Not so for a group of students from the West African nation of Liberia that is part of Strayer University's new "Liberian Scholars Program." For these students, university study is directly tied to the rebuilding of their war ravaged country.

"I found this to be a wonderful opportunity given the fact that our country lacks the necessary manpower to facilitate reconstruction," said Jallah M. Kennedy, 49, who is earning an MBA with a concentration in marketing at Strayer University's Takoma Park campus. "I am grateful to my government for affording me this opportunity and to Strayer University for the scholarship."

Strayer University, a leading post-secondary adult education institution, provided full scholarships to 10 students from Liberia, while the government of Liberia covers expenses related to travel, accommodations and meals. The students began their studies during the winter quarter.

Strayer University has a long-time connection with Liberia. Dr. J. Chris Toe, the University's 12th president, returned to Liberia in 2006 to serve as the Minister of Agriculture in the new government of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the country's first elected female president. Johnson-Sirleaf contacted Strayer University in 2007 to inquire about developing a scholarship program to provide mainly graduate level study opportunities for a cross section of capable leaders, who would return to Liberia to teach and apply their new knowledge to reconstruction efforts.

"We feel a certain connection to Liberia and we want to be a part of the difference that the Johnson-Sirleaf administration will make," said Dr. Sondra Stallard, president of Strayer University. "The University has always prided itself on helping adults improve themselves and their career options and this just takes our mission to a higher level."

Kennedy, the director of policy and planning in the Ministry of Agriculture, hopes to combine his experience in agricultural development with new marketing skills to help develop and strengthen existing skills of small businesspeople especially in the agriculture, commerce and industry and related sectors in Liberia.

"One of the weakest areas of our economy is small business management, although we have a lot of potential," said Kennedy, who lived through two civil wars that racked the country from 1989-1997 and in 2003. "Participants in this sector of our economy lack the ready access to credit and basic skills training to expand and properly manage existing holdings. I feel that by earning my MBA I will be well equipped to be of service to my country and people upon my return."

Anthony Jlateh Quiwonkpa, 26, of Monrovia, Liberia, is working on a Bachelor of Science in accounting and hopes to serve in an oversight position with the Liberian government.

"The illiteracy rate is very high in Liberia and you can't achieve modern development when people can't read," Quiwonkpa said. "We need bridges, roads, buildings in Liberia. We need engineers to design and build these things. We need accountants for oversight. We need people in agriculture because we can't feed ourselves. I so love my country and I dream of seeing it as developed as any other country."

Strayer University has been in operation for more than 116 years and provides undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration, accounting, information technology, education and public administration. With more than 38,000 students, the University operates 57 campuses in 12 states in the Eastern United States and Washington, D.C., as well as worldwide via the Internet. For more information, visit http://www.strayer.edu/.