Educating Asia's Women, One Scholarship At A Time

At the Asian University for Women, students who start through the Pathways for Promise program receive an enriching educational experience that allows students from particularly underserved communities to prepare for entrance into higher education. To best equip students for their upcoming undergraduate studies, they take extensive English language courses in addition to reviewing basic mathematics and computer skills before entering into a second year of preparatory academic work.

Physical education courses have also become a critical feature of the Pathways program and overall AUW curriculum. Through classes in martial arts and classical dance, and extracurricular athletic activities, students discover new talents and improve physical wellbeing, while also gaining confidence and feelings of personal success.

Pathways for Promise students take courses in Karate, where they learn physical and mental discipline as well as self-defense skills. After Pathways, students can join the Karate team, which competes under the leadership of the first woman blackbelt in Chittagong. Just this past summer, several students competed in an international Karate competition in Kolkata, India where they brought home a number of medals.

Recently, classical dance classes have also been introduced as part of the curriculum. Taught in the Indian tradition, these courses include five courses on Kathak Dance and two courses on Bharatnatyam Dance. To expand the options for the students, a number of skilled dance instructors have begun teaching these courses. These dance courses are mandatory for all Pathways for Promise students and are a cornerstone of this diverse group of students’ education at AUW, and serve as outlets of expression and connection. The courses challenge students to develop as dancers, to support their classmates in developing their talents, and to use dance as a medium by which to communicate issues of importance to them individually and collectively. Although many students have little background in dance, they actively participate and are making progress. AUW is excited to continue to offer these classes, as well as additional advanced classes, into the current Spring Semester.