José Belchior da Silva Doctor of Philosophy Public Health Angola |
Edith Silvana Ramirez Correa Bachelor of Business Administration Finance and Business Argentina |
Michael Zano Bachelor of Science Occupational Health and Safe ty Botswana |
Kaphepha Kgosietsile Kaphepha Master of Science Civil Enginee ring Botswana |
Vincenzo Cardella Bachelor of Science Political Science Brazil |
Manuel Couso Bachelor of Business Administration Business Administration Brazil |
Mauro Adolfo de Paz González Bachelor of Business Administration Business Administration Brazil |
Jean Claude Nkezimana Master of Arts Social Policies Burundi |
Magdaline Tarkang Agbor Doctor of Business Administration Business Management Cameroon |
Jaime Eduardo Reyes Martinez Doctor of Regional Development Regional Development Colombia |
Ricaurte Rozo Arce Bachelor of Architec ture Des ign and Construction Colombia |
Darwin Gutierrez Diaz Bachelor of Science Telecommunications Enginee ring Colombia |
Suham Elia Sarah Bachelor of Business Administration International Relations Czec h Rep ublic |
Donaciano de la Cruz Montero Bachelor of Science Civil Enginee ring Dominican Rep ublic |
Euric Carrión Martínez Doctor of Mathematics Science s Applied Mathematics Dominican Rep ublic |
Fanny Torres Rosario Doctor of Education Scientific Rese arch Methodology Dominican Rep ublic |
Yenisse Alvarez Azcona Bachelor of Business Administration Marketing Dominican Rep ublic |
Elio Manuel Pérez Infante Master of Logope dics Logoped ics Dominican Rep ublic |
Marina Aybar Gómez Doctor of Philosophy Social Communication Dominican Rep ublic |
Alejandro Guzmán Ramírez Bachelor of Marke ting Marketing Dominican Rep ublic |
Cruz Del C. Taveras L. Bachelor of Communications Social Communications Dominican Rep ublic |
Manuel Elias Guerrero Bermeo Master of Business Administration Business Economy and Sust. Development Ecuador |
Pablo Andres Gómez Mendoza Bachelor of Public Administration Public Administration Ecuador |
José Luis Gutiérrez Olivo Bachelor of Social Communication Social Communication El Salvador |
José Ela Oyana Post-Doctorate of Economics Economic Development Equatorial Guinea |
Brkti Abraham Nugusse Certificate of Management Financial Management Ethiopia |
Byron Daniel Hernàndez Pichiyà Doctor of Auditing Auditing Guatemala |
Walter Estuardo Acevedo Martínez Master of Science Agricultural Science Guatemala |
Vilma Suceli Murcia Martínez Bachelor of Science Nutrition Honduras |
Wilmer Reniery Almendares Padilla Bachelor of Science Civil Enginee ring Honduras |
Mario Alexis Moncada Torres Master of Science Coaching Honduras |
Deb Prasanna Choudhury Doctor of Education Education India |
Kasha Keleia Allison Bachelor of Science Accounting Jamaica |
Hope Gertrude Muli Master of Business Administration International Relations Kenya |
Isaac Zk Sasraku, Chrp Bachelor of Science Human Res ources Management Libe ria |
Ahmad Abdulsalam Gasim Alzien Master of Science Electronic and Communications Services Lybia |
Sefren Binton Khumula Doctor of Business Administration Accounting and Finance Malawi |
Miguel Segoviano Mendoza Doctor of Science Statistics in Industrial Enginee ring Mexico |
José Guillermo Zermeño García Bachelor of Science Nutrition Mexico |
Samantha Rodríguez Novia Bachelor of Science Nutrition Mexico |
Lazaro Antonio Tellez Soza Master of Logistics Logistics Nicaragua |
Ikiriko Patricia Orlunwo Doctor of Education Educational Psychology Nigeria |
Atuegwu Okafor Doctor of Legal Studies Legal Studies Nigeria |
Stalin Edegba Ewoigbokhan Doctor of Philosophy Public Health Nigeria |
Michael Ogunfowora Master of Science Strategic Management and Leade rship Nigeria |
Mike I. Iniedu Doctor of Philosophy Management Nigeria |
Elijah Chinezim Onyeagba Doctor of Economics Economics Nigeria |
Ricardo Hardy Andrade Caldas Doctor of Philosophy International Relations Peru |
Silvio Alberto Reyes Bachelor of Science Psychology Peru |
Enrique Alfonso Gonzales Tamayo Doctor of Science Political Science Peru |
Ann Ruth P. Lamug Doctor of Science Information Technology Philipp ines |
Ana L. Fontánez Dávila Doctor of Science Public Health Puerto Rico |
Mario Cesar Rios Escobar Doctor of Philosophy Education Puerto Rico |
Kundan Kumar Doctor of Science Information Technology Rwanda |
Lenski Quichang Wesley Douglas Master of Science Project Management Saint Vince nt and the Grenadines |
José Filomeno da Fonseca Doctor of Political Science Political Science South Africa |
Lilly Toby Kullo Bachelor of Science Public Health South Sudan |
Michael Donald Arthur Bachelor of Science Agriculture Science St. Lucia |
Brigitte Ramdeo - Pracht Bachelor of Social and Human Studies Occupational Therapy Suriname |
Valeriya Shatokhina Bachelor of Business and Economics Business Administration Thailand |
Purachat Thongserm Master of Business Management Business Management Thailand |
Selçuk Çelik Bachelor of Science Mechanical Enginee ring Turke y |
Musa Alper Uçak Bachelor of Business Administration Business Administration Turke y |
Doğukan Denizhan Bachelor of Arts Business Administration Turke y |
Hayrettin Uçak Bachelor of Arts Business Administration Turke y |
Mert Solmaz Bachelor of Arts Business Administration Turke y |
Meltem Özpeker Doctor of Arts Business Administration Turke y |
Hajar Dakkina Master of Science Health Care Management UA E |
Wahida Ahmad Bachelor of Science Education USA |
Brooks Gibbs Doctor of Philosophy Sociology USA |
Yanira Santiago Reyes Doctor of Forensic Psychology Forensic Legal Studies USA |
Yngrid Diaz Bachelor of Science Psychology USA |
Brooks Gibbs Master of Science Psychology USA |
Ibi Aseyori Doctor of Science Laboratory Science USA |
Luis E. Pitarqui Bachelor of Science Communications USA |
Frederic K. Buford II Doctor of Business Administration Organizational Leade rship USA |
Mabel Montejo de Orellana Bachelor of Science Nutrition USA |
Ana Josefa Fajardo Concepción Doctor of Education Educational Administration and Management USA |
Josefa González Gómez Doctor of Education Educational Administration and Management USA |
Given Gift Phiri Doctor of Science Information and Communication Technology Zambia |
Soneni Mazengera Doctor of Business Management Business Management Zimbabwe |
Alfred Nyamhunga Doctor of Philosophy Information Technology Zimbabwe |
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Who are you and what do
you do for living?
My name is Sonja Kickmaier.
After completing an
apprenticeship in tourism
and studying at the AIU, I
specialized in clinical trials.
I have worked in clinical research
in oncology at the medical
university for 32 years.
I currently have the science
and research area for spa and
spa medicine. I am allowed to
work in Vivea Health Hotels
in Austria.
What have you studied at AIU?
I obtained the Master of Sciences at the School of Social
and Human Studies with a
focus on Clinical Studies and
then the Doctor of Health Care
Administration with a focus
on Business Administration.
In January 2019 I completed
my second degree in Doctor
of Science with a focus
on Social Change. In 2014 I
received the Letter of Reference
AIU Program of Studies,
which entitles me to teach at
universities in the European
Union (Venia docendi).
How has the learning process
based in Andragogy impacted
your life professionally and
personally?
Distance learning was a
very positive experience for
me —on the one hand because
you are encouraged to deal
with topics in depth, to actually
work through them and to
give they back with your own
opinion and interpretation.
This was a particular
challenge, especially for my
second degree, since I was
dealing with an explosive
health policy topic.
I believe that I have matured
a lot due to the complex issues
and the challenges that have
been imposed on me by the
supervision of AIU.
The study itself is a challenge
for personal development.
I also believe that this
study brings a deeper understanding
of the requirements
in everyday professional
life; the employer is given
a broader understanding of
what he is doing, but also
more knowledge.
Tell us about your educational
process. Why has it been
important for you to invest
in education and research?
Education is a particularly
important asset these days.
The better the education, the
more you can contribute to the
functioning of the environment.
I would like to actively
contribute to life and be one
of the people who make a
difference.
For me, research is one
of the most important factors
that help maintain our
life cycle. Discovering new
things, going new ways means
progress, standing still means
going backwards.
I wanted to walk a path, not
stop at the edge of the path,
wanted to challenge me too —
sometimes push myself to the limit. Science is like competitive
sport —a victory against
yourself.
What achievements have you
obtained after completing
this program?
Immediately after I graduated,
there were no successes at
first, it was necessary to adapt
—to subordinate. You also
learn that in your program.
Studying costs, a lot of time
and energy, so that personal
development comes behind.
Only then will success be
achieved if you have learned
not to rush to new things, but
to follow the path safely.
My greatest professional
success is now surely working
with the Vivea team.
We are living exceptional
times. What is your vision
of the world situation at this
unprecedented moment?
Yes, the moment we currently
live in is exceptional
I believe that we all have to
learn to deal with the world
situation. Perhaps it is about
the right time to slow down,
to leave the hamster wheel by
all of us, unequivocally before
the pandemic, to gain more
life itself.
There are points in almost
every life that have to change,
change us.
The world is now focusing
on the pandemic —but aren’t
there completely different
individual fates that change us
and our own lives much more?
Visions? I think there are 7.4
billion different views.
I am a person who accepts
and respects life as it is.
Was the world giving real
importance to Public Health
before the pandemic? Are we
doing enough now?
Yes, she has.
We do enough, actually almost
too much in my opinion.
What can we do in the future
to improve Public Health?
What should countries do?
So, I think the responsibility
lies with everyone.
Maintaining health and not
curing illnesses is a political
and economic challenge for
the future.
I see a lot of confusion, e.g.
vaccine research. In my opinion,
the individual countries
would have to collect their experiences
at a central point in
the world, evaluate them and
direct them in one direction
—namely in a positive way for
people.
I also think it is difficult to
bring state of the art knowledge
to developing countries.
The more instructions come
from individual governments,
the more opaque the situation
becomes; and of course it is
in the current situation that
there are institutions that are
looking for and will probably
find profit.
I don’t think there is really
much that can be done —other
than appealing to the reason
of the people.
How can we improve public
health? That is a difficult
question. Actually, we are fine,
there are modern medicines
for and against everything;
there is an entire industry
with all the studies. I’m almost
tempted to say we should do
a little less ... more back to
nature, more listening to your
body, just “being yourself.”
I already know that it is
necessary to intervene from
the public side for certain
diseases. But maybe you can
take this influence back a little
if we humans learn again to be
what we are —namely actually
humans, without eternal life.
“Man” as a spare parts store, I
don’t think anything of that.
Maybe we should just enjoy
our existence and accept the
world as it is.
Is there a specific lesson we
can learn from this situation
as academics?
Yes, we have to learn that
there is no point in looking for
a way to Mars.
We academics should learn
and teach that it is much more
important to develop our
existing resources. We should
also be able to convince the
Congo man that he cannot
survive as an Eskimo.
Everyone is responsible for
their own actions, especially
for their bodies and what they
do with them. It is our job
to strengthen people’s sense
of responsibility. For me,
research also means creating
knowledge!
Do you want to share a
specific message to AIU
Community?
Yes, education is important
—knowledge is power!
Name: Sonja Kickmaier
Country: Austria
Programs
MSc Clinical Studies
DSc Health Care Administration
DSc Social Change
Current job
Scientific Assistant, VIVEA Gesundheitshotels
Austria
Contact email
s.kickmaier.balneologie@gmail.com
We are living a period in
the history of humanity
that we never imagined: for
many it seemed that everything
was perfect.
Abundance of goods, wonderful
technology, science in
which we thought we knew
everything, trips to the far end
of the world and politicians
doing what they wanted.
There was another forgotten
part of society that didn’t have the life we mentioned
above: their world was lacking
everything. We also had a part
of society that said: the way we
are going will lead to serious
problems. Those of the good life
said: we are going perfect, those
people don’t know anything.
In a society like the one
we describe a good day: Oh
surprise! we wake up hearing
about a virus. Well, with
so much science nothing will happen. That virus has been
like a third world war: there is
no vaccine with all the science
we have.
Human beings transmit it
with amazing ease. Developed
countries have been forced to
close production and leave it
only what is necessary, and
workers attend only the convenient
production.
Health systems, even in rich
countries, overwhelmed and that wonderful world for a
few is paralyzed and threatened
with a contraction of the
economy we never imagined.
Now think of those who
previously had nothing. Those
people now think: we will die
of hunger and need or we will
die of the new virus called
coronavirus. COVID-19
Politicians who boasted that
their countries’ economies
were buoyant today don’t
know what to do. According
to organizations that measure
growth such as the International
Monetary Fund (IMF),
the world economy predicts
a contraction of the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) at a
global level of at least 8.7%.
Globally, governments don’t
know how to resolve the situation
of all the unemployed
that the situation will cause.
At the moment developed
countries have unemployment
insurance but that benefit is
not for life.
We are seeing in developed
countries the distribution of
food to the most needy. What
will happen to developing
countries? World society is detained
in controlling the virus
and in starvation of the least
favored. What will society do when the resources that are
still available are terminated?
It seems that the human
beings who have inhabited
this planet have a way to go:
analyze what has been
done to see the mistakes
and build a new world.
Congresses have been held,
there are men and women
of science who warned that
the social organization and
the way of production were
leading to the destruction of
the goods we need for a life of
opportunities for all.
The first thing we all know is
that to have opportunities in a
society you have to know, you
have to know how things are
done in the best way. Knowing
how things are done in the best
way is provided by science.
From many studies that have
been done there is one presented
to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
by the International Commission
on Education for the
21st Century, which carried out
its work in 1996. The work was
published under the title: “The
education holds a treasure”.
The work of this Commission
determined the 4 pillars
that allow knowledge and are
the following:
1. Learn to know
2. Learn to do
3. Learn to live together
4. Learn to be
Furthermore, education must
be throughout life.
These four pillars were and
continue to be worked on,
but the organization of the
economy continued with its
same form of destruction of
non-renewable resources.
From people within science
we have the French philosopher
and sociologist Edgar
Morin whose work focuses
on the preservation of life on
our planet and on an integrative
education instead of the
division into departments that
we continue to have. Morin’s
works are: Homeland, Introduction
to the Politics of Man
— Science with Consciousness,
among others.
We also have studies of the
reason for poverty in a world
of abundance. Angus Deaton’s
work awarded the Nobel
Prize in Economics in 1915.
The work was published with
the title: The Great Escape;
health wealth and the origins
of inequality. We currently
have the United Nations (UN)
proposal for sustainable development.
It emerged at the
organization’s 70th General Assembly
with the participation
of UNESCO and civil society.
The assembly was held in
New York in September 2015.
There are 17 Sustainable Development
Goals.
1. End of poverty
2. Zero hunger
3. Health and well-being
4. Quality education
5. Gender equality
6. Clean water
And sanitation
7. Affordable and non-
Polluting energy
8. Decent work and
Economic growth
9. Industry, innovation
And infrastructure
10. Reduction of inequality
11. Sustainable cities
And communities
12. Responsible production
And consumption
13. Climate action
14. Underwater life
15. Life of terrestrial
Ecosystems
16. Peace, justice and
Solid institutions
17. Alliances to achieve
The objectives
There is also the “Paris Agreement” signed
by 195 countries
and whose purpose
is to limit global
warming to less
than 2 degrees.
This agreement
was signed in 2015.
Planet Earth
is the only place
where, until now,
life is possible for
human beings.
Given all that as
a society we have
done with a development
aimed at
denying life, what
we see with all that
the coronavirus pandemic has generated is
that we have to work with and
for the organizations that have
been created and educate
those who they refuse to sustain
life. If we continue as we
are going to we will have as
many problems as we are living
at the moment by having
to limit the production of the
necessary goods.
The past days of confinement
and those that seem to be waiting for us voluntarily
give us time to think about
what we want to have as a life.
Nowadays there is no vaccine
and the contagion doesn’t
stop, increases and increases
and the countries that have
achieved a certain control fear,
when interacting with others
that the rate of patients will
increase again.
There is no country that
doesn’t have patients with this virus, there is not. Life
on the planet has changed
whether we want it to or not,
so we have to accept that we
have to change.
Change is necessary; the
change has to be made.
If we want a good life,
we will have to change
the way we work to
achieve development
and well-being.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. Deaton, A. (2015). El Gran Escape. Salud, riqueza y los orígenes de la desigualdad. México:
FCE | Fondo Monetario Internacional (FMI) Home page. Retrieved from https://www.imf.org/external/spanish/
index.htm | Hobsbawm. E. (1998). Historia del siglo XX. Buenos Aires: Grijalbo, Crítica | Morin, E. (2011). ¿Hacia
dónde va el mundo? Barcelona: Paidós | Morin, E. (2007). Introducción a una política del hombre. Argentina:
Gedis | Morin, E. y Anne-Brigitte Kern (2005). Tierra Patria. Barcelona: Kairós. | Organización de las Naciones
Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (UNESCO), Home Page. Retrieved from https://es.unesco.org/
about-us/introducing-unesco | UNESCO – Agenda 2030 - Desarrollo Sostenible. Retrieved from https://es.unesco.
org/sdgs | UNESCO – Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible. Retrieved from https://es.unesco.org/sdgs
My most important tip
for anyone attending or
considering an online degree
is to stay on task. It’s understandable
that sometimes
things happen in life that are
unforeseen and pull us away
from our studies. But you
must keep your primary goal
in mind. When you set goals
that are personally important,
you’re more likely to manage
your time in a way to accomplish
them.
For online study to be a successful
experience, you need
to be passionate about your
chosen course of study. This
passion will drive you to be
disciplined and to persevere
when deadlines are looming.
Focus on the big picture and
remember why you chose to
study in the first place. Take
one step at a time and, before
you know it, you’ll be closer to
achieving your dreams.
Keep in mind why you are
seeking this degree. Just having
the mindset that I’m doing
this for my family, or I’m
doing this for a better career,
or just doing it to say “hey I
did it” is enough encouragement
to keep your mind on
your studies.
Always remember, study
is your work. Consciously
choose to show up, absorb
wonderful content available to
you, schedule in assessments,
lectures, tasks, and really
set and keep those boundaries.
Have a success mindset.
Implement firm boundaries.
Keep a schedule like your life
depends on it.
I plan to treat my online
classes like a job. Setting daily
goals and making checklists
can help me succeed in each
course and project, allowing
me to prove that I can work
efficiently and independently.
Accomplishing small goals
each day and creating a portfolio
will help motivate me to
keep working.
Make school your top priority
everyday and you can’t fail!
Some universities ask you
to post a picture of yourself
that other students can see
on your online class. I have
seen some doozies, including
shots that almost look pornographic.
Please remember
that your online class is not
a model shoot where you get
to show off your assets. Oh,
and that also includes posting
a picture of your dog’s face
instead of yours.
Source: goodcolleges.online
Dr. Franklin Valcin President/Academic Dean |
Dr. José Mercado Chief Executive Officer Chairman of the Board of Trustees |
Ricardo González, PhD Provost |
Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez Chief Operation Officer and MKT Director |
Linda Collazo Logistics Coordinator |
Dr. Silvia Restorff Academic Advisor |
Dr. Miriam Garibaldi Viceprovost for Research |
Irina Ivashuk Alumni Association Coordinator |
Dr. Prakash Menon Academic Advisor |
Clara Margalef Director of Special Projects of AIU |
Carlos Aponte Telecommunications Coordinator |
Dr. Nilani Ljunggren De Silva Academic Advisor |
Juan Pablo Moreno Director of Operations |
David Jung Corporate/Legal Counsel |
Dr. Scott Wilson Academic Advisor |
Paula Viera Director of Intelligence Systems |
Bruce Kim Advisor/Consultant |
Dr. Mohammad Shaidul Islam Academic Advisor |
Felipe Gomez Design Director / IT Supervisor |
Thomas Kim Corporate/ Accounting Counsel |
Dr. Edgar Colon Academic Advisor |
Daritza Ysla IT Coordinator |
Camila Correa Quality Assurance Coordinator |
Deborah Rodriguez Academic Tutor Coordinator |
Nadeem Awan Chief Programming Officer |
Maricela Esparza Administrative Coordinator |
Cyndy Dominguez Academic Tutor Coordinator |
Dr. Jack Rosenzweig Dean of Academic Affairs |
Chris Benjamin IT and Hosting Support |
Kinmberly Diaz Admissions Support Tutor |
Dr. Edward Lambert Academic Director |
Mayra Bolivar Accounting Coordinator |
Amalia Aldrett Admissions Coordinator |
Dr. Ariadna Romero Advisor Coordinator |
Roberto Aldrett Communications Coordinator |
Sandra Garcia Admissions Coordinator |
Nadia Gabaldon Academic Coordinator |
Giovanni Castillo IT Support |
Jose Neuhaus Admissions Support |
Jhanzaib Awan Senior Programmer |
Jaime Rotlewicz Dean of Admissions |
Junko Shimizu Admissions Coordinator |
Leonardo Salas Human Resource Manager |
Dr. Mario Rios Academic Advisor |
Veronica Amuz Admissions Coordinator |
Benjamin Joseph IT and Technology Support |
Michael Phillips Registrar’s Office |
Alba Ochoa Admissions Coordinator |
Rosie Perez Finance Coordinator |
Rene Cordon Admissions Support |
Jenis Garcia Admissions Counselor |
Chris Soto Admissions Counselor |
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