UG Council seeks new Vice-Chancellor

Mar 09, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – The University of Guyana (UG) Council announced on Sunday that it has begun the process of searching for a new Vice-Chancellor and Principal, as the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Paloma Mohamed-Martin, is expected to leave the post later this year.

In a statement, Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Sir Ronald Sanders, said the search officially commenced on February 16, 2026.

“University council decided to establish a search committee to identify and recommend a new vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Guyana, in light of the fact that the current vice-chancellor’s contractual term, after seven years in office, is due to come to an end,” Sanders said.

He explained that the council took the decision to ensure the process of selecting new leadership proceeds in an orderly, transparent, and merit-based manner, in keeping with the institution’s governance framework and the council’s responsibility to secure the best possible leadership for the university.

According to Sanders, the search committee agreed that the establishment of the process, along with the public advertisement of the position, would be announced on March 9, 2026.

“This is an important moment for the University of Guyana and for the country it serves,” he said.

The chancellor noted that Guyana is currently experiencing one of the most dynamic periods of economic growth and structural transformation in its modern history.

“Expansion in energy production, infrastructure modernisation, economic diversification, and wider international engagement are reshaping national priorities and workforce demands. In these new circumstances, the University of Guyana, as the nation’s premier public university, must play an even more central role in producing highly qualified graduates, expanding postgraduate education, strengthening research, and contributing independent expertise, innovation and practical knowledge to national and regional development,” he said.

As a result, the council is seeking a vice-chancellor with “intellectual distinction, strategic courage and proven executive capacity,” capable of positioning the university as a centre of research excellence, professional training, and regional influence, according to Sanders.

Sanders said the successful candidate should possess a distinguished academic record, normally at the rank of full professor or equivalent, along with significant senior executive leadership experience within a university or similar institution.

“The council is looking for a leader with a strong record of involvement at senior level in institutional growth, research expansion and performance improvement; sound experience in financial management and institutional administration; and the capacity to lead organisational transformation and complex change,” he said.

He added that the candidate must also demonstrate a commitment to academic freedom, shared governance, institutional accountability, and high standards of integrity.

Additionally, the individual should be capable of building partnerships, mobilising resources, inspiring high-performing teams, and modernising academic programmes to better respond to emerging workforce and industry needs.

“The council’s objective is clear: to secure leadership equal to the scale of Guyana’s transformation and to the university’s indispensable role in shaping the country’s future,” Sanders stated.

Kaieteur news on Sunday reported that Professor Dr. Mohamed-Martin, the first woman appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Guyana, will step down later this year.

Her departure comes shortly after Sir Ronald Sanders was officially installed as the 11th Chancellor of the University of Guyana on February 13, during a ceremony at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre.

Dr. Mohamed-Martin was appointed in June 2020.

An alumna of the University of Guyana, Harvard University, and the University of the West Indies, her doctoral specialisation focuses on social and behavioural change, particularly the influence of communication and culture on societal transformation.

Her research on social media has gained international recognition. As an academic and creative professional, she has produced or co-produced more than 22 films and documentaries, written or edited 11 books, and published numerous journal articles. Her work has also earned several recognitions in Guyana and across the Caribbean.

During her career at UG, she served as director of the Centre for Communication Studies, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE). She also lectures in communication research and health behaviour.

Dr. Mohamed-Martin succeeded Professor Ivelaw Griffith, whose contract as vice-chancellor ended in June 2019 after serving in the position from 2016.

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• Dr. Paloma Mohamed-Martin, Sir. Ronald Sanders, UG, UG Council

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