Global Voices - The International Student Podcast Ep. 3

Summary

In this episode of Global Voices, Nigerian doctorate student Alanti shares his journey and insights into pursuing a DBA at Walch College. With a background in industrial mathematics and business, Alanti emphasizes the importance of networking, practical experience, and the college's supportive community. He dispels myths about isolation in doctoral programs and highlights the role of technology in facilitating research and study. Alanti's story inspires aspiring students worldwide, showcasing the balance between academic rigor and real-world application.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The guest, Alanti, is a Nigerian doctoral student at Walch College, majoring in accounting within a DBA program.
• 🌍 Alanti emphasizes the importance of networking and how it led him to Walch College, highlighting the college's reputation for producing practical graduates.
• 📚 He mentions the specific requirements for the doctoral program, including a first degree, professional experience, a master's degree, and English proficiency assessment through WES or alternative tests.
• 🔍 Alanti shared his personal journey of discovering Walch College through a colleague and researching it to find it aligned with his career and educational goals.
• 👨‍🏫 The program combines academic theory with practical industry knowledge, taught by experienced professionals, which was a significant draw for Alanti.
• 👩‍🏫 Alanti's experience includes being a teaching assistant and later an adjunct faculty member, showing the opportunities for involvement beyond just being a student.
• 🏆 He received a scholarship from Walch, demonstrating that the college supports and recognizes the efforts of dedicated students.
• 📈 Alanti talks about the importance of consistency and managing time effectively to keep up with the program's demands, such as weekly assignments and exams.
• 🤝 He dispels the myth of isolation in a doctoral program by describing social events like coffee hours and residency programs that foster community among students.
• 📚 Alanti acknowledges the significant reading involved in the program but also highlights the flexibility of learning methods, including audio and video materials, and the use of AI for summarizing articles.
• 💡 The guest is inspired by the idea of community building and giving back through mentorship, showing the impact of the program on his personal and professional aspirations.

Q & A

What is the main topic of discussion in this episode of Global Voices?

The main topic of discussion is the experience of an international doctoral student from Nigeria pursuing a DBA program at Wash College, focusing on the requirements, process, and personal insights of the program.

What is the background of the guest, Alanti, before joining the doctoral program at Wash College?

Alanti has a first degree in industrial mathematics, a Masters in Business Administration, and over 25 years of work experience, including starting his own business.

Why did Alanti choose to pursue a doctoral program at Wash College?

Alanti chose Wash College because of its solid background in producing practical graduates, its focus on DBA and accounting, and the recommendation from a colleague.

What are some of the specific requirements for the doctoral program at Wash College?

Some of the requirements include having a first degree, professional experience in the field, a master's degree, and English proficiency, which can be assessed through services like WES or by taking an English test conducted by the college.

How did Alanti get involved in teaching at Wash College?

Alanti started as a teaching assistant in his first month and was later given the role of an adjunct faculty member by the end of the third semester.

What kind of support does Wash College provide to its doctoral students?

Wash College provides support through its instructors who have industry experience, offering a blend of academic and professional knowledge. They also offer scholarships and conduct social events like coffee hours for networking.

What are the MythBusters about the doctoral program that Alanti discussed?

Alanti discussed the myth that being in a doctoral program isolates you from the world, which he refuted by mentioning social events and networking opportunities provided by the college.

How does Alanti view the importance of reading in the doctoral program?

Alanti views reading as very important for understanding concepts and human emotions, and he appreciates the flexibility in Wash College's program that includes audio or video lectures for those who prefer listening over reading.

What role does technology play in the Wash College doctoral program?

Technology plays a significant role by facilitating online courses, recorded lectures, and the use of AI to summarize articles and assist with dissertation research.

How does Alanti perceive the community building aspect of the doctoral program?

Alanti sees community building as essential, emphasizing the importance of sharing knowledge and helping others grow, which in turn fulfills him and contributes to his professional development.

What are Alanti's future plans after completing his doctoral program?

Alanti plans to apply the knowledge gained to expand his FM, employ and mentor young people, and ensure the sustainability of his business beyond his tenure.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Welcoming a Doctoral Student from Nigeria

In this introductory paragraph, the host of 'Global Voices' welcomes a special guest, Alanti, a doctoral student from Nigeria. Alanti shares his background in industrial mathematics and business administration, and his 25 years of experience in accounting and business. He discusses his decision to pursue a doctoral program in accounting at Wash College to enhance his career and the importance of networking in his field. The host expresses excitement about the insights Alanti will provide for aspiring doctoral students.

05:02

📚 Requirements and Application Process for a Doctoral Program

Alanti outlines the requirements and application process for a doctoral program in business administration at Wash College. He mentions the need for a first degree, professional experience, and a master's degree. He also discusses the importance of having his credentials assessed by World Education Services and the challenge of meeting the English language requirement, which he overcame by taking an English test offered by the college. Alanti emphasizes the practicality and professional experience of the instructors in the program and how they contribute to the students' learning.

10:03

👨‍🏫 Alanti's Experience as an Adjunct Professor and Scholar

In this paragraph, Alanti talks about his experience at Wash College, where he started as a teaching assistant and later became an adjunct faculty member. He highlights the support and encouragement he received from the college, including a scholarship. Alanti also discusses the rigorous nature of the program, with weekly assignments and exams, and the importance of consistency and dedication to succeed. He praises the instructors for their willingness to support students and dispels the myth of isolation in a doctoral program by describing social events and networking opportunities.

15:06

📘 Balancing Reading and Technology in Doctoral Studies

Alanti addresses the common assumption that doctoral programs involve extensive reading and the potential challenges for those who are not fond of reading. He explains that Wash College offers flexibility, with recorded lectures and online courses, to accommodate different learning preferences. Alanti also discusses the incorporation of AI technology in the learning process, which helps students manage large volumes of reading material by summarizing key points and facilitating comparisons between articles.

20:09

🤝 Community Building and Mentorship in Doctoral Education

In the final paragraph, Alanti talks about the importance of community building and mentorship in his doctoral journey. He shares his aspirations to give back to the community by mentoring new students and sharing his knowledge. Alanti reflects on the value of growing not only individually but also by helping others grow, which is a key principle taught at Wash College. He concludes by expressing his satisfaction with the program and the positive impact it has had on his professional and personal growth.

Keywords

💡Doctorate Student

A 'Doctorate Student' is an individual pursuing the highest level of academic degree in a specific field. In the context of the video, the guest is a doctorate student which is central to the discussion about higher education and the journey of academic advancement. The video revolves around the experiences and insights of being a doctorate student, as illustrated by the guest's personal narrative.

💡Global Voices

Global Voices is likely the title or theme of the episode or series, suggesting a platform for diverse perspectives and experiences from around the world. It encapsulates the idea of sharing and discussing international viewpoints, as the video features a guest from Nigeria sharing his educational journey in a foreign country.

💡Nigeria

Nigeria is a country in West Africa and is referenced in the script as the home country of the guest speaker. It is significant as it provides cultural and geographical context to the guest's background and contributes to the 'global' aspect of the episode's theme by offering a unique African perspective.

💡Industrial Mathematics

Industrial Mathematics refers to the application of mathematical methods and models to solve problems in industry. It is mentioned as the first degree of the guest, indicating his academic foundation and the evolution of his educational and professional path towards business and accounting.

💡Business Administration

Business Administration is a field of study that prepares students for leadership roles in various types of organizations. The guest mentions pursuing a doctoral program in Business Administration, which is a key aspect of the video's discussion on professional development and academic深造.

💡Networking

Networking refers to the cultivation of professional relationships. In the script, the guest discusses the culture of networking in Nigeria and how it influenced his decision to pursue a doctoral program to enhance his career and professional connections.

💡Wash College

Wash College appears to be the institution where the guest is pursuing his doctorate. It is highlighted as having a solid background in producing practical graduates, particularly in the fields of accountancy and business administration, which is central to the guest's educational goals.

💡World Education Services (WES)

World Education Services is an organization that evaluates international academic credentials for equivalence to those in the destination country. In the script, the guest mentions having his certificates assessed by WES as part of the application process for the doctoral program.

💡IELTS

IELTS, or the International English Language Testing System, is a standardized test for non-native English speakers to demonstrate their English language proficiency. The guest had to take an IELTS exam to meet the English language requirement for his doctoral program at Wash College.

💡Teaching Assistant

A 'Teaching Assistant' is a role often given to advanced students to support teaching and learning processes. The guest mentions being given a teaching assistant role, which is part of his academic journey and community involvement at Wash College.

💡Adjunct Faculty

Adjunct Faculty refers to a professional who teaches part-time at an institution of higher education. The guest's progression to an adjunct faculty member reflects his growing involvement and contribution to the academic community at Wash College.

💡Dissertation

A dissertation is a lengthy, formal treatise on a subject, typically required to obtain a doctoral degree. It is a central part of the guest's doctoral program and involves extensive research and writing, as discussed in the context of the video.

💡Community Building

Community Building involves the process of creating and maintaining a sense of community among individuals. The guest speaks about the importance of community building in his academic journey, highlighting the social aspects of being a part of the doctoral program and the benefits of networking and mentorship.

💡Technology Integration

Technology Integration refers to the incorporation of technology into various aspects of education to enhance learning experiences. The script mentions how technology, such as AI, has aided the guest's studies by providing summaries of articles and facilitating a more efficient research process.

Highlights

Introduction of Alanti, a doctorate student from Nigeria, studying at Walch College for a DBA in Accounting.

Alanti's background includes 25 years of work experience after obtaining a degree in Industrial Mathematics and an MBA.

Alanti started his own business and chose Walch College for its reputation in producing practical graduates and strong DBA program.

Requirements for the DBA program include a first degree, professional experience, a master's degree, and English proficiency.

Alanti's application process involved submitting credentials, taking an English test, and being accepted after review by the committee.

Instructors in the DBA program are experienced professionals who combine industry knowledge with academics.

Alanti dispels the myth that doctoral students feel isolated, describing social events like coffee hours and residency programs.

Alanti's experience as a teaching assistant and adjoint faculty member at Walch College, gaining practical teaching experience.

The importance of consistency and managing time effectively to succeed in the DBA program with its weekly assignments and exams.

Technology integration in the program, with recorded lectures and AI assistance for summarizing articles and dissertation research.

The value of reading and how it has played a significant role in Alanti's understanding of human emotions and dynamics.

Flexibility in course delivery, with options for online learning and recorded lectures for international students.

Alanti's aspiration to give back to the community by mentoring new students and sharing knowledge gained from the program.

The emphasis on practical application and industry relevance in the Walch College DBA program, preparing graduates for real-world challenges.

The role of technology in facilitating research and making the learning process more efficient and accessible.

Alanti's reflections on the community-building spirit at Walch College and the importance of networking and knowledge sharing.

Transcripts

hello everyone welcome to another

episode of global voices I have with me

a very special guest over here alanti is

a doctorate student and for all the

aspiring doctorate students uh we have a

lot of information today we are digging

into such useful information so I'm

excited and welcome welcome to the

episode thank you Sharon uh my name

is I'm from

Nigeria in the continent of Africa uh

Nigeria is in West African country and

Nigeria has a population of about 200

million plus uh

currently uh I've work with an and young

for over 25 years after my first degree

uh my first degree is in uh industrial

mathematics as well as having Masters in

Business at me from one of the

universities in

Nigeria actually after working for S and

for some time over 25 years I started my

own business and in and young we have a

culture of networking and that was the

purpose why I decided to come to H was

College to BU up my career in a doctoral

program in majoring in accounting that's

that's great that's awesome like I would

I would want to know like having such

diverse experience and exposure so you

already mentioned like what brought you

to Walch college but for for instance

for our viewers over here I just want to

know like what are those specific uh

requirements and doctorate program

requirements and how did you got in

touch how was this like you say process

of how you started this thing because

what I want to know is if you're talking

about global voices there are many

people listening us who actually are

from different countries and might want

to start a journey just like you so you

inspire many of us so I would just want

to know like what were the specific

requirements and what actually uh

students could do what you did just a

quick on that thank you thank you thank

you uh in a bid to call me for doctoral

program in a business administration

this is a special area special in the

sense that it's a professional course

but at the same

time uh it will give you an exposure and

give you a combination of how you can

Network in the market people that

lecture in a a doctoral program in a DBA

program they are professionals who had

been in the industry they have weth of

experience and they can bring it on the

table for you which you also can apply

when you are working uh the essence of

my the the career path in terms of the

startup is you need to apply you need to

search how did I get to know wash I get

to know wash through a colleague a

friend of mine I've been thinking on how

I can build up my practice and as well

as my education so that my career up can

support my education and I came across

him we've worked together in s and young

and he told me about wash college so I

researched into Wash College and I was

able to discover that they they have

solid background in producing practical

graduates not only that DBA is one of

their core courses accountancy and

business ad mey is one of the accuses so

I decided to go to the net

I research about them I put in my

application uh one of the requirement is

that you must have first degree maybe

you are a professional person maybe you

have worth of experience in that

profession you have a master's program

yeah and there is a need for you to also

uh assess your certificate with West

West is World Education Services

I I have all those ones so I put in my

application I put in all my credentials

they evaluate they look at it and they

came back to me they said this is

wonderful however we need

English that would have been a comma for

me in 2017 I wrote a iels exam but I was

told that it fed for only two years so

there's a need for me to write English

so started as a family as a friendly

family so they extended to me that okay

if you don't mind we can conduct uh

Michigan English test for you so I said

okay they should allow me to prepare so

I prepare for a week and I got back to

them and their Career Services prepare

me give me 100 questions which I

answered and at the end of the day I

score above the uh the expected Mark so

my letter was given to me after the

review of the committee and some other

things I got my f and here I am to

pursue the profession however one of the

things I discovered when I came in was I

discovered that most of the uh

instructors have weight of experience

they do not do Theory it's not academic

alone they

combine professional I mean industry

knowledge with academics that's so that

and that was exactly what I was looking

for when coming here yeah so this brings

me talking about like your professional

you're saying that you're getting sort

of if I could say you're getting like

sort of hands-on experience also I would

like to talk about the opportunity that

W college has provided you not just

academically but now you are also

working as as Adent Professor so how is

that experience and how delighted are

you and what are you teaching I'm

excited to know oh okay thank you uh

when I came in uh the very first month I

came in I was given a teaching assistant

role and that is to tutor and also to be

a guide student assistant for the

students whoever comes around through

the

portter I approach me I take them

through along the line uh before the end

of uh the third semester which is which

was spring semester I was given a role

as an adjoint faculty member so that

gave me an encouragement it was a boost

and even in during the winter semester I

was giv a scholarship I was giv a minor

scholarship by wash uh so one thing I

just discovered is that if you have made

up your

mind to do the program you must also

be up and doing because it is not just

easy to get the

certificate uh there are series of

assignments every week you must go home

with an assignment which you have to

turn in the second week or the third

week apart from the exam that you are

going to write but it's not a problem

it's just a question of

consistency if you are consistent and

you know what you are doing definitely

you will enjoy the class the lecturers

the instructors are wonderful they are

willing to support you even when you

have challenges because if you have

challenges they will get across to you

they know what you are what you are

doing they will get across to you and

you'll be able to talk to them they will

be able to make professions for you and

you'll be able to to go on uh the most

fascinating thing about the program is

that when I look at it I discover that

it give you a premium above what you are

even expecting in terms of what the

lecturer are delivering I made the

instructors that's great so let's make

it little interesting for the for the

crer audience over here I want to talk

about some of the MythBusters about the

program there are certain certain things

certain challenges for people who are

aspiring as such a program they have

some myths in their minds I have a list

of them so so what I want from you is

just just a quick answer I will give you

a statement and you'll say that's that's

a myth that's not true or that's true

right so uh many people feel that having

being in a doctorate program or in a PhD

program you feel isolated from the other

the entire world that is not correct

that that's not correct not I'm glad

glad in this place we socialize it is

not everything about study study study

we have a we have coffee hour which is

been organized once every month which is

I think

wesa uh first Wes day of every month we

have copy coffee hour for international

students that gives all the

international students opportunity to

meet one another and exchange

pleasantries also chart discour that is

not all even we have what is called

residency residency is one of our course

where everyone is supposed to come

together to a place to know one another

ex change ideas uh in the bid for us to

progress in our doctoral program and in

even being able to do well in our

dissertation so it's a place where you

meet one another it's a three days

program we meet all our instructors

professors doctors students like myself

who are doctoral program we come

together to see one another and to

socialize so so yeah it's a it's a it's

yeah I am I I'm totally uh with you on

this thing like the coffee hours and

interacting with other International

students have been really helpful it's

not only coffee it's not only coffee we

take there there are

cookies they also invite they also

invite people to come and give lectures

to show us the road map when you are in

school what you can do how you can be up

your CV and so on and so for like that

how you can get jobs and so and so so

for like that so yeah that's that brings

me to another question that for instance

uh it's it's it's not a myth but I want

to comment on this in this way that it

is assumed sometimes that in a doctorate

program we have a lot of reading

involved which Sometimes some people who

are not that much fond of reading they

might be like but for me honestly the

reading element is very important

because if even besides the cour work a

person likes to read like for instance

the basic uh what I would say the basic

essence of understanding human emotions

I we we grew up reading uh Shakespeare

so basic essence of human emotion have

been really well discovered in in in in

the reading element of what for instance

just let let's put it this way if you

want to discover greed or or or power

we'll say ello if you want to discuss

like for instance any any element

related to like evolving in uh in a in a

different Dynamic I would say uh the the

reading has really play a played a good

part so I am fond of that but there are

many students out there who who might be

like for them it might be cons a

concerning part that hey how much

reading like case studies or books how

much reading is involved in

this uh I will approach your question

in two ways one uh there there is

flexibility in wash there are some

students I mean the undergrad and the

master students that are

just take their courses online without

necessarily coming to school but if you

are an international student there is a

need for you to meet certain

requirements of the government so that

if you are taking two courses they

expect you to be in the in the class

once then number two you need to look at

the the pter the pter in the pter there

are some cses that are audio or video

they are recorded So if you do not like

reading you would like listening so they

can talk to you the the instructor can

talk to you and even when you are not in

the class the instructor will record

what they are teaching or what they are

doing and they will drop it on the

portal for students that are not there

so that at their convenience they can go

there and and do it and currently what

is in fog now is AI was has been one of

the first University that move to that

Trend so a with AI you may not even come

to class all the information that you

need will have been dropped on the

portal and you will see uh AI

communicating to you the AI Force

generation will talk to you on the ca so

though is very important for you to

prepare your mind if you are not

prepared certificate wash is not given

on just on a plot of

good just like any other university more

more importantly if you a doctoral

program because you are representative

of that school so if they just give you

certificate and you don't know anything

then that that's a biger problem so you

need to make first of all make up your

mind that you are coming for this to

this school and you are coming to do

well so you will have planned your time

you have planed your other activities so

that all of them they go par that's it

yeah that's perfect like like besides

reading like uh the way you mentioned AI

over here I would just want to know like

like like back in time when people would

uh talk about doctorate programs so

they'll be like they'll have pile of

books with them and they are like in

their room and that assume that they are

so much stress but nowadays the programs

are designed in a in a very nicer way

where uh like incorporation of

technology is there so I just want to

know like how much uh like technology

incorporation has helped your study

program and like how it's aiding your

pro uh study yeah I I I want to let you

know that techn ology is what is driving

was college graduates I mean they infest

so much in technology and one of the

thing that I I I I I gain that will be a

plus for me when I live here back to my

country with my profession is that I've

been able to move up to scale up with

the big four in terms of Technology so

when you look at the program the

doctoral program doctoral program

requires dissertation which is which

means there are series of articles that

you need to read and back up what you

are saying whatever you are saying they

give to you as an assignment or as a

disertation you are not the first person

that will say it so you must be able to

quote to make a citation of that person

so there's a need for you to get a lot

of article however where where

technology has coming is that for

instance AI if you have about 40

articles to read it could be very

difficult for you but you can just pick

all those articles one by one and put it

inside Ai and ask AI to give you summary

key points of those article within

shortest possible time you see the you

see the uh the summary bring it out for

you and for the entire 40 you can ask AI

to make comparison

from there in as much as it's your feed

that you are

studying or you are writing dissertation

about you should be able to go now go

through and me to make some changes

correct area that you think will not be

appropriate and be able to get your work

done that actually brings me to another

question over here that uh for me the

most inspiring thing being an uh to

pursuing the doctorate program is that

for instance I had my I had my MBA msf

firstly from Walch and right now I'm

doing my msda but then the the the the

thing that like inspires me to uh to

doctorate also is that you mentioned

right now is the community building

Spirit like for instance I want to I

want to uh acquire this knowledge and

then once you acquire all the knowledge

you just want to uh give back to to the

uh Community commun you know you you

have the give back uh like approach in a

way that I want to uh go into to that

mentorship side I want to talk to other

students who are new who want to uh

start their Journey who are thinking

this this this this mountain how I'm

going to climb this mountain and you

just have to take one step a day so so

that sort of thing so what what's your

comment on like how have you been able

to build relations in walge how the

community building activities I've been

helping you over here yeah one of the

things uh one of the thing I I discover

is

that

uh for you to be fulfilled is not only

you growing is by carrying others along

in your community your work will be

recognize when you share what you have

with them and what we can share with

them is knowledge we teach them how they

can be resourceful and that is why we

are here we are here so that we can get

knowledge and we can transfer that

knowledge back to people when I'm

talking in terms of growing my FM and

coming here to network so that I can be

resourceful in my local environment and

also I can be resourceful globally that

means I am thinking of expanding my FM

if I'm expanding my FM there will be a

need for me to employ people to carry

along some people young ones who can

work for me so that even after long I've

gone the F will continue to exist and

that means I have sown something to them

and that is what they teach us here you

see them inculcating

followes followes that you cannot finish

on you onto you that that's that's

really good I would that's it actually

from my side I would I would just end up

saying like it was really really nice

and really uh you you after this episode

there many people who are going to reach

out to you and then you are going you

are actually really a good really good

inspiration for everyone and then the

way the way things uh the the way as an

international student also and in this

program also you have been progressing

that is amazing it was really nice

meeting you thank you so much for being

thank you thank you thank you