By Ravin Singh

ESTABLISHED with a mandate to build the image and reputation of the University of Guyana (UG), the school’s Transformational Task Force is expected to commence deliberations today on the way forward. Over the last few decades, the university has been forced to grapple with the negative effects, which confronted the institution due to internal and external shocks.
In 2014, UG was forced to increase tuition fees across faculties while pegging facility fees to $50,000 – an increase of $45,000 – to cushion the effects which were impending.
And although this had materialised amid temporary resistance from students, complaints continued to mount, regarding little to no improvement at the university.
Chancellor of the university, Professor Nigel Harris who was appointed last year, with the support of the administrative staff and the University Council established a Transformational Taskforce to remedy these challenges still existing at UG.
At his maiden press conference on Thursday in the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT), Professor Harris explained that UG has faithfully served the people of Guyana for more than 50 years, aiding in development at all levels and in every sector of society.
“Over the years, the university has provided and educated large numbers of Guyanese who play an important role within all sectors of the Guyanese society,” he said.

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However, he acknowledged that it has been recognised that the university needs to do more if it is to achieve all that is necessary to contribute to growth and development of Guyana.

But in order to contribute to Guyana being a competitive country in the region and the world, Professor Harris posited that it is important to pause and understand what some of the major issues at the university are.
As such, a method to construct a transformational taskforce was employed. In this body, representatives are drawn from the students’ society, academic and non-academic staff, all sectors of society, the diaspora and international bodies.
This taskforce, he said, will address a number of chronic challenges which include, but are not limited to staff remuneration, governance of the university, infrastructural and academic support, Information and Communication Technology (ITC), matters of morale, matters of qualification of academic and non-academic staff, and lack of opportunities for staff development.
And noting that some of these issues have been recognised and spoken about in the last few decades, the Chancellor explained that the many studies done in the past and recommendations made were not implemented.
And while a re-attempt is being made to combat these challenges, Professor Harris underscored the role of the private sector in aiding in this transformational phase.
According to him, a university in any society is key in determining the competitiveness of that society. And products of a university, that is, its graduates, are more often than not channelled into the private sector.
Having continuously benefitted in this regard, the Chancellor stressed that the private sector should be playing a more integral role in supporting the development of the institution.