WORKS are currently in progress to develop a linkage between the University of Central Lancashire in England and University of Guyana’s (UG) School of Earth and Environmental Sciences in the of Biodervisity and Conservation Management.

This was disclosed by Dr. Prem Misir, in a recent interview on Friday with the media in his capacity as a Professor in Public Health at the University Of Central Lancashire.
According to him, the university is heavily interested in forming the linkage with UG’s School of Earth and Environmental sciences, and since his appointment in September 2011, there have been discussions about setting up this linkage.
He revealed that those from the university who have been working on forming this linkage include the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, David Phoenix; Dean of the School of Built and Natural Environment; and Professor of physiology in the School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences, Professor Akintoyne.
He informed that the university is working under ‘Operation Wallacea’, which is a model that already exists in Europe, and will see a network of people of academics on both sides, coming together to provide enormous resources that will benefit both universities.
Dr. Misir pointed out that one of the things that can be established upon the forming of this linkage can be the setting up of a field station at UG, which will equip students with resource materials.
He also indicated that the School of Earth and Environmental sciences at UG already has linkages with other universities, and this new linkage between the two educational institutions could also see the exchange of faculties, and the possibility of gaining international funding for UG in those areas.
This, he said, is very useful, because UG students can have exposure at the university in England, and vice-versa, in the areas of Biodervisity and Conservation Management.
According to him, students can also benefit from the opportunity to collect data, gain for extra credits, participate in joint programmes, and enhance their curriculum vitae.
Dr. Misir pointed out that any course that has a universal linkage will boost the status of that course, adding that Guyana is very rich with biodervisity resources, and this linkage can also enhance the status of its biodiversity course.