Umaps Scholars Share Their Experiences

Emmanuel Danquah: I was part of the February 2010 cohort, so I was there between February to June, 2010. I came there with two objectives to finish my data analysis because we lack those software. So I came to finish my data analysis and then I also came to review literature. Annet Oguttu: By the time I left I knew it was going to be Professor Reuven Avi-Yonah, that would be my mentor, and for me that was very exciting. Ruth Mampane: When I got there, the leaves were beautiful, saw the leaves falling and the color of the leaves, that was the most beautiful thing that I've ever experienced. Telteltee Sayndee: I was researching in Social Cohesion and Deeply Divided Societies using examples and comparisons and learning experiences from South Africa, from Rwanda, and from Ghana. And I was looking at the critical niche, the critical transition what is that pivotal point between conflict and peace in each of those societies. David Kenkpen: I was doing a research in Cassava, trying to determine the cyanide content, the toxicity, the pattern of toxicity in Cassava. Emmanuel Danquah: The most important thing to me that was really valuable was pairing me with a mentor who had similar research interest like me. Annet Oguttu: There is still collaboration between me and my mentor. As a matter of fact, I'm organizing the Eighth International Conference on Commercial Law that is going to be here on the 3rd of August, here in Sandton, Johanne sburg, and professor Reuven Avi-Yonah is one of the keynote speakers. Ruth Mampane: Having this kind of experience that I had as an International Scholar, it somehow puts you -- it focuses you to realize that there isn't a one way of doing things. There isn't a one way of being a supervisor. Telteltee Sayndee: What I really want to do eventually with that work is to build a reconciliation module for deeply divided societies or societies transitioning from conflict to peace. Emmanuel Danquah: University of Michigan was in fact a life-changing experience, in terms of their networking. I remember the first day I met my mentor, within a few minutes we had -- linked me to a lot of faculty members. Ruth Mampane: What convinced me is the fact that this program is about yourself, it's about you as an individual, it's about your growth, and that’s the beauty about it, because most of the time as academics, as faculty members we are so concerned into getting work done, in terms of teaching, research, and community work, but there is no time where you can actually have this time set aside for you to be able to develop. And not only are you by yourself, but there is so much support, you have the mentor, you have so many resources around you.