I peeked out from behind my “fort” and saw truck after truck filled with soldiers. I clamped my hands over my mouth to keep from crying out. I waited for a long time after the last truck disappeared. When I risked standing up, I saw a long line of people coming down the road. Most of them were women and children. I fell into step at the back of the line, hoping no one would notice. If my clothes hadn’t been so dirty and rumpled, they would have set me apart. At least I had the right coloured skin. We walked all day. No one said a word. Even though there was nothing to eat or drink, I kept going. I didn’t want to be left alone. Besides, the soldiers might come back. I never wanted to see another soldier again. The sun was going down when I saw a camp of some kind up ahead. It didn’t take long to get close enough to see what it was. More children. More women. There were even some old men. It was my new home.

Someone grabbed me from behind. He clamped his huge hand over my mouth. I kicked and flung my arms wildly. I even tried to bite him, but it didn’t work. My father begged them to leave Mother alone, to let me go. One of the soldiers was holding a gun to my father’s head, but I still wanted him to do more than talk. Why didn’t he give them what they wanted? Why didn’t he fight back? “Quit your squirming, you little brat!” the soldier who was holding me hissed in my ear. I didn’t stop. He must have gotten tired of it because he threw me over his shoulder, spun around and stomped out of the house. He tossed me in the back of the Jeep that was parked by our front door. I hit my head, and everything went dark. It must have been hours before I woke up. The sun was rising. When I did come to, there was a dirty bandana stuffed in my mouth. My hands were tied behind my back. I would have tried to jump out of the truck, but I ached all over. Plus, there must have been a dozen soldiers crammed in there with me. I struggled to sit up. A few of them glanced at me, but they continued talking. The cigarette smoke was so thick, it made me gag. I got up on my knees and looked over the tailgate. I couldn’t believe what I saw. It was my sister. I remember asking myself, “Where am I? What is Lisa doing behind a pile of garbage?” She didn’t see me. She was curled up in a ball, not even looking in my direction. It would have made me feel better if she’d at least seen me. I couldn’t help it; the tears started to run down my cheeks. “Stop crying, kid. It won’t do you any good.” I wanted to go over and kick him, but of course I didn’t. Someone would have stopped me. The truck was bouncing too badly, anyway. Just then, my stomach growled. You would have thought there was nothing funnier in the world. Every man in that truck burst out laughing. I flung myself at the nearest soldier, but he pushed me down and grabbed a piece of the same rough rope that was cutting into my wrists. He tied my ankles together. After several hours, the trucks came to a stop. The soldier closest to the back of the Jeep dragged me out and threw me over his shoulder like a sack of dirty laundry. I looked around at the camp that would become my home.

Before that moment, I didn’t really understand what it was like to be poor. It sounds crazy. After all, I lived in Africa. People around the world knew how things were, but not me. Now I realize how much our parents protected us. We lived behind the compound walls. It was like living in a fortress. Nothing bad could ever happen. At least that’s what I’d thought. In the camp, I was surrounded by naked, dirty boys and girls. Many of the older children wore clothes that were tattered and stained. Shirts hung from bony shoulders but couldn’t cover their round, bloated bellies. I looked down at my silk pajamas and felt strange. I thought of all the pretty dresses and play clothes in my closet at home. I doubt if any of those children ever dreamed of having such nice things. A filthy girl… She didn’t look any older than I was, but I learned later that she was 12. Anyway, she grabbed at my shirt. It frightened me. Where was Natalie? She would have protected me. I looked around. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. All of a sudden, Josh appeared. He was almost six feet tall. He looked like a grown up to me, but he was only 14. Like I said, Josh was just there. He gave the girl a look and spoke her name. She pulled her hand back as if my pajamas were on fire. She hung her head and slunk away. I looked up at him. I didn’t know who I was more afraid of. At least the girl was my size. Then Josh looked down at me and smiled. That smile made me a little less frightened. The days went by. I saw more than any little girl should see. I saw more than anyone should see. I thought about the time I’d stubbed my toe… Stubbed my toe? Crazy, huh? You would have thought the world was coming to an end. I hollered and carried on. Mom came running. She gathered me in her arms and rocked me until I felt better. In the camp, I watched moms with their babies. They would sit there, holding their children, and stare off into space. No tears. No emotion on their faces. I remembered when my grandma and grandpa came to visit from the States. They brought all kinds of presents: books, toys, clothes. There were some old men and women at the camp. Some of them probably had grandchildren, but they had no gifts to give. They couldn’t even play with the children. Not that anyone felt like playing. With no moms or dads, no grandmas or grandpas who could take care of them, no wonder the children did awful things just to get some food or an old, torn blanket. I’ll never forget the smell of the camp. Once, our cook forgot to put away all the groceries. She got busy doing something else, and a package of meat sat on the counter all day. When Natalie saw it, she said, “Let’s make supper.” I didn’t want to. Our parents always told us how dangerous it was in the kitchen. The sharp knives. The hot stove. But Natalie didn’t care. Once she got it in her head that she wanted to do something, she almost always did it—or at least tried. When she opened the meat, we both coughed and gagged. I had never smelled anything so awful. That smell, however, was nothing compared to the smell in the camp. Many people were sick, and some of them smelled even worse than the rotten meat. Life in the camp was like being trapped in a nightmare that didn’t end. But Josh was always there. When I didn’t think my stomach had ever hurt so badly, he’d bring me food. I never knew where he’d gotten it. Maybe from the Red Cross truck that came by sometimes. Maybe from someone who tried to hide it. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. I’d seen boys —and girls— beaten up for a scrap of bread. When I was thirsty, Josh found water. Sure it was warm and dirty most of the time, but it was all there was. He even scrounged some paper and the stub of a pencil from somewhere. I loved to draw. It didn’t take long to forget my soft bed and all my pretty things. It scared me, but I even began to stop thinking about my sister. Josh became my protector. I never saw him hurt anyone. He took care of lots of us, but it seemed all the mean kids stayed away from him. Maybe it was because he was so big. Maybe it was something else. A few weeks after I went to live in the camp, I got the courage to ask him why he was so kind to me. “My parents were missionaries. They taught me it was important to care about others. My mom taught children to read and write. My dad helped people in remote areas dig wells and build huts for their families. Plus, I know how you feel. I had folks who loved me —and a little brother— before the soldiers came.” He didn’t need to say anymore. I knew how he felt about the soldiers. Now, Josh was my family and the camp, my home.

Home? Yeah, right! The man carrying me tossed me into the nearest tent. I didn’t want to, but I cried out when I hit the hard dirt. I hurt all over, but I didn’t want to admit it. I also didn’t want to admit that I was scared. I always saw myself as the brave one. My captor snickered, turned and left me alone. I lay there for a few minutes, fighting off tears. Then I sat up and brushed off my pajamas. I tried to at least. The more I brushed, the dirtier they got. My hands were covered in dirt and oil. What did it matter? My stomach growled, and I realized I had to find something to eat. I crept to the front of the tent and carefully pushed back the flap. “What do you think you’re doing?” A man with a gun at his hip and a knife strapped to his leg was right outside the tent. I stood up tall, took a deep breath and did my best not to let my voice waver. “I… I’m hungry. I would like something to eat.” Before I could stop myself I added, “Please.” (Mother always insisted we use our manners.) The soldier smiled and shook his head. He gestured to another who was standing nearby. “Her majesty would like her dinner now.” The other man laughed, but headed off to find me something to eat. The days dragged on. Fear was soon replaced by boredom. Once sometimes twice a day, I got something to eat. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t all that bad either. Plus, there was always clean water to drink. Each day there was a different guard outside my tent. Most of them ignored me, but there was one who was nice to me. If no one was around, Chibote would come into the tent and talk. He even played games with me, games he said he used to play with his daughter. One day I asked him where she was. He looked away for a moment then turned back. I would have been frightened by the look in his eyes, but there were tears there as well as anger. “They took her away from me. They came into my house one night when I was away. My wife and my baby daughter…” Then he stood up, wiped his eyes with the back of his hands, and left me alone to wonder what had happened to his family.

I remember asking, “But can’t we find homes for all the boys and girls?” “I’m so sorry, Lisa, but we can’t do that.” It was six months after I’d gone to live in the camp. One morning, Josh woke me up and pointed in the direction of the strangers. Then he just walked away. The woman’s clothes reminded me of my mom’s. The man’s suit made me think of my dad when he went off to meetings at the U.N. I looked down at my clothes and tried to remember what they’d once looked like. The woman spotted me. When she started walking toward me, I almost ran away, but instead, I stood perfectly still. “Lisa, honey, is that you?” I nodded my head. “I’m Lisa.” “Over here,” she called to the man in the suit. “I’ve found her.” When she got close, I looked down at my feet and asked, “Who are you? How do you know my name?” “Sweetheart, your daddy’s friends sent us to look for you. We’ve been looking everywhere.” “Hello, Lisa,” the man said. “We’ve come to take you home.” “I don’t have a home anymore,” I whispered. The woman took a deep breath. When she spoke, it sounded like she was going to cry. “We know. But there’s a very nice couple who wants you to come and stay with them.” That’s when I asked the question about the other children. As I walked to the big black car, I looked over my shoulder. “What about Josh? He’s my best friend. Can he come with us?” The man opened the car door for me. “We can’t take anyone but you, Lisa.” The lady walked to the other side of the car and got in. I looked around one last time. I wanted a family. To sleep in a bed. To have enough to eat and drink. To change my clothes. But I wanted to take my friends with me, especially Josh. Then I caught a glimpse of the bottle of water and the cupcake the lady was offering me. I shrugged my shoulders and cocked my head. “It’s your sixth birthday, Lisa.” Slowly, I climbed into the car. I ate the cupcake and drank every drop of water. Then I fell asleep. The car was so comfortable, and for the first time in months, I felt safe. When I woke up, I was leaning against my rescuer’s arm. I was embarrassed and quickly sat up, but she didn’t seem to mind. She just pointed out the window at a big house and said, “We’re here.” I had never seen such a beautiful home. It was even bigger than ours. A very pretty white woman came running down the front steps. Even from inside the car, I could see the tears running down her cheeks. She pulled open the door. I scooted away from her and bumped into the woman sitting beside me. “Oh, precious, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” She took a few steps back from the car. “I’m Mrs. James. Do you remember me? My husband and I came to your house for supper a couple of times.” I looked at her for a few minutes, and then nodded my head. She held out her hand, and I inched out of the car. When we got inside, I could hardly believe my eyes. Everything was perfect. There were pictures on the walls. Pictures of smiling, happy children. “They’re our children, Lisa. But they’re all grown up now. They live in the United States.” She pointed to other pictures. “And these are our grandchildren. We miss them very much.” “I miss my mommy and my daddy. I miss my sister, too.” It looked like she was going to cry again, but instead, she swallowed hard and said, “Let’s get you cleaned up. My husband will be home soon, and we can have a special supper. It will be your birthday celebration. OK?” I smiled shyly and nodded my head. That day I had a bath. I put on clean clothes. And I ate supper at a table with real silverware. I could only eat a little before my stomach began to ache. The woman who had found me gave me a quick hug. She and the man left, and I was alone in that big house with my new family. How could it be real? It must be a dream. And speaking of dreams… That night I woke up screaming. Soldiers. My mom. My dad. Natalie. Hiding. The camp. Josh reaching out to me. Mrs. James came running. She gathered me in her arms and rocked me. She rubbed my back and sang a song —a song my mom used to sing when I got scared. Maybe I would be OK, after all.

Chibote watched out for me. When I was hungry, he brought extra food. When I was thirsty, he made sure I had water. When I didn’t think I could be any more bored, he brought me a stack of paper and a handful of pencils. Lisa was the one who liked to draw, but at least it was something to do. I kept track of the days, making a mark on one of the sheets every morning when I woke up. Two days after I mentioned I felt silly wearing pajamas all the time, there were two shirts and a couple of pairs of pants at the end of my cot. I often wondered where clothes my size had come from, but I never asked. There was no guard outside my door eight days after I was brought to the camp. Chibote came to tell me I could wander around if I wanted. He pointed at a large tent and said I must never go anywhere near it. He also warned me not to leave the camp. Then he was called away, and I just stood there. Normally, I would have been excited. I loved to explore, but something held me back. I knew I didn’t belong there. For the first five nights, I’d cried myself to sleep. After that, the tears just seemed to dry up. I dreamt of my family, but none of my dreams made any sense to me. I screamed once, but I was told never to do that again. When a large man with a gun flung over his shoulder, wearing military khakis tells you to shut up, you shut up. I began to wander around the camp. I was timid at first, but when all the men ignored me, I became bolder. The weeks went by, and I learned about every corner of that camp, on my side of the tent at least. When I would get too close to the perimeter, someone would scowl at me and point in the opposite direction. As adventurous —or foolhardy— as I became, I never went near the tent in the center of camp. Chibote’s warning ensured that. The months passed. Life in the camp became my reality. Chibote wasn’t the only one who paid attention to me. One morning, just after dawn, Banda burst into my tent. “Happy birthday, Recruit.” Recruit? I didn’t get it. “Get dressed. It’s time for your training to begin.” I had no idea what he had in mind, but I scrambled out of bed and put on my clothes. When I poked my head out of the tent, he shoved the handle of a pistol in my face. “Take this.” I shook my head. “When your superior officer gives you an order, you do as you’re told. Get it?” “Um, OK.” The gun was heavier than I expected. I just stared at it in my hand. “Come with me.” He began to walk away, and I had no choice but to follow. “And from now on, when I tell you to do something, the only thing I want to hear is ‘Yes, Sir!’ Understand?” I nodded. Banda stopped and took me by the shoulders. “What are you supposed to say?” “Yes, Sir,” I whispered. “I didn’t hear you.” I stood up straight and looked him in the eye. I blinked back the tears. I wouldn’t let him get the best of me. “Yes, Sir!” “That’s better.” Before he turned away, I thought I saw the hint of a smile. Every day, I learned something new. I began to become a soldier. At first, it scared me, but then it was like a game. I learned to shoot. I learned to read maps. I learned to carry a backpack that seemed almost as heavy as I was. The soldiers became my family, and the camp became my home.
To be continued

Learning

Great way to take notes

It may change college forever.

When you’re a college student, there’s nothing more stressful than trying to make sure you take the “right notes” in order to be prepared for exams and finals. While most professors don’t really care if you understand the content –seriously– there are times where you will be sitting in a lecture hall saying “what is going on?” Some students just changed the way you are going to want to take notes forever. It’s true that when you reach college, you’re finally granted the “permission” to have electronic devices in class (unless you have a strict professor and if you do, we’re sorry). This makes taking notes 10x easier because most students took “Type To Learn” in 5th grade and are better at typing than we are at writing. But – have you ever thought of collaborating with everyone else in your class? These kids did. Basically, they used Google Docs –a Google version of Microsoft Word that allows you to “share documents” with several people– and worked together on creating the notes for the semester. They were able to make remarks, ask questions and even add things to the “master notes” for the course. Mind. Blown. What a brilliant idea!

Read full text: https://pizzabottle.com/41663-students-camegenius- way-take-notes-itll-change-college-forever/

Hygiene habits

...around the world.

Cleanliness, it turns out, has been one dirty trick. One reason early- 20th-century Americans ramped up their weekly baths to daily showers is that marketing companies capitalized on the insecurities of a new class of office drones working in close quarters. As Gizmodo wrote, to sell products like “toilet soap” and Listerine to Americans, “the advertising industry had to create pseudoscientific maladies like ‘bad breath’ and ‘body odor.’” A Reddit user recently polled 562 people and found that most men said they showered daily. Women’s bathing rituals were more diffuse, but about 60 percent preferred to shower three, four, or five times weekly. A Euromonitor poll from July found that Americans are fairly average when it comes to hygiene. Among the 16 regions surveyed, Americans attested to showering more frequently than the Chinese, Brits, and Japanese, where respondents said they take about five showers per week, but not nearly as often as people in Brazil and Colombia, where people seemingly sometimes take more than one shower per day. Perhaps the warm climates play a role —though that wouldn’t explain the habits of balmy, relatively-infrequently- bathing Turkey and Spain.

Read full text: www.theatlantic.com/health/ archive/2015/02/how-often-people-in-variouscountries- shower/385470/


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How to solve

...the biggest mystery in Physics.

Suppose aliens land on our planet and want to learn our current scientific knowledge. I would start with the 40-year-old documentary Powers of Ten. Granted, it’s a bit out of date, but this short film, written and directed by the famous designer couple Charles and Ray Eames, captures in less than 10 minutes a comprehensive view of the cosmos. Original story reprinted with permission from Quanta Magazine, an editorially independent publication of the Simons Foundation whose mission is to enhance public understanding of science by covering research developments and trends in mathematics and the physical and life sciences. The script is simple and elegant. When the film begins, we see a couple picnicking in a Chicago park. Then the camera zooms out. Every 10 seconds the field of vision gains a power of 10 —from 10 meters across, to 100, to 1,000 and onward. Slowly the big picture reveals itself to us. We see the city, the continent, Earth, the solar system, neighboring stars, the Milky Way, all the way to the largest structures of the universe. Then in the second half of the film, the camera zooms in and delves into the smallest structures, uncovering more and more microscopic details. We travel into a human hand and discover cells, the double helix of the DNA molecule...

Read full text: www.wired.com/story/ how-to-solve-the-biggest-mystery-in-physics/

Infants can see more

Over time, our brains start filtering out details.

When babies are just three to four months old, they can pick out image differences that adults never notice. But after the age of five months, the infants lose their supersight abilities, reports Susana Martinez- Conde for Scientific American. Don’t get too jealous of the superior discrimination that infants have however: The reason adults —or even babies older than about eight months— don’t have it is because over time, our brains learn what differences are important to notice. For example, when adults look at the images of a snail they typically say that glossy snail A and and glossy snail B are the most similar. The matte-looking snail C seems to be the outlier. But a baby can tell that snail B and snail C are actually more similar. Though it is hard for adults to see, snail A stands out from the others —the surface of the snail reflects very different lighting conditions. Babies are more sensitive to that seemingly trivial image difference. “[W]e learn to ignore certain types of differences so that we can recognize the same object as unchanging in many varied scenarios,” writes Martinez-Conde. Researchers based in Tokyo, Japan explored this ability of very young children by testing 42 infants between the ages of three to eight months old. Since these babies can’t yet talk, the researchers tracked their perception of images based on how long the babies stared at each image. Previous research has shown that when a baby sees something they consider new, they stare longer; objects they are familiar with only merit a passing glance.

Read full text: www.smithsonianmag. com/smart-news/ infants-can-see-things-adults-cannot-180958036/


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Moths and cicadas

These oversized moths and insects by Yumi Okita are constructed with fabric, embroidery thread, fake fur, wire, and feathers. The Raleigh-based artist makes each piece by hand, creating faithful interpretations of actual insects like the Oleander Hawk Moth or the Peacock Butterfly. You can see many of her most recent creations on Etsy.

Find more images: www.thisiscolossal.com/2017/08/ large-new-embroidered-textile-moths-and-cicadas-by-yumi-okita/

Molekule

The world’s first molecular air purifier.

After 20 years of research and development, Molekule breaks down harmful microscopic pollutants like allergens, mold, bacteria, viruses and even airborne chemicals. Destroys, doesn’t collect. Fully eradicates pollutants instead of simply trapping them, so that nothing stays alive on the filter. Any size. Destroys pollutants regardless how small, including those 1000x times smaller than what HEPA (another filter) can collect. Full spectrum. Only product that eliminates the full range of indoor pollutants, including volatile organic compounds and viruses.

Visit: molekule.com

8 talks for when you feel like you’re not enough

The power of believing that you can improve.
Carol Dweck researches “growth mindset” —the idea that we can grow our brain’s capacity to learn and to solve problems. In this talk, she describes two ways to think about a problem that’s slightly too hard for you to solve.

Your elusive creative genius.
Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses —and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person “being” a genius, all of us “have” a genius. It’s a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

The power of vulnerability.
Brené Brown studies human connection —our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.

Embracing otherness, embracing myself.
Actor Thandie Newton tells the story of finding her “otherness” —first, as a child growing up in two distinct cultures, and then as an actor playing with many different selves. A warm, wise talk, fresh from stage at TEDGlobal.

A kinder, gentler philosophy of success.
Alain de Botton examines our ideas of success and failure —and questions the assumptions underlying these two judgments. Is success always earned? Is failure? He makes an eloquent, witty case to move beyond snobbery to find true pleasure in our work.

To This Day... for the bullied and beautiful.
By turn hilarious and haunting, poet Shane Koyczan puts his finger on the pulse of what it’s like to be young and ...different. “To This Day,” his spoken-word poem about bullying, captivated millions as a viral video (created, crowd-source style, by 80 animators). Here, he gives a glorious, live reprise with backstory and violin accompaniment by Hannah Epperson.

Grit: The power of passion and perseverance.
Leaving a high-flying job in consulting, Angela Lee Duckworth took a job teaching math to seventh graders in a New York public school. She quickly realized that IQ wasn’t the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. Here, she explains her theory of “grit” as a predictor of success.

Why thinking you’re ugly is bad for you.
About 10,000 people a month Google the phrase, “Am I ugly?” Meaghan Ramsey of the Dove Self- Esteem Project has a feeling that many of them are young girls. In a deeply unsettling talk, she walks us through the surprising impacts of low body and image confidence —from lower grade point averages to greater risk-taking with drugs and alcohol. Source: http://www.iflscience.com/environment/countries-likely-survive-climate-change/

Live a better life learning how to keep your body, mind and soul balanced. Visit regularly MyAIU Body / MyAIU Mind / MyAIU Spirit and MyAIU Energy.


China shifts focus to EVs

Announces plan to ban sales of fossil fuel cars.

China has announced a plan to ban the sales of fossil fuel-burning vehicles. They don’t have a date set yet –vice minister of industry and information technology Xin Guobin said regulators and the government are working on a timetable. A ban would be a boon for China’s electric car industry, and could have a huge impact on the country’s notoriously awful air quality. Xin spoke about China’s plan to stop sales and production of the polluting vehicles at an automobile forum over the weekend in Tianjin. He said such a step would impact both the environment, and the growth of the country’s electric car industry. Bloomberg noted China would be the largest market to end sales of fossil fuel-powered cars should they go through with the plan. Liu Zhijia, assistant general manager at China’s largest passenger car exporter Chery Automobile Company, said, “The implementation of the ban for such a big market like China can be later than 2040. That will leave plenty of time for everyone to prepare.” Chery recently unveiled battery-powered and hybrid vehicle models at a Frankfurt motor show. China has the second largest economy in the world, and have said they’ll cap carbon emissions by 2030.

Read full text: inhabitat.com/china-announcesplan- to-ban-sales-of-fossil-fuel-cars-and-shiftfocus- to-evs/

Lend us a hand

Have disappeared from California’s Sierra Nevadas.

Hello, human! Yes, you down there. It’s us the trees, we need a word with you. And it’s important. We feed you. We release water vapor into the air and provide much needed shade to homes and streets to help keep cities cool. We provide a beautiful, affordable way to clean up air pollution. Not to brag, but in Chicago alone, we remove 18,000 tons of air pollution each year. You’re welcome. We provide you with oxygen, free of charge. And we even raise your property values and can help lower crime rates. We don’t do it for credit, but after helping out like this for millennia, we could use a favor. We’re being destroyed. We’re not given an opportunity to thrive. It’s getting dire for some of us, and for the animals that call us home. So we need you to give a damn. We need you to stand up for trees –in your communities, in your preserved natural spaces, and around the globe. We need you to support conservation efforts, buy and support products that don’t contribute to deforestation, and encourage sustainable tree planting and harvesting. We need you to fight for us. So, please, lend us a hand. We’ll keep doing our part.

Source: www.upworthy.com

Eco Tip: Simplify your life as much as possible. Only keep belongings that you use/enjoy. Change your life, get sustainable, visit MyAIU Knowledge


Rocking chair

...that soothes autustic children.

The bond between human and horse dates back thousands of years. Now, thanks to a groundbreaking design, equine therapy could be made available to help autistic children in the comfort of their homes. Callum Hunter, a student at Edinburgh Napier University, has designed ‘U Rock’ –a chair that replicates the movement of a horse when walking as part of his final year project. Equine therapy is considered an effective therapy for children with autism, with the rhythmic motion of riding a horse helping calm those affected by the condition. The chair features a saddle-like seat on three wooden legs which combines springs with a half circle mechanism to allow a child to move gently from side to side, similar to the movement created when riding a horse. It is faced with soft felt and is finished in a soothing colour of green to help create a sense of calm. Hunter was inspired to design the chair, which is exhibited at the university’s More Than A Degree show at its Merchiston campus, which ends today, after seeing the positive effect that equine therapy had on children affected by autism. After learning of the challenges faced by families having to travel to centres in rural Scotland and northern England, he decided to pursue his own plans to bring the therapy into the home.

Read full note: www.scotsman.com/news/studentinvents- rocking-chair-that-soothes-autistic-children- 1-4459014

FrogLog

Saving animals from terrible deaths.

A big part of the summer involves taking a dip in a swimming pool. Everyone who owns a pool knows that there can be the unfortunate occasion when a small animal gets into the water, can’t figure out how to get out, and ends up drowning. This often happens to lizards, rodents, amphibians, and all sorts of animals. In order to try and prevent these accidents, Wildlife Biologist Rich Mason has created an invention called the FrogLog. It’s small, simple, and might do wonders in saving backyard wildlife. It will also save you some time on pool maintenance. Mason got a call from a friend in June of 2004 after they had just installed an in-ground swimming pool. He wrote on his official website that frogs had been dying in the neighboring pool in the wooded lot near Baltimore, Maryland. Mason was troubled at this news and decided to create some sort of raft device that could possibly help them escape. Warm weather means swimming pool season, but it also means frog season. Mason’s invention will not only save animals lives but it will save you the trouble of having to fish critters from your pool.

Find more images: www.providr.com/ genius-invention-saving-animals/

Get a better knowledge about our rights and the way we can use them on a daily basis to prevent any abuse or limitations of them. Visit MyAIU Human Rights.

Campus

3 Things I learned while my plane crashed

Watch this TED Talk from Rick Elias here: www.ted.com/talks/ric_elias

Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary. Well I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D. I was the only one who could talk to the flight attendants. So I looked at them right away, and they said, “No problem. We probably hit some birds.” The pilot had already turned the plane around, and we weren’t that far. You could see Manhattan. Two minutes later, three things happened at the same time. The pilot lines up the plane with the Hudson River. That’s usually not the route. He turns off the engines. Now imagine being in a plane with no sound. And then he says three words –the most unemotional three words I’ve ever heard. He says, “Brace for impact.” I didn’t have to talk to the flight attendant anymore. I could see in her eyes, it was terror. Life was over. Now I want to share with you three things I learned about myself that day. I learned that it all changes in an instant. We have this bucket list, we have these things we want to do in life, and I thought about all the people I wanted to reach out to that I didn’t, all the fences I wanted to mend, all the experiences I wanted to have and I never did. As I thought about that later on, I came up with a saying, which is, “I collect bad wines.” Because if the wine is ready and the person is there, I’m opening it. I no longer want to postpone anything in life. And that urgency, that purpose, has really changed my life.

The second thing I learned that day —and this is as we clear the George Washington Bridge, which was by not a lot— I thought about, wow, I really feel one real regret. I’ve lived a good life. In my own humanity and mistakes, I’ve tried to get better at everything I tried. But in my humanity, I also allow my ego to get in. And I regretted the time I wasted on things that did not matter with people that matter. And I thought about my relationship with my wife, with my friends, with people. And after, as I reflected on that, I decided to eliminate negative energy from my life. It’s not perfect, but it’s a lot better. I’ve not had a fight with my wife in two years. It feels great. I no longer try to be right; I choose to be happy.

The third thing I learned —and this is as your mental clock starts going, “15, 14, 13.” You can see the water coming. I’m saying, “Please blow up.” I don’t want this thing to break in 20 pieces like you’ve seen in those documentaries. And as we’re coming down, I had a sense of, wow, dying is not scary. It’s almost like we’ve been preparing for it our whole lives. But it was very sad. I didn’t want to go; I love my life. And that sadness really framed in one thought, which is, I only wish for one thing. I only wish I could see my kids grow up. About a month later, I was at a performance by my daughter — first-grader, not much artistic talent ... ... yet. And I’m balling, I’m crying, like a little kid. And it made all the sense in the world to me. I realized at that point, by connecting those two dots, that the only thing that matters in my life is being a great dad. Above all, above all, the only goal I have in life is to be a good dad. I was given the gift of a miracle, of not dying that day. I was given another gift, which was to be able to see into the future and come back and live differently. I challenge you guys that are flying today, imagine the same thing happens on your plane —and please don’t— but imagine, and how would you change? What would you get done that you’re waiting to get done because you think you’ll be here forever? How would you change your relationships and the negative energy in them? And more than anything, are you being the best parent you can?

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Flatyz.

Handmade decorative flat candles. https://www.faradayscienceshop.com

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Powerful key ring magnet. www.thegrommet.com
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Jostein Gaarder.

“The most subversive people are those who ask questions.”
–Jostein Gaarder. A Norwegian intellectual and author of several novels, short stories and children’s books.

5 lessons of art & life

from Wassily Kandinsky

4. Recognize the importance of the inner being If all the wise lessons of Wassily Kandinsky could be condensed into one, it might be summarized as an “inner necessity.” This is explained as a balance between appearance and content. Kandinsky’s paintings are extremely colorful works which not only respond to the pure aesthetic experience but also to the full awareness of an artist’s inner world. This results in a commitment to the deepest and most subjective emotions: always in shapes and colors. They’ve expressed their emotional world. Kandinsky created an entire language based on the symbolism of each form and every color. A healthy balance between exterior and interior, between form and content, is thus deeply necessary in daily life.

Source: www.faena.com


Master of Sociology

School of business and economics

The Master of Sociology (MA, MS) program objective is to help students develop professionally by employing analytical and research skills through the use of research methods, research experience, and analytical skills necessary for the employment in government, nonprofit, and corporate organizations. The Master of Sociology program is offered online via distance learning. After evaluating both academic record and life experience, AIU staff working in conjunction with Faculty and Academic Advisors will assist students in setting up a custom-made program, designed on an individual basis. This flexibility to meet student needs is seldom found in other distance learning programs. Our online program does not require all students to take the same subjects/ courses, use the same books, or learning materials. Instead, the online Master of Sociology curriculum is designed individually by the student and academic advisor. It specifically addresses strengths and weaknesses with respect to market opportunities in the student’s major and intended field of work. Understanding that industry and geographic factors should influence the content of the curriculum instead of a standardized one-fits-all design is the hallmark of AIU’s unique approach to adult education. This philosophy addresses the dynamic and constantly changing environment of working professionals by helping adult students in reaching their professional and personal goals within the scope of the degree program.

Important:

Below is an example of the topics or areas you may develop and work on during your studies. By no means is it a complete or required list as AIU programs do not follow a standardized curriculum. It is meant solely as a reference point and example. Want to learn more about the curriculum design at AIU? Go ahead and visit our website, especially the Course and Curriculum section.

Core Courses and Topics

Introduction to Social Movements
Large Scale Organizations
Sociology of Occupations
Urban Sociology
Social Inequality and Education
20th Century Educational Thought
Race and Ethnicity
Sociology of Sex and Gender
Sociology of the Family
Sexual Identities Across the Life-span Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered People Perspectives
Comparative Studies of Socialization
Contemporary Sociological Theory
Social Stratification and Inequality
Public Policy
Demographic Analysis
Urban Poverty

Orientation Courses

Communication & Investigation (Comprehensive Resume)
Organization Theory (Portfolio)
Experiential Learning (Autobiography)
Academic Evaluation (Questionnaire)
Fundament of Knowledge (Integration Chart)
Fundamental Principles I (Philosophy of Education)
Professional Evaluation (Self Evaluation Matrix)
Development of Graduate Study (Guarantee of an Academic Degree)

Research Project

Masters Thesis Project
MBM300 Thesis Proposal
MBM302 Master Thesis (7,500 words)

Publication.

Each Master graduate is encouraged to publish their research papers either online in the public domain or through professional journals and periodicals worldwide.

Contact us to get started

Submit your Online Application, paste your resume and any additional comments/ questions in the area provided.

aiu.edu/apply-online.html

Pioneer Plaza/900 Fort Street Mall 410
Honolulu, HI 96813
800-993-0066 (Toll Free in US)
808-924-9567 (Internationally)

About Us

Accreditation

Atlantic International University offers distance learning degree programs for adult learners at bachelors, masters, and doctoral level. With self paced program taken online, AIU lifts the obstacles that keep professional adults from completing their educational goals. Programs are available throughout a wide range of majors and areas of study. All of this with a philosophically holistic approach towards education fitting within the balance of your life and acknowledging the key role each individual can play in their community, country, and the world. Atlantic International University is accredited by the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges and Universities (ASIC). ASIC Accreditation is an internationally renowned quality standard for colleges and universities. Visit ASIC’s Directory of Accredited Colleges and Universities. ASIC is a member of CHEA International Quality Group (CIQG) in the USA, an approved accreditation body by the Ministerial Department of the Home Office in the UK, and is listed in the International Directory of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). AIU meets all state and federal laws as a degree-granting institution in the United States and the State of Hawaii. The University was legally established by corporate charter in 1998 and is in good standing.

While National Accreditation is common for traditional U.S. institutions of higher learning utilizing standard teaching methods, every country has its own standards and accrediting organizations. Accreditation is a voluntary process and does not guarantee a worthy education. Rather, it means an institution has submitted its courses, programs, budget, and educational objectives for review. AIU’s Distance Learning Programs are unique, non-traditional and not accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. This may be a determining factor for those individuals interested in pursuing certain disciplines requiring State licensing, (such as law, teaching, or medicine). It is recommended that you consider the importance of National Accreditation for your specific field or profession. Although Atlantic International University’s individualized Distance Learning Degree Programs, are distinct from traditional educational institutions, we are convinced of their value and acceptance worldwide. Non-traditional programs are important because they recognize knowledge gained outside the classroom and incorporate a broader more comprehensive view of the learning experience. Many great institutions are unaccredited. We invite you to compare our programs and philosophy with traditional classroom-based programs to determine which is best suited to your needs and budget. AIU has chosen private accreditation through the Accrediting Commission International (ACI), obtained in 1999. ACI is not regulated or approved by the US Department of Education. ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY IS NOT ACCREDITED BY AN ACCREDITING AGENCY RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED

STATES SECRETARY OF EDUCATION. Note: In the U.S., many licensing authorities require accredited degrees as the basis for eligibility for licensing. In some cases, accredited colleges may not accept for transfer courses and degrees completed at unaccredited colleges, and some employers may require an accredited degree as a basis for eligibility for employment. AIU is incorporated in the state of Hawaii. As a University based in the U.S., AIU meets all state and federal laws of the United States.

There is no distinction between the programs offered through AIU and those of traditional campus based programs with regards to the following: your degree, transcript and other graduation documents from AIU follow the same standard used by all U.S. colleges and universities. AIU graduation documents can include an apostille and authentication from the U.S. Department of State to facilitate their use internationally. Authentication from the U.S. Department of State is a process that will ultimately bind a letter signed by the U.S. Secretary of State (permanently with a metal ring) to your graduation documents. If a student outside the U.S. wishes to carry out a particular procedure within a country’s Department of Education regarding their degree earned at AIU, such procedures are to be carried out independently by the student. AIU respects the unique rules and regulations of each country and does not intervene or influence the respective authorities. We recommend prospective students who intend to carry out such procedures outside the U.S. to verify in detail the steps and requirements needed in order to be fully informed.

The AIU Difference

It is acknowledged that the act of learning is endogenous, (from within), rather than exogenous.

This fact is the underlying rationale for “Distance Learning”, in all of the programs offered by AIU. The combination of the underlying principles of student “self instruction”, (with guidance), collaborative development of curriculum unique to each student, and flexibility of time and place of study, provides the ideal learning environment to satisfy individual needs.

AIU is an institution of experiential learning and nontraditional education at a distance. There are no classrooms and attendance is not required.

Mission & Vision

MISSION:

To be a higher learning institution concerned about generating cultural development alternatives likely to be sustained in order to lead to a more efficient administration of the world village and its environment; exerting human and community rights through diversity with the ultimate goal of the satisfaction and evolution of the world.

VISION:

The empowerment of the individual towards the convergence of the world through a sustainable educational design based on andragogy and omniology.

Organizational Structure

Dr. Franklin Valcin
President/Academic Dean

Ricardo González
Chief Operation Officer
Ofelia Hernandez
Director of AIU
Clara Margalef
Dir. of Special Projects of AIU
Juan Pablo Moreno
Director of Operations
Paul Applebaum
IT Director
Nadeem Awan
Chief Programing
Dr. Jack Rosenzweig
Dean of Academic Affairs
Paula Vieria
Admissions Manager
Dr. Edward Lambert
Academic Coordinator
Dr. Ariadna Romero
Academic Coordinator
Maricela Esparza
Administrative Coordinator
Jaime Rotlewicz
Admissions Coordinator
Carlos Aponte
Telecom. Coordinator
Rosie Perez
Finance Coordinator
Nadia Gabaldon
Student Services Supervisor
Dr. José Mercado
Chief Executive Officer

Linda Collazo
Student Services Coordinator
Kingsley Zelee
IT Coordinator
Felipe Gomez
Design Director
Giovanni Castillo
Operations assistant
Liliana Peñaranda
Logistics Coordinator
Amalia Aldrett
Admissions Coordinator
Alba Ochoa
Admissions Coordinator
Sandra Garcia
Admissions Coordinator
Veronica Amuz
Admissions Coordinator
Junko Shimizu
Admissions Coordinator
Roberto Aldrett
Communications Coordinator
Nazma Sultana
Assistant Programming
Jhanzaib Awan
Assistant Programming
Chris Benjamin
Hosting Server
Dr. Ricardo González
Provost

Vivian Calderon
Registrar Office
Daritza Ysla
Accounting Coordinator
Patricia C. Domenech
Human Resources
Irina Ivashuk
Administrative Assistant
Kimberly Diaz
Academic Tutor
Renata Da Silva
Academic Tutor
Lourdes Puentes
Academic Tutor
Rina Lehnhoff
Academic Tutor
Renato Cifuentes
Academic Tutor
Arturo Vejar
Academic Tutor
Arhely Espinoza
Academic Tutor
Luisa Villar
Academic Tutor
Cyndy Dominguez
Academic Tutor
Paulina Garcia
Academic Assistant

School of Business and Economics

The School of Business and Economics allows aspiring and practicing professionals, managers, and entrepreneurs in the private and public sectors to complete a self paced distance learning degree program of the highest academic standard. The ultimate goal is to empower learners and help them take advantage of the enormous array of resources from the world environment in order to eliminate the current continuum of poverty and limitations. Degree programs are designed for those students whose professional experience has been in business, marketing, administration, economics, finance and management.

Areas of Study:

Accounting, Advertising, Banking, Business Administration, Communications, Ecommerce, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Home Economics, Human Resources, International Business, International Finance, Investing, Globalization, Marketing, Management, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Public Administrations, Sustainable Development, Public Relations, Telecommunications, Tourism, Trade.

School of Social and Human Studies

The School of Social and Human Studies is focused on to the development of studies which instill a core commitment to building a society based on social and economic justice and enhancing opportunities for human well being. The founding principles lie on the basic right of education as outlined in the Declaration of Human Rights. We instill in our students a sense of confidence and self reliance in their ability to access the vast opportunities available through information channels, the world wide web, private, public, nonprofit, and nongovernmental organizations in an ever expanding global community. Degree programs are aimed towards those whose professional life has been related to social and human behavior, with the arts, or with cultural studies.

Areas of Study:

Psychology, International Affairs, Sociology, Political Sciences, Architecture, Legal Studies, Public Administration, Literature and languages, Art History, Ministry, African Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Asian Studies, European Studies, Islamic Studies, Religious Studies.

School of Science and Engineering

The School of Science and Engineering seeks to provide dynamic, integrated, and challenging degree programs designed for those whose experience is in industrial research, scientific production, engineering and the general sciences. Our system for research and education will keep us apace with the twenty-first century reach scientific advance in an environmentally and ecologically responsible manner to allow for the sustainability of the human population. We will foster among our students a demand for ethical behavior, an appreciation for diversity, an understanding of scientific investigation,

Areas of Study:

Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Communications, Petroleum Science, Information Technology, Telecommunications, Nutrition Science, Agricultural Science, Computer Science, Sports Science, Renewable Energy, Geology, Urban Planning.

Online Library Resources

With access to a global catalog created and maintained collectively by more than 9,000 participating institutions, AIU students have secured excellent research tools for their study programs.

The AIU online library contains over 2 billion records and over 300 million bibliographic records that are increasing day by day. The sources spanning thousands of years and virtually all forms of human expression. There are files of all kinds, from antique inscribed stones to e-books, form wax engravings to MP3s, DVDs and websites. In addition to the archives, the library AIU Online offers electronic access to more than 149,000 e-books, dozens of databases and more than 13 million full-text articles with pictures included. Being able to access 60 databases and 2393 periodicals with more than 18 million items, guarantees the information required to perform the assigned research project. Users will find that many files are enriched with artistic creations on the covers, indexes, reviews, summaries and other information. The records usually have information attached from important libraries. The user can quickly assess the relevance of the information and decide if it is the right source.

Education on the 21st century

AIU is striving to regain the significance of the concept of education, which is rooted into the Latin “educare”, meaning “to pull out”, breaking loose from the paradigm of most 21st century universities with their focus on “digging and placing information” into students’ heads rather than teaching them to think. For AIU, the generation of “clones” that some traditional universities are spreading throughout the real world is one of the most salient reasons for today’s ills. In fact, students trained at those educational institutions never feel a desire to “change the world” or the current status quo; instead, they adjust to the environment, believe everything is fine, and are proud of it all.

In a world where knowledge and mostly information expire just like milk, we must reinvent university as a whole in which each student, as the key player, is UNIQUE within an intertwined environment. This century’s university must generate new knowledge bits although this may entail its separation from both the administrative bureaucracy and the faculty that evolve there as well. AIU thinks that a university should be increasingly integrated into the “real world”, society, the economy, and the holistic human being. As such, it should concentrate on its ultimate goal, which is the student, and get him/her deeply immersed into a daily praxis of paradigm shifts, along with the Internet and research, all these being presently accessible only to a small minority of the world community. AIU students must accomplish their self-learning mission while conceptualizing it as the core of daily life values through the type of experiences that lead to a human being’s progress when information is converted into education. The entire AIU family must think of the university as a setting that values diversity and talent in a way that trains mankind not only for the present but above all for a future that calls everyday for professionals who empower themselves in academic and professional areas highly in demand in our modern society. We shall not forget that, at AIU, students are responsible for discovering their own talents and potential, which they must auto-develop in such a way that the whole finish product opens up as a flower that blossoms every year more openly.

The AIU stance is against the idea of the campus as a getaway from day-to-day pressure since we believe reality is the best potential-enhancer ever; one truly learns through thinking, brainstorming ideas, which leads to new solutions, and ultimately the rebirth of a human being fully integrated in a sustainable world environment. Self-learning is actualized more from within than a top-down vantage point, that is to say, to influence instead of requesting, ideas more than power. We need to create a society where solidarity, culture, life, not political or economic rationalism and more than techno structures, are prioritized. In short, the characteristics of AIU students and alumni remain independence, creativity, self-confidence, and ability to take risk towards new endeavors. This is about people’s worth based not on what they know but on what they do with what they know.

Read more at: www.aiu.edu

AIU Service

AIU offers educational opportunities in the USA to adults from around the world so that they can use their own potential to manage their personal, global cultural development. The foundational axis of our philosophy lies upon self-actualized knowledge and information, with no room for obsoleteness, which is embedded into a DISTANCE LEARNING SYSTEM based on ANDRAGOGY and OMNIOLOGY.

The ultimate goal of this paradigm is to empower learners and help them take advantage of the enormous array of resources from the world environment in order to eliminate the current continuum of poverty and limitations.

This will become a crude reality with respect for, and practice of, human and community rights through experiences, investigations, practicum work, and/ or examinations. Everything takes place in a setting that fosters diversity; with advisors and consultants with doctorate degrees and specializations in Human Development monitor learning processes, in addition to a worldwide web of colleagues and associations, so that they can reach the satisfaction and the progress of humanity with peace and harmony.

Contact us to get started

Now, it’s possible to earn your degree in the comfort of your own home. For additional information or to see if you qualify for admissions please contact us.

Pioneer Plaza / 900 Fort Street Mall 410
Honolulu, HI 96813
800-993-0066 (Toll Free in US) info@aiu.edu
808-924-9567 (Internationally) www.aiu.edu

Online application:

www.aiu.edu/apply3_phone.aspx