School of Business Associate Dean Starts Program for Delivering American Education in Africa
Victor Petenkemani, associate dean of the School of Business, has launched a pilot program in his own time aimed at meeting the demand for American education in Africa. As part of the launch, Petenkemani, and other faculty and staff from Mercy College, traveled to Cameroon in central Africa to provide a week-long intensive program for students seeking an American business education. “The goal of the Africa Education Initiative was to determine the demand, interest level and value to people in the region,” he said.
On the trip to Cameroon, Petenkemani was accompanied by Amanda Gunning, Ph.D., co-director of the Mercy College Center for STEM Education, and Brian Amkraut, Ph.D., vice president of Mercy’s Division of Workforce Credentialing and Community Impact. Gunning’s team contributed STEM content and conducted a post-program evaluation, while Amkraut explored opportunities for offering CERTiFi by Mercy College programs in Africa.
Petenkemani's program was developed in partnership with the Pan-African Higher Education Initiative (PAHEi) Global Youth Program, whose mission is to establish American college campuses in African cities. Out of 400 applicants, 76 students completed the program, engaging in STEM coursework and honing skills in cooperative learning, technology and presentation. Their dedication and eagerness did not go unnoticed. “I was so impressed by these students,” said Gunning. “In just one week each team of students was able to synthesize the coursework, creating and presenting not just a business plan but also a website or app for their business. Working with them was very rewarding.”
The program introduced career pathways in data science, finance and marketing, and helped broaden students’ understanding of business educational tracks. At the program’s conclusion, student groups presented their new business plans for evaluation by a panel of professors and business leaders.
Participants reported increased confidence in entrepreneurial skills such as designing a business plan, navigating finance and data analytics, and presenting their ideas. Many also reported improvements in collaborative and critical thinking skills, personal resiliency, goal setting, and action for social and environmental change.
“The path to an internationally respected degree for students in Cameroon has few options, especially affordable ones,” said Petenkemani. “The pilot brought one pathway to their door. They recognized an opportunity to make a real difference in their lives. To my mind, this is an important success indicator, which we will consider for any future collaboration with international partners.”
To view highlights of the team's trip to Cameroon, please click here.