Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon yesterday revealed the names of the four persons shortlisted for the post of University of Guyana Vice-Chancellor, noting that a choice would be made after the interview process which is to be concluded by month end.
The four candidates are Guyanese-born Professor Rory Fraser, Dr. Jaipaul Singh and Dr. Muniram Boodhoo along with Nigerian-born professor Jacob Opadeyi who is employed at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad.
While addressing reporters at a post-cabinet press briefing, the only information Dr Luncheon could provide on the other three candidates was that they are all Guyanese nationals and “overseas tenured academics”.
It is unclear why the names were revealed by Dr Luncheon and not the University of Guyana or its council.
He said that the four would be individually interviewed and will undergo evaluation by the council’s body appointed to do such a task. He noted that the interview process should be concluded by the end of November 2012 and an appointment should be announced shortly thereafter.
According to an advertisement in yesterday’s Stabroek News, Opadeyi will deliver a lecture entitled ‘Managing our land, Managing our future’ at 5 pm on November 22 at the Education Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Campus.
Opadeyi who is a naturalized citizen of Trinidad and Tobago is a Professor of Geomatics Engineering and Land Management. He is the Deputy Dean, Enterprise Development and Outreach, Faculty of Engineering at the University of the West Indies.
As part of a novel process for the selecting of the new Vice-Chancellor, each of the four nominees will be delivering a lecture.
Fraser is currently Professor of Forest Economics and Policy at Alabama A & M University.
He is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick, Canada, and Pennsylvania State University and has spent 34 of the last 38 years in the UK, Canada, Jamaica, and the USA either attending or teaching at universities and working in forestry related fields. Since September 2009 he has worked on a number of projects related to the University of Guyana.
According to his biodata posted on the University of Central Lancashire website, Dr Singh gained a BSc (Major Biology and Minor Chemistry) degree from the University of Guyana in 1971. In September, 1970 he started the Postgraduate Diploma in Science Education and Management and was awarded with the Dip Ed in 1972 from the University of Guyana.
In 1974 he joined the University of St Andrews in Scotland where he did his PhD on a thesis entitled ‘Evidence for the involvement of intracellular cyclic nucleotides in the control of myocardial contractility’. He joined Preston Polytechnic (now University of Central Lancashire) in 1984. He gained professorship in 1993.
According to a press statement issued last week by the UG Public Relations Department, the candidates are expected in the country for the assessment of their candidature for the position, which it dubbed the most elaborate and transparent process that the university, in its history of 49 years, has ever undertaken in the selection of any of its officers.
A formal interview session will be conducted by a five-member panel, comprising members of the Council of the University, inclusive of representatives of the Education Ministry, the major political parties, the academic community and the Students’ Society.
In addition, each candidate is expected to have an interactive meeting with the joint University Council and Academic Board of the institution.
Meetings will also be held with the Berbice campus community and the Executive of the UG Students’ Society. At these sessions, each candidate is expected to give a short presentation to make a case for their appointment as Vice-Chancellor, the release stated.
Each candidate will also have to give a public lecture on a topic of his choice. The lectures are now scheduled for Thursday, November 22, Monday, November 26, Tuesday, November 27, and Thursday, November 29, at the Education Lecture Theatre, at the Turkeyen Campus.
It is anticipated that the university will be announcing the appointment of its new Vice-Chancellor in time for the commencement of the Second Semester, which begins on January 28, 2013.
