| By Sharmain GraingerThe need for colossal changes at the country’s lone national University – the University of Guyana (UG) – has long been recognised, and this may very well be on the horizon. And it is hoped that with the impending changes, the University will be able to finally escape a cloud of controversy that has overwhelmed its operation for far too long.UG, for quite some time, has been plagued with issues ranging from poor remuneration to wanting infrastructure. These have been highlighted time and again. Remedial measures were supposedly put in place too. However, protest actions by the Unions that represent both staff and students alike,Mike Gartner Rangers Jersey, all too often followed, to highlight that the very issues that should have been remedied were not, at least not effectively.But immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, has boasted of doing a lot to improve the University during his tenure. This has been attested to by a few. There, however, remain some detractors. Perhaps this is in light of the fact that there are yet too many issues that need to be fixed at the University if it is to advance its status as a tertiary institution to one worthy of regional and international recognition.While some people fully embrace that some measures to realise a transformation have been set in motion by Professor Opadeyi, many, it would seem, are confident that the University is only now on course to truly realising the needed changes that have been advocated for, for years.And it is expected that this will be fuelled by the efforts of a recently established Transformational Task Force. Professor Eon Nigel Harris, the appointed Chancellor of the University, can be credited with fast-tracking the establishment of the Task Force, which was in fact touted by Minister of Education,Michael Jordan Bulls Throwback Jersey, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, when he took over the reins of the Ministry last year.It is believed that the Guyana-born Professor Harris, who has had a laudable stint at other tertiary institutions including the University of the West Indies,Mike Montgomery Cubs Jersey, before accepting his UG appointment, is an ideal candidate to lead the transformation of the University.But transforming the national university, based on the recommendations yielded from the inaugural sitting of the Task Force,Gary Medel Jersey, which lasted for three days, will be no easy task. These recommendations are many, and are all aimed at putting the University on the path for a requisite overhaul.But similar recommendations were made in the past. Professor Harris himself acknowledged this,Cheap MLB Jerseys, and has noted that the issue has not been getting the ideal recommendations to transform the University, but rather, the issue has been the failure to implement many of these, thus leaving the needed transformation at a standstill.However, what is especially interesting about the approach of the Task Force is that it has incorporated the support of not only constituent groups of the University, and various stakeholders including the private sector and civil society, but also regional and international academics and professionals.From within the Caribbean, support has been forthcoming from academics the likes of Dr. Wanda Chesney, Vice President for Academic Administration at the University of the Southern Caribbean. I was pleasantly surprised to learn of her input to the transformation process since I am acquainted with her.When I attended the University some years ago, the then ‘Miss Chesney’ was a lecturer and Head of Communication Studies, a position I understand she held with pride. She was a fixture at the University for close to a decade, but left to advance her academic standing.I am aware she was a ‘no-nonsense’ lecturer, as I was fortunate to have attended some of her classes. With people the likes of Dr. Chesney – having close ties to the University and driven by unadulterated passion for academia – involved in the transformation of the University, I am convinced that the process is poised to succeed.As a Queen’s College old boy, Professor Colin Ramsay, is yet another international contributor who has been selected to be a part of the Task Force. He is currently the Professor of Actuarial Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, but the fact that he has taken up the task to be involved in the process speaks volumes.And there are other renowned academics such as Professor Maya Trotz,Julian Edelman Patriots Jersey, an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida and Professor Ian Robertson, a Former Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Education, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, who are integrally involved.The Task Force has also benefited from the input of Dr. Idamay Denny, Portfolio Manager within the Social Sector Division of the Caribbean Development Bank.But the deliberations at the recent sitting of the Task Force are not nearly the end of the process. The true impact of this body will be felt when the majority of its recommendations are implemented. And all eyes will be on the Council of the University, which ultimately has the overseer responsibility.Professor Harris, in responding to a question I posed to him, said that it is his expectation that within four weeks of the conclusion of the Task Force’s deliberation, the University will be able to capture some of the recommendations with a view of designing a broad framework.“A bigger framework, for instance, takes on the question of governance…the whole question of how the University is governed,Charles Harris Jersey, how the Council is constituted, how the administration of the University itself is structured,” will be part of the focus of the transformation, he pointed out.“What we want is a broad framework out of this brainstorming exercise and so on,Nigel Bradham Eagles Jersey, and a report that is not too long and not too complex; that serves as a call to action by the society,” Professor Harris asserted.But a main focus of the transformation will certainly have to be financing. The struggle is definitely real when it comes to financing and our national university. Without financing,Bill Melton White Sox Jersey, many of the recommendations that were thoughtfully derived will remain useless if they are not implemented. Therein lies the challenge that has denied the implementation of recommendations in the past. In fact, the issue of finance or the lack thereof has too often led to many challenges faced by the University.“How does one raise sufficient resources to do all that we want to do? Now that is a question that will probably take a small group under the aegis of Council (to be addressed), with representatives from the private sector, representatives from other areas, maybe the developmental agencies and some other agencies, graduates maybe…” considered Professor Harris, who seems keen on getting the implementation of recommendations right this time.He is optimistic that the small group, to which he alluded, will be able to “go forward now and work on crafting some plan to access some of the resources we need.”And it is certainly expected that Government will seize the opportunity to get its national university to the place it needs to be.The process has however started on the right track, as the official appointment of the Task Force was recently endorsed by Government, by way of the presence of the purse handler of the nation, Minister of Finance, Mr. Winston Jordan. It is however left to be seen what happens in the coming months as it relates to the ambitious transformation of the University of Guyana. |
