NUI Blog - Northrise University Initiative

At Northrise University, we have reasons to be proud of our alumni. Over 80% of our former students have been absorbed in the industry. A few have followed their dreams and started new companies while others are already enjoying the challenges and satisfaction that comes with reaching the next level within their organizations.  The Media Team was privileged to talk to one of the NU Alumni, Jerald Kanyanta.  Follow me as I zoom in on him; lets take a closer look at his story…

Jerald was born in the family of ten (10) and he is the sixth born child. His Dad, who is now retired, used to be a Lecturer at Mufulira College of Education.  Jerald’s hometown is Mufurila, a small town in the copperbelt region.

In 2002, Jerald completed his grade 12 and the one thing that was on his mind was to get into University.  While thinking of where to go, he came accross a Northrise University Advert in the newspaper. This was a good thing because all he had ever wanted for a career was computers. He came to Northrise with the thought that he would not be staying long. However, within a few days of being at NU, the whole idea changed.  “I was so priviliged to be part of that class… One thing I loved the most about NU was the balance between theory and hands on experience. That gave me a masive advantage in computers.” He says

Beside academics, Jerald speaks of learning how to believe in himself, and how to give birth to a dream/vision and believe in it. After graduation (class of 2006) He opened his own Business Centre at Kamuchanga Shoping Centre in his hometown. It was the first business centre in the area but today; the area has more than seven such centers. “It makes me proud to be the initiator of such a development in that community and I owe it to the skills I acquired at NU”.

After a year, Jerald was privileged to join a premier ISP Company in the country, Zamnet.  He worked as a Customer Support Specialist for a year and received a promotion to Network Specialist in the Networks Administration group. This Year, 2010, Jerald was considered for yet another promotion as Operations Manager – South (regional level). Today, Jerald is based in Livingstone – Zambia’s Tourist Capital – as Acting Operations Manager – South.

“The greatest treasure I got from Northrise, apart from the education, is my understanding of how God wants me to be… “A people person…” Look at the sponsors; they don’t know any of us, yet through them God worked a miracle in my life… Northrise has changed my life… I have chosen to live not just for my family but for anyone in need; no mater who they are.”

In ending he says, “To me, Northrise University was a Life Changing, Mind Changing, and Character Shaping University.”

by Agness Nshindano

Northrise University is pleased to call its first academic building “Kuhula House.” Prior to its naming, this building was commonly referred to as “the Northrise Business Building”. The naming process started by first deciding that it will have a Zambian name. Several English words were proposed that included Treasure, Knowledge, Care, Growth and Unity, Freedom, Net, Peace and Turning Point. The task for members of staff was to find the equivalent vernacular name for any of these words. After the vernacular equivalents were proposed, each member of staff voted for three most preferred names and “Kuhula” emerged the winning word.

Kuhula is a Lozi dialect for growth, increase, development, expansion and anything close to these meaning. As the Business Building is the very first academic structure on the main campus, Northrise is looking forward to the growth of the rest of the buildings as well as the growth of the students who will go through this building; that they will grow in the knowledge of God, increase in their knowledge, develop in their character and make a lasting positive impact wherever the Lord will call them.

In the past weeks, Kuhula House has made tremendous  progress towards it completion. The inside of the building has been wired and plastered. Presently, tiles are being laid, walls are being painted, and the ceiling is being fitted. All the windows have been fitted.  We can’t wait to see the outside plastered and painted in the next few weeks.

Kuhula is just the beginning; we look forward to what is yet to come…

by Danny Ortega

This past weekend, friends of Northrise in Houston, TX helped pack a 40′ container with the supplies for the new business building at the Northrise Farms in Zambia.  The container was packed completely full with computers, furniture, supplies, appliances,  and many other donated items that will help Northrise meet the needs of many more students throughout Zambia.

Special thanks to all the people who helped fill this container!

Update **  The container will leave the US mid February.  Pray that God will guide it’s path!

The newly established chapter of Northrise University Initiative in Houston is preparing to send a 40′ shipping container to Ndola this weekend! The container contains computers and furniture for the new business building being finalized in Ndola. If you are in the Houston area this weekend, be sure to stop by and lend a hand!

For more information about the Houston Chapter of Northrise Univeristy Initiatitve, contact adam.sallee@northrise.org

by Agness Nshindano

Northrise University (NU) is delighted to welcome both its new as well as returning students to the 2010 Academic year!  On Monday, 18th of January, all – new and returning students – arrived at Northrise University to begin Introductory Seminar Week – a series of seminars offered to all students at different levels.

Introduction to University Studies, a seminar offered to new students, included orientation activities. The week was designed to make the transition to university as comfortable as possible by helping students acclimatize to learning and research as well as to the Northrise environment. They were implored to cease the opportunity of education and view coming to NU as a new phase in life, as well as to start the race running. Students were encouraged that the road to acquiring new skills should not be turned into a one-way street. “Much as it is a joy for lecturers and staff of NU to help you attain your goals, it is your full responsibility to ensure you take advantage of all teachings available, to attend and participate actively in all lectures and tutorials, to study hard, and to ensure assignments are submitted on time,   We hope to make your stay a memorable one,” said the Academic Dean.

The HIV/Aids Seminar was offered to the Sophomore (second year students) who were glad to learn not only the statistics of the pandemic but also the ways of helping to reduce these numbers.

The Third Years had a great challenge of being the change agents of our local communities. The Community Development Seminar, which sensitized students on poverty and other civil related issues such as injustice and crime, left so many of them stirred. “Will I stand aloof to watch statistics worsen??” What a challenge! Dr. Lazarus Phiri, took this Seminar. His students were glad to learn that there is always something you can do to help… It’s never too little…

The Fourth Year students were privileged to attend a Career Development Seminar. This seminar is aimed at helping students who are almost at the end of their academic journey at Northrise University to see what lies ahead. They were also glad to be given tips on how to reach the pinnacle of their careers by Dr. Mutesa, their instructor.

To all students of Northrise University, the Staff and Faculty wish you the very best and hope you succeed in achieving your goals. To use the words of Abigail Adams, always remember that “learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.”

By Linda Lawler

Isn’t it wonderful to see how God works? But before I share one of my favourite gifts (going to the USC with Dr. Zimba) of the Christmas season…a little background.

My husband Drew and I (we are USC alumni, as are many Northrise University supporters) thought wouldn’t it be great if USC and Northrise University could some how get connected – but wasn’t sure how that looked. Sometimes the best place to start is the top. So, Drew contacted Steve Sample, the president of USC, who in turn connected Drew to Adam Clayton Powell, vice provost of globalization. An appointment was set 10 days before Chritmas.

Arriving at USC before 9:00am for our appointment was a delightful treat. The campus was quiet (it was finals week) the early morning sun was just hitting the tips of the trees and collegiate brick buildings. I couldn’t help but think how 30 years had passed so quickly since I was a student here. And what a privilege it was now to be back on campus on this appointment with Dr. Zimba, president of Northrise University at my alma mater.

USC’s Office of Globalization works with all of the university schools to support and strengthen their effort to create international academics and research partnerships as well as opportunity for students to learn outside USC. Right now, they are very interested in getting more involved in Africa. Powell’s background includes being a consultant on projects in South Africa and has visited Zambia.

As the meeting concluded Mr. Powell told Dr. Zimba when he returned in March that he should contact some of the university schools: business, religion and communication.

The three of us came out of the meeting hopeful and grateful. Oh and of course, to complete the visit Dr. Zimba has his picture taken in front of Tommy Trojan! Fight On!

by Duke Muchindu

How Christian is our Christian education? The 5th of December 2009 was a momentous day for the city of Ndola. It is written in many scholarly articles that Christianity in Africa is a mile wide and only an inch deep. My belief however is that Africa is on turning point in this regard. IAPCHE – The International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education – is an organization that has been in existence for over 25 years. It is internationally head quartered in Iowa at Dordt College in the USA. Despite its long existence, little is known of this initiative in Zambia and many African countries.

The mission of IAPCHE is to seek to promote a supportive framework for advancing Christian educational endeavors based on African cultural values in today’s global context. IAPCHE aims to achieve this by interacting with initiatives from other areas of the world for mutual benefit and enrichment. It’s main goal is to facilitate collaborative links and facilities, together with resources that promote an understanding of the essential features of an authentic Christian approach to education. This involves a critically creative approach that brings genuine transformational character to Christian educational endeavors.

On this day, scholars, pastors and representatives of various Christian and secular educational institutes were invited to Northrise to attend an IAPCHE conference planning meeting. A representative of IAPCHE graced the occasion. Reverend Isaac N. Mutua is the African regional executive director of CPCHEA (International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education). CPCHEA is the African Regional Expression of IAPCHE, in other words it is the African office for IAPCHE.

The meeting opened with a prayer, followed by formal introductions of the participants. Reverend Mutua then took the podium and explained the purpose of his visit and what IAPCHE and CPCHEA stood for. He lamented the fact that IAPCHE is concentrated in South Africa, its birth place, but also thought Zambia was centrally placed to host a regional conference for Southern Africa. He emphasized the fact that in this era there is no room for us to work in isolation because we need each other. The only conference that IAPCHE has ever held in Zambia was way back in 1987 in Lusaka the capital of Zambia. This meeting however was discussing the possibility of holding the conference in Ndola specifically at Northrise University main campus in August 2010. Reverend Mutua urged each participant present to become a member of IAPCHE or CPCHEA. Becoming a member of either initiative means one automatically becomes a member of both.

The meeting finally came to a close some minutes before 6pm with everyone agreeing to support this very important cause, “reclaiming the various world disciplines to the glory of God”. An interim hosting committee comprising eight participants was put in place to begin the work of organizing the conference that will be held sometime in August 2010. The conference will attract scholars and other stakeholders from the region and internationally in an effort of interaction to discuss the development of a comprehensive Christian education. Mr Peter Pedersen of Kaniki Bible college in Ndola gave a closing remark saying “I have never heard of this organization before, but what I think is that what is happening today should have happened yesterday, or five years ago or more. Am very grateful that there are Zambians and Africans rising up to take what God has given us and the potential on this continent and bringing it to a situation of interaction with other similar organizations for education. This is so important.”

by Wallace Mwengwe

On the 1st of December, Zambia joined the rest of the world in commemorating World AIDS Day (WAD). The theme this year is “Universal Access and Human Rights.” This highlights the need to protect human rights and attain universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. It aims at addressing the critical need to protect human rights and remove discriminatory barriers to universal access to prevention of  HIV and AIDS by helping people keep their promises using the slogan, “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.”

I was in Ndola (provincial capital of Copperbelt Province) on this day. A candlelight memorial service was held at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Nativity Church. It was a multi-denominational church service where we remembered those who have died due to HIV and AIDS as well as those who are affected by it. The significance of the candlelight was that there is still hope despite the furiousness of the pandemic. The commemoration started on 30th November.

At the Candlelight service, there were various activities performed such as drama, songs and poems by some Children from Arthur Davison Hospital (the only pediatrics hospital in Zambia), and a testimony from a man who is HIV positive. This was all done in order to pass on the information to those who were still ignorant of HIV and AIDS.

If you are not infected then you are affected by this pandemic. “Stop Aids. Keep the Promise”

by Enock Misebo

The eleventh week is traditionally known as “Presentation Week” at Northrise University. In this week, all students get a chance to be in their lecturer’s shoes. It is not uncommon to see students looking extra smart and business-like. Northrise University incorporates a presentation program that aims at preparing students for presentations and general interactions in the corporate industry.

Each student is allocated a group which is assigned a topic in the first week of the term. The given topic is well researched for 11 weeks and presented based on the Course’s requirements. The class, lecturers, staff and any invited guests make the audience as each person in the group delivers their presentation. Each presenter commands at least 5 minutes of everyone’s attention until every group member has had a chance. The audience is then given an opportunity to fire some questions or seek clarification on the presented material.

This term’s presentations have been particularly interesting. More students have show an improvement in  their delivery as well as research skills. Presentation Week kicked off with the 3rd year Bachelor of Business Administration class giving presentations in the Innovation and Enterprise course. In their assignment, they were hypothetical entrepreneurs who had started up a company of their choice with a K10 million (about USD$ 2173.80) budget. They had to present their business proposal and budget. Four guests were invited; all of whom generally attested to how interesting and highly professional the presenters were.

The next presentation I attended was by the 2nd year Bachelor of Information Technology morning class, in the Multimedia Publishing course. Being in my first year, I was personally amazed and inspired by how interesting and creative their presentations were, which is basically what their course was about. It made me look forward to the time I would be in my 2rd year and doing that course.

Later, that evening, I was part of a presentation in the Business Law course being taken by my class, 1st years. Of course, legal analysis takes a great deal of mastering and perfecting, but I would claim that there are a good number of legal analysts at Northrise that can handle common Torts in the city of Ndola! Legally speaking, the presentations that we had this week are a precedent for future presentations yet to come.

In the days that followed, my class had more presentations in Organizational Behavior and Business Finance. And for the 3rd years, Database Management Systems.