Dr. Neil Nordquist

Dr. Neil Nordquist, dean of Minot State University's College of Education and Health Sciences, spent a week in Ghana and is applying for a $50,000 grant through the U.S. Agency for International Development that would help form a plan for educational improvements in Ghana.

Doctor Neil Nordquist is dedicated to educating students. And as the Dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences at MSU, when he got the opportunity to collaborate with a university in the Republic of Ghana to provide for the educational needs of children there, he jumped at it.

"It is an opportunity for our folks here to have a chance to do something in another part of the world. To use our expertise in other ways," says Nordquist.

This weekend, Nordquist will fly to the west African Country to start a partnership with the University of Education, Winneba. Together officials from the African college and Nordquist will write a planning grant proposal for 50 thousand dollars that will be used to train teachers to use testing data properly. By receiving training, Ghanaian teachers will increase their knowledge and skills.

"What they want us to focus on it improving teacher skill. Being able to utilize assessment data to improve teaching and learning," says Nordquist.

Currently, there are six students from Ghana at MSU perusing their masters degree. Through this opportunity in Ghana the University hopes to recruit more students from the county. But even more important, Nordquist says this grant is vital in a county like Ghana. While some of their schools are updated and modern, many are primitive. Nordquist hopes by improving education, he can improve people`s lives.

Minot State WAS in fact interested, so on January 18th, after several months of planning, Dean of MSU's College of Education and Health Sciences, Neil Nordquist, will be flying to Ghana with hopes of forming a grant proposal and application.

MSU currently has 6 graduate students from Ghana on campus, and Nordquist says after attending class here, they've discovered several ways to improve education in their home country.

(Neil Nordquist, Dean - MSU College of Education) "One of their recommendations is, that should be taught in our program, so I can see our faculty sharing some of our cirriculum and preparing teachers on how it might work."

Nordquist says their application deadline is February second, and after it's reviewed, they hope to receive around 50 thousand dollars to form a plan for educational improvements in Ghana. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list

Most of the teachers had composite degrees in social studies or science, said Neil Nordquist, dean of the university's education college.Few teachers whose transcripts were reviewed that day wanted to go back to college, he said.

For those who want to return to college, the transcript review will help higher education institutions track which classes they need to offer during the summer months and in the evenings, Nordquist said.

Dr. Neil Nordquist, Dean.

Neil NordquistDean, College of Education and Health SciencesMinot State University500 University Avenue WestMinot, ND 58707

Phone: 701-858-3150