Liberian Professor Gives Impression Quality of Learning and Teaching at Sharda
By Prof. Dr. Josephus Moses Gray Visiting Professor
I can’t express how excited I am to share my candid thoughts about the quality of learning and teachin g at the prestigious Sharda School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sharda University. In spite of my unique association with the institution and several visits to the school’s world class campuses in Knowledge Park III, Greater Norda, I realized that I could not fully understand what the academic quality was like until I experienced it by myself during my two-month of a visiting professorship at the Department of Political Science. It was a privilege to teach a Master’s Degree course, Political Science MOP 177: Energy and Environment Relations and Geopolitics of Energy; after academic semester of a busy course work including teaching, research, delivering guest lectures, and interactions with brilliant students and esteemed professional colleagues, the course lectures ended on Friday, 13 December 2024, and has inspired by what the students accomplished over the course of the semester. I consider this chapter of my life as one of the most productive chapters for gaining more understanding and skill in teaching at oversea admired university with international recognition and respect. It’s a very cool moment since I have prepared for it.
Furthermore, I’m truly thrilled and deeply humbled to Dr. Ashok Daryani, President of International Relations of Sharda University for the opportunity accorded me to join the esteemed professors and faculty at Sharda University for one academic semester from October to December 2024. The trip is truly an amazing experience and has certainly opened my eyes even more to the benefits of having concrete ties with Sharda University; this visit has added more values to UL and SU’s MoU signed about three years ago.
I have been informed that the School’s administration, faculty, students and staffs will next week hold an elaborate and colorful thank you and farewell program to demonstrate respect, admiration, and recognition for our qualities and great sacrifices that we have made for the semester to impact knowledge, educate the students and guide them through out the semester as the first African and second in the University 30 years of history to serve as a visiting professor. From all indications, this is a plus for the ACS College in particular and the University of Liberia in general, and beyond that, a positive image for the Republic of Liberia.
I’ve been moved to express my gratitude to a distinguished Indian academic and educator, Prof. (Dr.) Anviti Gupta, Professor of Psychology and Dean, Sharda School of Humanities and Social Sciences for the honor to connect with fellow professionals to share my knowledge, thoughts, insights and experiences with students at the school. I am incredibly fortunate to be accorded such a memorable opportunity to join the illustrious professors, and administrators. I am truly touched by the incredible support provided to me and it is like being home. This has made a significant impact on my presence at Sharda University in particular and India in general. My impression about India will soon not be forgotten; Sharda University is at the deep of my heart.
Besides, I cannot express how glad I am for the unwavering trust and opportunity given me by the Acting President of the University of Liberia, Prof. Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh to honor an invitation from Sharda University to serve as a Visiting Professor for two months. I’ m truly appreciative and thanks Dr. Conteh for believing in me to fulfill the mission entrusted to me to add value to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in October between Sharda University and University of Liberia on October 6, 2022.
I have found the administrators, professors, faculty, staff and students to be warm, friendly and hospitable. They are people with a great sense of humor and treat guests with admiration. Special thanks to the diligent team at Sharda University International Division for their sense of humor and services towards humanities, especially students from the Republic of Liberia. I’m grateful to my friend and brother Mr. Sachin Saini. Besides, words are inadequate to express my appreciation to the folks at Sharda Guest House for the warm reception and courtesies accorded me. While the team at the Library at Block 45 is outstanding and professionals in discharge of their duties. It is also interesting to experience the diversity of culture, environment, and Indian meals.
I am highly touched to hear from the students from Liberia attending Sharda University about the notable professional standards, strong commitment to academic quality and excellence in teaching, research, and service. The Liberian students described teaching and learning at Sharda University as “quality and professional”, and expressed appreciation for the method of teaching, students evaluation, and the positive atmosphere in the various classrooms. Truthfully, the tones of feedbacks from our students have been very positive, and explain how the faculty members really seem engaged with the material they’re teaching, and that makes it more exciting for them at Sharda University.
My assigned master’s course: “Political Science MOP 177: Energy and Environment Relations and Geopolitics of Energy,” ran for ten weeks, three days a week and four hours a week, respectively. The students were given four research assignments on various global issues related to the course and defended the various assignments in class. Besides the research assignments, they participated in three class exercises (quizzes), theory, practical and viva, excluding Midterm exams of ten essays based questions and seventieth essays based questions for the final exams. Predicated upon the Sharda University system, the midterm tests and final exams questions were independently prepared, administered and corrected by the University’s Exams Office, without my involvement. It also impossible for grades to be manipulated while students failing to obtain 70% of class attendance are not allowed to write their final exams.
My first day on the campus as a visiting professor was full of friendly faces offering help, advice, and greeting me with open arms at the Department of Political Science, School of Humanities and Sciences, Sharda University. So excited that I have already outlined my lectures for the two months, ordered my textbooks online and was given ideas for midterm exam questions, This is a unique experience and I hope that UL in the future would be well considered in offering other professional colleagues from other colleges similar opportunities to undertake such experience in India. I figured out that the quality of teaching and learning at Sharda University is based on high standard, style, basic behavior, communication skills and interaction with the students. I have also realized that besides the regular teaching, a professor’s role goes beyond the classroom, but is highly considered research. Without peer-reviewed publication, no faculty gets promoted. Therefore, being at the Sharda School of Humanities and Social Sciences is an amazing experience.
This semester had a main focus including introducing students to key energy sources, its economic base and how they are regulated. Going forward, the course analyzes Energy and Climate governance at the international level, and geopolitics of energy and its corresponding impact on environmental politics; policy and policymaker in energy, environment and climate space.It deepens students’ ability to understand the interface of energy and environment and also get to understand Energy Diplomacy, Energy resources in foreign policy, the realist paradigm in energy diplomacy and different theoretical approach to energy diplomacy, as well as energy transition and climate policy and action, and challenges of energy transition as relates the global south.
Also, during the semester, the students gained understanding about climate change and climate finance, and energy security-dilemma or opportunity including major powers in geopolitics of energy as well as energy as foreign policy tool, Russia and EU geopolitics of energy and realist perspective of geopolitics of energy. During the semester, the students reflectively analyze and appraise the key concept of climate policy and assess the ongoing debate about energy transition and its impact on the environment and how geopolitics of energy and the environment are inextricably linked.
Sharda University’s professors are among the highly trained and respected professors, with most holding a doctorate degree in various disciplines, while the school confers degrees in about 150 academic disciplines. Furthermore, the system required that majority of the professors hold Ph.D. before being hired to enter the classroom to teach, and mentor students. I am highly touched that females are in majority in the classrooms at this great institution. If a professor isn’t performing as anticipated, the teacher is invited to meeting, encouraged and capacity beat-up or let go since the academic programs are the most rigorous and dynamic marked by creativity, innovation, practical and research based.
It was an honor to earn the trust and admiration of the professors and students to serve as a visiting professor in the Department of Political Science. The students of the Energy and Environment class are among the best and smartest people that I have taught in my professional career at a graduate studies level. It is appropriate to express appreciation to everyone for the outstanding professional standards, strong commitment to academic quality and excellence in teaching, research, and service.
In my official role as a visiting professor, I didn’t expect to be treated any better over the other colleagues just because I’m a guest of the institution. Therefore, it was my responsibility to be part of the great family of Sharda University by showing respect and being sensitive, listen to what other people have to say and acknowledge their opinion, and was always open to other views and issues. I have realized that I have great potential of doing well just as long as I put myself in that mindset and was prepared for the job. This semester has taught me that I have to put in extra work outside of class in order to be prepared for lectures and was able to put in extra work at the Sharda University Guest House where I am being hosted for the duration of my trip to the institution.
I am incredibly fortunate to be accorded the opportunity to join the distinguished professors, instructors and touched by the incredible support provided me. This has made a significant impact on my presence at Sharda University in particular and India in general. Being at Sharda University is an amazing experience and touching, mainly spending so much time meeting one-on-one with students to guide them in pursuit of their educational goal. The education system of Sharda University is tailored to the extent that it provides equal chances to all students irrespective of their background and fairness coupled with academic excellence. Also, students are treated equally while there is standardized evaluation by an Exams Body.
The system, art of tolerance and patience make one closer with one another at the institution. It is interesting to experience the diversity of culture, environment and Indian food. I have found the people to be warm, friendly and hospitable, they are people with gentle humor. My presence at Sharda University, especially the Sharda School of Humanities and Social Sciences, gives hope and deepens the MoU between our two institutions of learning–the University of Liberia and Sharda University. Beyond that, it brightens the unique relationship between India and Liberia as we look ahead to brighter days.
The unique MoU imbued with benefits paves the way for the two institutions of learning and helps Liberia to expand working relationship at academic and mutual levels for the benefit of our great institutions and by extension, Liberia and India. The fruitful academic ties between UL and SU provide unique and life touching opportunity. This opportunity guarantee attractive and concrete academic benefits including exchange of faculty and sabbaticals, exchange of Ph.D. scholars, provision of scholarships for postgraduate and undergraduate students, dual degree programs, credit transfer programs, short- and long-term customized courses, joint collaborative research projects and publication of a joint peer-reviewed research journal.
After attending my fourth class on Tuesday, 5th November 2024, I learned and experienced many new things in such a short period of time that are endless. Furthermore, I felt at abode at the distinguished Sharda University where I have got a lot of students in the Master’s studies program from different backgrounds, outside of India. The most surprising experience was to see the students always seated in class before my arrival for class. The students are required to register 75 percent of class attendance before they can be allowed to write their final examinations; exams papers are graded by professors outside Sharda University.
Currently, more than 150 Liberian students are attending the Sharda University in Greater Norda of which 15 students received one hundred percent sponsorship from the University of Liberia. The 15 students earned their Bachelor degrees from the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, College of A. Romeo Horton College of Business and Public Administration, William R. Tolbert Jr. College of Agriculture & Forestry, Engineering College and Thomas Jefferson Richelieu Faulkner College of Science and Technology, respectively. The school enrolled the highest number of foreign students in India with students representing 96 countries across the world, while students from Liberia are highly praised for their deportment and academic performance.
Hoping that upon my return home, the opportunity will be available to enable me share my experience and the vast amount of new knowledges that I have gained during my visiting professor role at the distinguished Sharda University in Knowledge Part III, Greater Noida, India. I am excited to apply it for the benefit of the Amos C. Sawyer College in particular and the University of Liberia in general, although, it’s going to be an uphill battle due to the culture of education at the nation’s flagship university where the complexities and spike in protests have becoming a major trend of politics; but I’m prepared for the daunting task ahead.
About Professor (Dr.) Josephus Gray
Professor Dr. Josephus M. Gray, who was appointed in January 2020 as Dean of the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Liberia, has a rich history of leadership within the university, including serving as President of UL Student Press Club, Part-time Faculty, Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and now Professor of International Relations. He is a native born Liberian, hails from the Southeastern Village of Kayken, Barclayville District in Grand Kru County, Republic of Liberia. He has achieved the highest level of education in his chosen academic field. In 2019, Dr. Gray earned his Ph.D. with distinction in International Relations from CEDS University in Paris, Republic of France and earned MA in International Relations from University of Liberia and BA in Communication (Print Journalism) from the University of Liberia. He, also earned post graduate diploma in Mid-Career Diplomacy in 2008 from Chinese Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, China and Diploma in Modern Journalism in (2006 from ICFJ, Washington, D.C. United States of America.
The 580-page dissertation was conducted under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Faund Nohra, Associate Professor at Paris Dscartes University in Paris. While members of the jury were Prof. Dr. Souha AKIKI (French), President of Paris Graduate School/ Innovative Knowledge Institute, and Professor at CEDS; Dr. Prof. Michael STRAUSS (German), an Advisor to the UN Special Rapporteur on Unilateral Coercive Measures and Human Rights and Professor of international law and international relations at CEDS University in Paris, Republic of France; Dr. Prof. Michael LEBEDEV (Russian Federation), Senior Diploma at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris and Professor at CEDS and Dr. Prof. Fouad NOHRA (French) Associate Professor at Paris Descartes University. The former president of the Liberian Association in France and resident of Paris, Mr. Yatay Tuoway, also attended the dissertation defense exercise.
Dr. Gray earned advanced Certificates and Diplomas in Modern Journalism (2006), ICFJ, Washington, D.C. USA; Diploma in Modern Diplomacy, (2008), Chinese Foreign Affairs University, Beijing, China; Certificate in Practical Research (2017), Bibliotheque International Library, Paris, France and Certificate Program: Digital Journalism (2006) World Newspaper Editors Forum. Cape Town, South Africa.
At the public sector level, Dr. Gray has held positions such as Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia, Assistant Foreign Minister for Public Affairs and Diplomacy; Political Counselor, Embassy of Liberia in Paris, France; and Minister Counsellor and Charge d’ Affairs, Liberia Permanent Mission to the Swiss Federation and the United Nations in Geneva and other International Organizations. At other levels, he earned diplomas and certificates in foreign policy Studies, international relations, diplomacy, print journalism, development communication, research methodology, and leadership from Paris, France; Geneva, Switzerland; Beijing, China; Washington, D.C., USA; Cape Town, South Africa; Rabat, Morocco; Accra, Ghana; Dakar, Senegal and Monrovia, Liberia. In 2006.
He has wildly written and published over 300 per-reviewed articles in local and international journals and three books. His recent book characterizes the existing relationships among Liberia, China and the United States of America as “triangular, and is on sale in 160 countries across the world. The book is reproduced in several languages including French, Italian, Chinese, and Spanish. His books include: Liberia’s Emerging Democracy: published in Paris, France 2012 and Effect of Diplomacy, published 2021 by Amazon, Washington State, USA. Dr. Gray’s book is available online and in international books stores. It has uniquely passed the U.S. National Copyright Office in Washington, D.C. The publications have been checked and peer-reviewed. The U.S. National Copyright Office in Washington, D.C. has assigned a special registered number, international Standard Number and the author’ tracking number of books. Copies of the books have been placed in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. for future references.
“I’m thrilled and deeply humbled to the prestigious Department of Political Science, Sharda School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS), Sharda University for the opportunity afforded me to join the illustrious Professors to contribute to quality education at the distinguished Sharda University, Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida, India.”
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