Liberi: ‘Bridging the Academic Gap’

.... Harvest Intercontinental Ministries Bishop Darlingston Johnson with Oral Roberts University Vice President Mike Mathews at the signing of an MOU between the two institutions 

The cornerstone laying ceremony at the site of the Harvest Intercontinental American University (HIAU), an American degree-conferring institution for gifted and talented students living in the underdeveloped world, takes place in Chugbor, Old Road on February 21. 

According to a release, the University, when completed will provide both a virtual and physical campus for students in partnership with Oral Roberts University (ORU), one of the best universities in the United States offering a wide range of multidisciplinary courses without them having to travel.  

The physical campus, when completed, will be the hub for a worldwide virtual campus providing access to thousands of students at a reduced rate.

Bishop Darlingston Johnson of Harvest Intercontinental Ministries Unlimited (HIMU), formerly Bethel World Outreach Ministries and a graduate of Oral Roberts University, is the visionary behind the effort.

His desire is that ‘No one lives or dies without access to quality education.’ 

“We begin in Sub-Saharan Africa, but our vision is for the whole world,” says Johnson. 

The university will be an academic hybrid providing virtual learning platforms and physical in house classes for talented students who otherwise would not have access to manifest their full potential and acquire quality education 

In essence Harvest American University seeks to bridge the academic gap between the developed and underdeveloped world.  

The Harvest concept is to infuse students with the entrepreneurial spirit such that they have the vision and capability to become job creators themselves.  The O.R.U vision of educating “Whole Leaders for the Whole World” aligns seamlessly with the Harvest goal.

O.R.U has agreed to reduce the cost of their credit hours for students who meet the academic criteria for admittance. There will also be limited ‘need based scholarships’ for students who meet the academic requirement but lack the financial means providing access to thousands of students worldwide.

At the M.O.U. signing in October 2021 Vice President Mike Mathews emphasized the importance of students making a difference not just for themselves but for their families and nations.  Bishop Johnson closed with “we are raising Holy Spirit empowered leaders through whole person education for the spirit, soul and body for the 21st century.”   

The first phase will be completed in June 2023.