African Leadership University

Expanding College Career Through Real-world Experience

expanding-college-career-real-world-experience

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As another cycle of internships concludes this week, ALU students return to campus with diverse, rich experiences working all over Africa. At ALU, we believe that “college-to-career” is a journey from curiosity to competence, so the curriculum and learning model are designed to capture the imagination of students and equip them with quality resources and an education to impress employer partners.

Moving through the college-to-career continuum

Our learning model

The ALU learning model identifies the challenges and opportunities unique to each phase of a student’s educational process:

  • Discover – Students new to any subject don’t know what they don’t know. ALU’s Discover cycle exposes learners to concepts and ideas they may not have heard before, to open their minds to a broader scope of learning and encourage a mindset of inquisitiveness. Identifying information gaps is the first step to gaining true knowledge.
  • Individual learning – Each student learns differently, and ALU students are encouraged to pursue their learning process through the capacities that are unique to them. The individual learning phase is not a “one-size-fits-all” strategy, but instead, allows each student to gain insights and capabilities based on their particular set of skills and talents.
  • Peer learning – Teaching what one knows reinforces the knowledge. The peer learning phase connects students with peers who know both more and less about the subject. They both learn from and teach the others and the sharing of information and thought processes enhances the comprehension and capacities of the group.
  • Facilitated group learning – The ALU faculty specializes in assisting students to apply what they’ve learned in class to the real world in which they will work. Many learners don’t contemplate how their school-based skill set and knowledge will translate into their future careers. The ALU faculty facilitators encourage students to explore the possibilities of how their unique talents can improve those parts of the world about which they are passionate.
Internships

“Today marks my third week at FarmCity“, noted Gitahi Kariuki, who interned in Mauritius in the innovative farming sector, “It has been one of my most humanly enriching experiences.”

There is no better learning opportunity than hands-on experience. Every ALU undergraduate participates in an internship for four months of each school year as part of their regular course load. ALU enjoys strong relationships with several Employer Partners, each of whom is as committed to our students’ success as we are.

The internships are designed to build on the seven Meta Skills students develop in their Leadership Core classes and specialized degree programmes. Students get real-world exposure and vision while developing fundamental work skills such as time management, prioritization, and teamwork. And ALU’s Career Development Team works alongside the learner, offering resume writing classes, mock interviews, office etiquette workshops, and much more.

What the students experience

ALU’s students interact with some of the world’s biggest organizations, corporations, and NGOs, which is captured by the popular hashtag #ALUInternDiary. In 2016, one class was asked to contribute ideas for Uber’s expansion in Africa. Another class entertained a delegation from China’s Southeast University, home to one of the world’s best engineering programmes, which was looking for ways to collaborate with ALU and its alums. Said one student, “I look around and I see hope in each of us, … there is hope for Africa.”

Every college student begins their school journey with curiosity, excitement, and enthusiasm. Every employer searches for an educated, competent professional. ALU is uniquely structured to connect the one with the other.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]