Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr Paloma Mohamed believes greater support is needed to advance the work of the country’s premier tertiary educational institution.

“We need more, and we deserve more,” the Vice Chancellor said during an appearance on the 94.1 FM Jumpstart Morning Show.

But though a public debate has erupted in recent days over the $4.1B allocated to the University of Guyana, with the Opposition lashing out at the Government for not investing more into the institution, the Vice Chancellor said a proper mix of financial support is needed. 

“The government, and I am not speaking about this government, I am speaking about any government, which has been hitherto now the largest investor in the university. But they are not the only entities that uptake UG’s graduates. More and more, private businesses, international businesses, uptake UG’s graduates. In fact, more now than before. And so, expecting one entity to fund the university, I think is not something we should be advancing. All of those who get value from the university should be investing in the university,” the Vice Chancellor said. 

Noting that the University would definitely need additional support this year, Professor Paloma Mohammed said discussions on added support for the University have already been initiated as the Government takes steps to make the University free.

However, she said while there is a move to make the university free, it is important that the quality of education offered at the institution remains high, as it strives to achieve a world class status. 

While setting the record straight on a number of misconceptions about the University, the Vice Chancellor said contrary to reports, the University has not been reduced to an online academic institution.

She explained that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University, like many other institutions locally and internationally, was forced to provide its services virtually during that period. 

“We have not converted ourselves into an online university. We had to go online, in order for students to be able to continue [their studies] during COVID. Otherwise, this country would have lost over 10,000 people in the workforce. That’s how many people we would have graduated during the COVID period,” the Vice Chancellor explained. 

According to Dr. Mohammed, the impact on the Labour Market while the country is experiencing a severe shortage of skilled and semi-skilled workers, would have been significant, if the University had failed to adapt to the status quo at the time. 

She admitted, however, that though the pandemic has ended, the University is still offering hybrid programmes, which allows students to attend classes in person or virtually. The Vice Chancellor noted that that flexibility has allowed for the country’s servicemen and first responders, and others in critical jobs, to attend classes virtually, even while they are deployed to other parts of the country.

Further, she clarified that the University of Guyana offers a number of accredited programmes. It was pointed out that the School of Medicine has been accredited since 2008, and is currently being re-evaluated, as is required every five years. The Vice Chancellor said the Faculty of Engineering and Technology as well as the Department of Law have also been accredited. 

Professor Mohammed reminded that the University of Guyana offers more than 155 disciplines, which were developed over its 60 years to existence, to meet the needs of existing and emerging sectors within the country.

UG currently has a student population of just over 11,000, with a staff of 2,000 persons.

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