A FIVE-YEAR Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was, yesterday, signed here between the University of Guyana (UG) and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in the United Kingdom, signaling the initiation of a sustainable collaboration between the two academic institutions.

The four areas of the agreement between the two institutions will facilitate the setting up of a joint centre for sustainability and innovation, staff development, an international conference on environment, sustainability and innovation, as well as staff and student exchanges.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, which took place in the Education Lecture Theatre at UG’s Turkeyen Campus, UG Pro-Chancellor Dr. Prem Misir said that the relationship between the two universities is a sustainable landmark development for not only UG, but also for Guyana.
Pointing out that it has been in the making for about two years, Dr. Misir noted that after ongoing discussions and groundbreaking deliberations between the two institutions, he was delighted to see the conservation of those deliberations through the signing of the MOU.
He said UG deserves to be a part of this collaboration, and in his nine years of holding the post of Pro-Chancellor of UG, he has never seen something so substantive taking place.
According to him, during the ongoing discussions and deliberations, parties from both universities have been very willing and enthusiastic about the collaboration, and he thanked them for this.

BIODIVERSITY and FORENSICS
Dr. Misir stated that the area of biodiversity and forensics needs to be more fully explored in Guyana, and making reference to student exchanges, he said that this will bring tremendous amount of colour and quality to UG.
Also speaking before the signing of the MOU, Vice- Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Jacob Opadeyi said the event is an important one in the life of UG and the university welcomes this.
“I would say that we are very privileged to be in this position because we have some meaningful plans which we can put in place and within the next five years we hope that we can see the fruit of this labour,” he stated.
Pointing out that the journey began several months ago, he said that because of the discussions and deliberations between the two universities, they are now in the position to have a document (MOU) to guide their collaboration.
Meanwhile, addressing the audience at the signing ceremony, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire, Professor Dave Phoenix said that the deliberations and discussions between the two institutions had been a very pleasant experience.
He praised the enthusiasm of the University of Guyana staff who were very hospitable towards his team as they discussed the collaboration, which presents a range of exciting opportunities for both universities.
According to him, they expect to have the first set of students from the United Kingdom visit the University of Guyana on study tours in the first half of 2014.

POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH
Also speaking at the signing ceremony, Professor of Physiology at UCLan, Dr. Jaipaul Singh pointed out that postgraduate research training has not been done at the University of Guyana, and the reason behind the formation of the linkage between the two universities is to allow this to be done.
According to him, UCLan  has the resources and the main reason for the collaboration is to allow students who cannot afford to go abroad to study to be able to do so right here in Guyana.
Dr. Singh added that he hopes that once they have this agreement, after a few years the University of Guyana will be able to set up its own graduate school so that persons don’t have to sacrifice to go abroad.
He commended the work of Vice-Chancellor Professor Jacob Opadeyi whom he said has been doing a great job in that post, and encouraged his UG counterparts to give him their support.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire, Professor Dave Phoenix presented Opadeyi with a gift on the occasion of the official establishment of the linkage between the two universities.
Also present at the signing ceremony were the deans of the various faculties of the University of Guyana, and visiting officials from the University of Central Lancashire.