UG looks to Govt. for $5.2B subvention in 2017

Aug 28, 2016 News

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…as VC-inspired leadership changes open up to boost efficiency

The University of Guyana (UG) is looking to Government for a sizeable subvention come next year.
In statement issued by the University it was revealed that the Finance and General Purpose Committee (F&GPC) at a meeting on Monday, August 22, 2016 endorsed Vice Chancellor (VC) Ivelaw Griffith’s “bold and all time high” request to the Government for $5.2 billion for financial year 2017.
The university is anticipating $3 billion for recurrent expenditure and $2.2 billion for capital works. The priorities of the administration are currently focused on increased salaries for academic and non-academic staff, the provision of basic supplies and facilities that have been undermining efficiency and morale for years, campus security, and improving several of the facilities that negatively impact health and safety as well as security.
The VC, Professor Griffith, has also proposed a number of new buildings including a new library and an academic complex to house the Business School, the Centre for Teaching and Learning, the School of Graduate Studies and Research, and the Office of Undergraduate Research.
Also approved at the Monday night meeting was the purchase of a badly-needed student centre, using existing resources from the Learning Resource funds. And according to the statement issued by the University, the VC plans to have the student centre operational during the upcoming semester.
The augmented financial request and proposal for new buildings is only part of massive plans that are unfolding at the tertiary institution.
Several reassignments, the creation of new positions, and a promotion, are among the measures that have been introduced by the University – measures to improve the institutions efficiency.
At the meeting held at UG’s Turkeyen Campus, the F&GPC – the second highest policy making body after the University Council – approved a proposal by the VC to comprehensively restructure the university’s leadership.
“The re-organisation plan, which reassigns a few existing officials, promotes one individual and establishes a few new positions, aims to create greater levels of efficiency and effectiveness and set the stage for innovation in academic and non-academic areas,” the statement said.
In alluding to the 2013 Hamilton Consultant Report on the university, which called for “the university to undergo a major restructuring…to make it a high performance institution,” Professor Griffith, who is in his first three months at the university said, “I am of the strong view that greater levels of effectiveness and efficiency can only be achieved through the immediate re-organisation of the administration of the university through realignment of functions and roles.”
The changes, which become effective from October 1, 2016, entail having Dr. Michael Scott, a recent Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, being appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic Engagement. In addition to the Faculties within his portfolio, Dr. Scott will have oversight of several new units: the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning; the School of Graduate Studies and Research; and the Office of Undergraduate Research.
The latter two, according to the statement, will get some initial leadership guidance from the Vice-Chancellor himself because of his expertise and experience in those areas.
The current Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academics, Dr. Barbara Reynolds, has been reassigned as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Planning and International Engagement, a new entity intended to streamline and extend UG’s international relationships and build new grant research relationships with other universities and with international organisations. With her years of experience in UNICEF and other international agencies, Dr. Reynolds is expected to facilitate new and dynamic international pursuits.
Dr. Paloma Mohamed, a former Director of the Centre for Communication Studies and a former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, will occupy the newly created position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Planning and Development, Dr. Elizabeth Ramlal, has been invited to become Executive Director of the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE), to lead the realignment of the Institute to strengthen its service delivery across the country and realise it entrepreneurial potential.
On assuming office, Professor Griffith had outlined in his Values and Vision Statement that Capital Investment, Academic Enhancement, Economic Viability and Alumni Engagement, are imperatives for the university to undergo a paradigmatic shift as part of its renaissance. The new leadership order is expected to greatly contribute to the renaissance of the university.
The new administrative team will be further strengthened with the establishment of an Office of Strategic Initiatives as an adjunct to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, to undertake institutional strengthening, project management, and allied services.
The current Programme Officer in the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Ms. Karen Wishart, has been promoted to become the first occupant of the newly established position of Chief of Staff in the Vice-Chancellery. This promotion coincides with the renaming of the Senior Administrative Group to the Vice-Chancellor’s Cabinet, which would include the Deputy Vice Chancellors, Registrar, Bursar, Human Resources Director, Director of the Berbice Campus, the Legal Officer (a new position), the Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives and the Chief of Staff.
Another notable aspect of Professor Griffith’s plan is the re-designation of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences as a full-fledged Faculty with a Dean.
Professor Griffith observed that in addition to the superior teaching and research already being done by that unit, elevating it to a Faculty enhances its respectability and the prospects for more grants and consulting contracts by the academic staff there.
The public reporting on the milestone F&GPC meeting represents the second occasion that UG has issued a public statement following the deliberations of that important policy body. According to the statement, this mode of disclosure is one aimed at transparency, which is being strongly promoted by the VC.

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