The world of work is changing before our eyes. While there are geographical and industry-specific differentiations, the macro shift in the present day’s open talent economy is global and applies to almost every industry. This has demanded both the employers and employees to adapt to the innovations and new environment wherein flexibility and adaptability has gained priority over everything.
Today, this sheer pace and omnipresence of transformation have heralded a new dynamic, where the one to adapt constantly and innovate with speed will only lead. As a result, the critical need everywhere in the world is for the type of education that transforms aspiring individuals into skilled professionals who demonstrate a cross-disciplinary knowledge of their respective industries complemented with the ability to learn quickly. Hence, the education sector is shifting towards more relevant competency-based programs for students. Educators are being forced to think creatively about how to offer training to students and are finding ways to offer the best learning possible.
Meeting this requirement is the Charisma University which has excelled in turning out exceptional professionals who are ready to lead the future. The university has cultivated an academic culture that allows students to move away from the conventional learning strategies and to question, observe, and experiment real-world challenges, and gain skills needed for the future.
True to Its Name and Heritage
Before we dig deeper into the characteristic features of Charisma University, let us learn about the university’s origin and the story behind its name. Charisma University was founded in March of 2011 by Dr. PeterChris Okpala. It is a Turks and Caicos Islands non-profit private higher institution approved by the Turks and Caicos Islands Ministry of Education through its Higher Education Advisory Board to offer its degree and certificate programs both online and on-campus. Charisma University is Approved and Licensed by the Turks and Caicos Islands Ministry of Education as a degree-granting institution for Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, and the Doctorate along with Certificate programs. It is institutionally accredited by Accreditation, Certification, and Quality Assurance Institute (ACQUIN) which is recognized by the German Accreditation Council recognizes. Charisma University is also listed in the International Association of Universities (IAU) World Education Database.
We established the details behind the inception of Charisma University and one of its most peculiar features. However, that is not the only reason why this university has evolved as one of the finest educational institutions in the Caribbean Islands. The reason for it, is hidden behind its unique name and the value it delivers.
The University’s name, Charisma University, takes root in the word ‘charisma’ (n; Theol, The American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition (1993))–an extraordinary power, such as the ability to work miracles, granted by the Holy Spirit.
Adhering to the same, the university believes that any individual enrolling in this university will receive an ‘extraordinary power’ to learn and to develop one’s self in cooperation with the creator. At the heart of the university lies the Proverb 1:5 (NKJV), “A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.”
Holding the Torch of Knowledge
The university’s continuous endeavor to retain the aforesaid value and its constant growth was impossible if not for the zeal of Dr. PeterChris Okpala, the Chancellor of Charisma University. The Chancellor occupies the highest position in the University and sits at the top of Charisma University’s chain of command. The Chancellor provides academic and administrative leadership to the University, as well as represents Charisma University externally, both in the Turks and Caicos Islands and overseas. The Chancellor also carries out ceremonial and civic duties. The Chancellor is not involved in the day-to-day operation of Charisma University but closely monitors the institution’s performance towards the attainment of the organizational mission, vision, and strategic plan.
Aiding Dr. Okpala in his quest to offer world-class education is Dr. William Martin Sloane; the Charisma University President, Dr. Brock Hancock; the Charisma University Provost & Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Dana-Marie Ramjit; the Executive Vice President of Student Affairs, and Dr. Bethlehem Dejene; the Charisma University’s Senior Vice President (SVP) of Assessments.
Below-mentioned are the deans who also aid Dr. Okpala in achieving the university’s mission. Dr. Lasondrick Bridges (Business), Dr. Anne Wade (Education), Dr. John Wallaart (Health Sciences), Dr. Chinyere Chukwuka (Law), Dr. Frances Yahia (Psychology & Behavioral Sciences), and Rev. Fr. Dr. Alex Nnaukwu (Religion & Philosophy) are administrators who lead their specific, respective academic units, which in Charisma University are called “schools.” These include the School of Business, School of Education, School of Health Sciences, School of Law, School of Philosophy & Religion, and School of Psychology & Behavioral Science. These deans lead faculty members of their corresponding schools, establish academic policies, evaluate faculty members, and participate in curriculum design. The dean serves as the voice of the specific schools at meetings and activities of the Executive Leadership Committee.
Promoting Value-Based Education
This brief overview of Charisma University gives us a slight image of ‘What is Charisma University?’ However, here is the need to know ‘Why Charisma University?’ Knowing this ‘why’ will help one realize what enables Charisma University to deliver the most supreme and advanced quality of learning.
To know this, we have to understand the university’s mission. The philosophy, “making educational excellence accessible and affordable worldwide” is central to all of the University’s procedures. Its continuous endeavor to achieve the same has helped the university to evolve as a premier center for international students and faculty to gather online, share information, learn from each other, engage in useful scholarship, and improve their lives and communities.
Aiding Charisma University in this mission is its transforming curriculum. It empowers students for lives and helps them grow into beings with a sense of duty towards their community. The university offers over 40degree programs at undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Degrees offered are in fields such as Accounting, including Forensic Accounting, Business, Education, Cybersecurity, Finance, Hospitality & Tourism, Human Resource, International Relations, Law, Marketing, Nursing, Public Health, Psychology, Religion/Theology, etc.
The University is also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). ACBSP accredits business, accounting, and business-related programs at the associate, baccalaureate, master, and doctorate levels worldwide. ACBSP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
An Environment Empowering Holistic Growth
Offering top-tier academic experience is the prime goal of Charisma University. However, it knows that education is not limited to just classroom knowledge but rather goes beyond that. Thus, ensuring the holistic development of every student is also of paramount importance to this university.
Complementing its distinctive curricula is the university’s growth-centric facilities. To begin with, the university’s library provides students with millions of peer-reviewed and full-text journal, magazine, and newspaper articles, e-books, podcasts, audio, and video resources to support their academic studies from ProQuest, Gale Cengage, EBSCO, eLibrary, Books24x7, and more, covering topics for general education, business, and medical programs. Apart from that, it also offers writing centers that aid students with various tasks like paper reviewing, writing tutorials, and checking plagiarism.
That is not all, being an international university means welcoming students from all walks of life and various part of the world. Thus, the university goes the extra mile to ensure that it creates an environment where students are mentored rightfully throughout their academic progression. An apparent example of this is the University’s Student Support Center wherein the university caters to the transcript request, degree program extension request, program change request, leave of absence request, grade appeal, grievance appeal.
Furthermore, its Student Affairs department connects with every student to ensure the academic success of them. This department is responsible for allocating an Academic Advisor to every student. Academic Advisors monitor the academic progress of their Advisees and report to the Student Affairs department for proper action to be taken.
We can thus conclude that Charisma University taps the greatness within each student and sets a stage for life and helps them grow as individuals capable of bringing and leading change.
