Latest update February 4th, 2025 9:06 AM
UG on course to shed archaic mechanisms – Pro Chancellor
Having been in existence for almost 50 years and with aging infrastructure, the University of Guyana can today be considered outdated. This pronouncement was made by Pro-Chancellor of the University, Dr. Prem Misir.
However, there are likely to be some changes on the horizon, as according to Dr. Misir, “very soon hopefully we might see some refined changes structurally within the university.” His comments were forthcoming as he addressed a recent press conference to name the new Vice Chancellor of the University, Trinidad-based Professor, Dr. Jacob Opadeyi.
UG Pro Chancellor, Dr. Prem Misir
“I think that it is important that we understand that we have to start somewhere. We have to start with this,” said Dr. Misir, of the University Council’s decision to approve the Nigeria-born Vice Chancellor.
The Pro Chancellor is optimistic that refined structural changes within the tertiary institution could potentially translate to a different kind of organisational behaviour, a transformation which he believes the campus badly needs. He alluded to improvement plans which are likely to be realised through a Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) grant which is expected to help transform the institution.
Commenting on the expectations of the CDB grant, Dr. Misir had earlier this year said that “with respect to the current institutional structure of the university, efforts are underway to transform the archaic institutional mechanisms of the university, in order to promote efficient administration, analogous to that of contemporary universities.”
In this regard, he said that the CDB approved a grant of US$250,000 with UG matching this funding with US$50,000 to guide the rehabilitation of the regulatory and operational framework of the institution.
The expected outputs from this project, he related, include presenting recommendations on a relevant regulatory framework, a resource mobilization plan, a change management programme, and corporate systems and operational procedures. Through a public tendering process, a consultant was selected and the project is set to commence imminently.
At the recent press conference, Dr. Misir said that the University is currently in possession of a CDB consultation report that “we are gradually looking at, at this time, and Professor Opadeyi is aware of this development.”
“This report is already with us and we are looking at it and we are hoping that there will be some changes in the structure,” said Dr. Misir, who speculated that changes will not only be realised in the structure, but there will be some functioning recommendations for other changes as well.
According to the Pro Chancellor, the University is currently on a course of evolution and “we are getting there.”
Member of the Council, Ms. Gail Teixeira, who was also at the press conference, said that revamping the university is a process and “there is no magic wand that we can wave…”
She also alluded to the CDB project even as she pointed out that it is designed to look at the whole framework of the university. She disclosed too that a stakeholders meeting will be held early in the New Year as it relates to the project.
“What we are doing is not a flash in the dark…it is a whole process we are engaging. There are things happening at the university and I think the press needs to become more knowledgeable of what is happening,” Teixeira added.
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