| Can Ashesi's workload endup making Ashesi graduates not to be the best? |
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October 21, 2008 12:21 PM
Ashesi University College is respected by many both in and outside Ghana. Students of Ashesi have been rated to be above their colleagues form other institutions. However, is possible that the very things that make Ashesi stand out could also be a contributing factor to its undoing?
One of the main principles of the Ashesi education is learning by doing. In this regard, Ashesi students are required to do a lot of work during the course of a semester. From assignments, through group projects, to journal and notebook entries amongst others, I have realized that most Ashesi students are almost always completing one assignment to meet a particular deadline and then move ahead to the next one. There is really no time to explore and play around the concepts being taught. Since not everything can be taught in class, most students are at a disadvantage.
Other students from other schools might be seen as not getting the best in terms of assignments and all that. However, they can say they have more time to explore and discover stuff on their own.
So who is disadvantaged here? Do you think this is just a case of lack of time management or is it that Ashesi students are being overworked?
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October 22, 2008 4:36 PM
Wonderful topic Eyram. I am an Ashesi student and I totally agree with you on the subject of the overwhelming workload. I sometimes wonder if the lecturers meet to plan how to destroy the social lives of their students during the semester. It can get soo hectic that I have nightmares of assignments in my little hours of sleep. Other times too, the work load is soo little that I feel aimless. Even though there is a lot to be done in our school, by balancing our time more efficiently I am sure we will have the best of education and some time to practice what we learn outside the lecture rooms.
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October 26, 2008 9:41 PM
Very interesting issue. I have been out of school for quite a while now, but i do remember having a hectic school schedule. Your query raised a few questions of my own: (1) do students have time in class to engage the lecturers on the issues/topics raised and share varying perspectives, (2) do students take advantage of "office hours" whereby they can follow-up with the lecturers on the class discussions to get a better understanding or share their perspectives, and (3) do you all have student representatives to the schools administration who can liaise with faculty and staff to exchange info so that students can better understand the admin and the admin can better understand the students.
As for socializing, i do think that it is important. Not because it's fun, but because it's networking and you should start planning your futures with your potential future business partners in school. That's one thing that I probably should've done more of....
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October 27, 2008 5:29 AM
It is true that students do not make good use of opportunities such as faculty office hours. But is it not because students do not have time to do that ? To engage in discussions during class, one should read not only the required text but also other materials on the subject. This is not done because deadlines have to be met. As for student representatives and talking to the administrators, I can almost always predict the outcome of such discussions - time management.
So when there is a little free time like Kwabi mentioned, people would rather do some socialization.
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November 01, 2008 4:08 PM
Unfortunately, a lot of people in Ashesi tend not to participate in the social events held for the students. These activities range from Business Forums, which have very influential people present, to parties. As an ex-entertainment chairperson assistant, I have gone through the hassle of trying to get people to attend these events. I wonder what the students want to do together to socialize as Ashesi students. We could even use these opportunities to build our networks.
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November 15, 2008 10:40 AM
I am a final year student at Ashesi. And I agree that the work load is very often overwhelming. However, over the years I have realized that it gets easier. Not because there is less work to do, but because I have become more experience, therefore it takes me less time and effort to finish my assignments and projects.
Even though topics are covered at a fast pace, I strongly believe that if students manage their time properly, they can explore their individual areas of interest, especially since most of the lecturers are often willing to help students even outside class with their questions outside of class.
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November 24, 2008 1:05 PM
What Kwei wrote is quite true. We the students have developed strategies to overcome the heavy workload. Even though some classes are fast paced and have a lot of assignments, we manage to complete assignments, read for the class and for more knowledge and we still get good grades at the end of the semester. With good time management, the toughest of schools will be manageable.
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November 25, 2008 6:59 AM
But what do you say about the effect this has on social life at Ashesi? I think some of the ways students go around this as Kwabi mentioned is not to attend certain important extra-curricular gatherings. Take for instance the Business Week Celebrations currently taking place on campus. Yesterday, I saw several members and non-members alike of the Business club going round campus trying to get people to attend the program. This was a program that has one of the most respected business minds in Ghana - Albert Ocran as the guest speaker.
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