University of Guyana Chancellor Nigel Harris says sourcing financial support remains a critical question in any effort to sustained higher standards at the institution.
The Chancellor was speaking on Thursday at the opening of a three-day session intended to “reconstruct and reposition” the University to allow for the opportunity to achieve a “level of excellence necessary to propel the growth and development of Guyana.”
The university has been beset by financial constraints for decades, leading to an inability to pay staff competitively, a deterioration in standards and a decline in infrastructure and services.
Harris noted that a critical question is the financing of the university and he explained that nowhere in the world is a competitive university financed solely by the government through subventions or grants. That alone will not be sufficient to carry the functioning of the institution, he said, adding that it is necessary therefore for there to be larger involvement.
It may require “government making policy changes to enable access to funding or them having conversations with international agencies.” He stressed that the private sector, which benefits from the university, will be expected to play a role as will civil society and the diaspora.
“We must mobilise society in an endeavour to do something about the financing and to sustain that effort,” Harris said.
He also noted that a university must be wisely governed.
“A university cannot be politicised. It must be overseen by a broad council representative of the society in which it exists,” he said.
The three days of sessions represent the work of the university’s transformational task force (TTF). The 31 members of this team are expected during this time to discuss and draft plans to improve the institution.
The TTF includes the current UG council as well as representatives from the private sector, civil society and the regional and international community.
Representing the private sector/civil society are Dr Clarence Perry, Guyana Power and Light’s Human Resources Director Bal Parsaud, acting Chancellor Carl Singh and General Manager of Citizens Bank Sarah Parris.
The regional and international community is represented by academics Dr Maya Trotz, Ian Robertson, Colin Ramsay, Dr Wanda Chesney as well as Dr Idamay Denny of the Caribbean Development Bank.
On Thursday, the TTF began their deliberations by an examination of the role of the University in National Development and listening to the perspectives of members of the university’s community including representatives of the various unions and the student’s society.
