Multiple problems at UG must be addressed – GCCI President

Aug 24, 2013 News

The University of Guyana (UG) is plagued with multiple problems that must be addressed by both policy makers and the administration of the tertiary institution. This observation was made by President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Mr Clinton Urling, when he addressed the gathering at the 2013 Turkeyen Campus orientation, held in the George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT), last evening.

A section of the new entrants to the University of Guyana.

Urling during his address noted, though, that the university’s problems should not represent constraints in terms of students’ performances, since according to him, “those constraints can become your strengths for when you move on to graduate school.”
The GCCI President, a product of the university himself, recalled how he was some nine years ago tasked with challenges such as long searches for reading material in the library only to uncover some with missing pages and even limited copies that were already loaned to other students.
“You still had to get research done…but what I found when I went to other universities (abroad) is that I simply had to use my laptop and with a password I had access to those universities’ libraries… and even lectures.”
“But what I did is take the constraints here, the challenges from the University of Guyana and applied it to my studies and I think it was that that allowed me to outperform some of my peers when I attended the University of the West Indies,” Urling reflected.
In his deliberation to the new entrants, he emphasised that the only formula to succeed at university, and generally in life, is hard work. He also recounted how he had to juggle studies at university and co-manage German’s Restaurant after his father’s death.
“This here today represents an opportunity for all of you; it represents a new start for your own personal and professional advancement. It doesn’t matter if you secure 20 subjects or just six subjects at the CXC examinations, at the University of Guyana we all start at the same gate and it is up to you, henceforth, whether you want to succeed or not,” Urling said.
But the university is not merely about academics, Urling noted, even as he warned the new entrants to “don’t just be academic students…it is okay to sit under a tree…it is okay to join the student culture around the campus and get involved in student government…join the students’ society…it is okay to have fun!”
And even as he mirrored some of Urling’s convictions, as it relates to the importance of students being fully involved in campus life, Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr Jacob Opadeyi, in delivering remarks too, thanked the students for applying to the lone national university. He also made a point of telling the new entrants that “the university needs you just as much as you need the university.”
As such he noted that it is the desire of the Administration of the university to provide an environment conducive to their studies.
Moreover, he noted that if students are not satisfied with the operation of the university they should not fail to inform the administration.
“If things are not going good please tell us and we will do something about it; if things are going good tell others…but please do not bad talk this humble university on Facebook; it is read by everybody throughout the world,” the Vice Chancellor said.
He underscored that some of the challenges that obtain at the local university are certainly not unique to Guyana, and insisted that the onus remains not only on the administration but also the student population to protect the image of the University of Guyana.
“Bear with us in our efforts to turn the university around,” said Dr Opadeyi as he simultanenously cautioned the student gathering that “we tend to treat you here as adults…”
“If you don’t come to school we don’t care, we don’t keep attendance registers…If you want to go under the shed and smoke cigarettes that’s okay. If you come to class and don’t do assignments that’s okay too; anything you want to do that’s okay, but at the end of the day we will give you what you deserve. If you deserve zero we will give you it with pride,” the Vice Chancellor told a chuckling GWLT audience.
And since the university is a place of learning, Registrar of the institution, Mr Vincent Alexander warned that every effort must be made to ensure that the process is not handicapped by students’ failure to share with each other.
Also delivering brief remarks last evening was Secretary of the University’s Student Society, Mr Adel Lily, who highlighted that the purpose of the body is to represent the rights of students throughout their tenure at the tertiary institution.
Following the orientation session, students were allowed to get a glimpse of what some of the university’s faculties have on offer at a mini-exposition which was held at the Social Sciences parking lot.

1 thoughts on “Multiple problems at UG must be addressed – GCCI President”

Paid Piece Piece August 24, 2013 at 6:07 pm

Listening to the new VC speak to the students on Orientation Day, made me cringe and “down my head.” I was waiting to hear something inspirational and hopeful to make me excited about the new academic year. Instead, he went on a blame game and threatened students with “zeros”. When families “scraped the bottom”, borrowed and begged for finances for tuition, sacrificed time, traveled long distances, you bet they are serious about coming to UG. But I don’t think the new VC has the vision, the insight, the skills or the know-how on how to lead, period, much less lead an institution such as a university. Where and when has the VC been trained to be a leader? The UG Council must admit they made a bad choice. UG needs a dynamic, brilliant, charismatic 21st century leader who knows how to interact and connect and bring people (Guyanese) together in a united force to find solutions and carve a new vision for the university. The Registrar who was sitting beside him at the Orientation deserves a zero! Students are registering and still don’t know what their grades were for the last semester! It’s true! The Registry is filled with a lot of people, not because they have the appropriate skills, but because they are “friends and family” with no commitment to the students or the university. Mr. VC, you have already been given an “F” for your performance as a leader by the UG staff. So, if anyone deserves a zero, be honest, is it not you?