Faculty and Students from Emerson College, Boston- Usa Visits UniMAC in Ghana, West Africa - University of Media, Arts and Communication

*Faculty Members and Students from Emerson College in Boston, USA in a Group Photograph with some Staff at UniMAC at UniMAC-IFT*

Seven undergraduate students of varying disciplines and two faculty members from Emerson College in Boston, USA visited the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) in Ghana, West Africa, as part of successful ongoing collaborations between the two institutions.

The cultural immersion and familarisation visit saw faculty members from Emerson College leading a session with faculty members of UniMAC in seminar on new generational practical tools, real-world strategies, creative exercises to nurture connection, innovation, and equity in today’s classroom.

*Dr Jae Willams in a Selfie with some Faculty and Management Members of UniMAC after the Session*

The Lead Facilitator, Dr Jae Willams of Emerson College took UniMAC faculty through an interactive session on the topic “Teach Outside the Box- How to Engage, Inspire Curiosity in the 21st Century Classroom”. The session created a deeper understanding and awareness of the paradigm shift in 21^st century education. Faculty members of UniMAC asked culturally-diverse questions to hone in the insights shared so as to create bespoke experiences in UniMAC’s classrooms.

The Students from the Emerson College Participating in the World PR Day Event

The Students from the Emerson College, whilst their faculty members were at the seminar, also had the opportunity to participate in the Faculty of Public Relations and Marketing (FOPAM) at UniMAC’s Institute of Journalism’s celebration of the World Public Relations Day (WPRD) on the theme “Building Bridges and Navigating Polarisation”.

The team also journeyed to the UniMAC’s Institute of Film and Television (IFT) campus to immerse themselves with practical demonstration of projects and programmes with their colleagues at IFT. The students had the opportunity to join in a screening and interaction sessions with a filmmaker, Prof Kwesi Ampene on the film; “Gone to the Village, Royal funeral rites for Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II”.

Emerson College Team at One of the UniMAC-IFT Studio

Additionally, the students toured the various studios of IFT, including the Radio and TV Studio for Broadcast Journalism students, where they joined an on-air interview session by their colleagues from IFT. At IFT’s Studio 3, the visiting students were elated to see IFT students preparing for their final year TV productions and putting in all efforts to present their best to examining faculty.

*Emerson College Students Pose for a Photograph at one of the Students’ Filmmaking Set at UniMAC-IFT Studio*

At the end of the day, the Emerson College students experienced the study culture at UniMAC and the hard work students put in to come out of school as professionals, and they were very grateful for the experience. As remarked by one of the Emerson visiting students, “a day at UniMAC has been an impactful engagement”.

The Centre for Global Education and Collaboration (CGEC) at UniMAC collaborated with the Emerson College to organise this visit, to showcase the rich practical academic culture at UniMAC. The CGEC is currently looking forward to signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Emerson College to develop new programme initiatives for students and the faculty exchanges.