VICE-CHANCELLOR of the University of Guyana, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, amidst the university’s 50th Anniversary, has outlined areas of advancement which the university will be undertaking during the course of this year. Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company and the University of Guyana, the VC observed that the University of Guyana is a “national institution,” which is not controlled by any political party.
The VC was keen to point out that the MoU will bring to fruition the establishment of Virtual Classrooms for which some 200 students, being enrolled as a first batch, would not have to come to Region 4 (Demerara-Mahaica) to access a tertiary education, but would instead be able to achieve a high-levelled tertiary education regardless of residency in Lethem or Sand Creek in Region 9 (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo).
He noted that the commission of Virtual Classrooms will see the reduction of the operational costs at the University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus, Greater Georgetown.
Comments by the Vice-Chancellor were made in regard to the GT&T provision of support to the technological thrusts of the institution in keeping with the advancements of the age of technology. The MoU will see the refurbishing of the Centre for Information Technology (CIT), for the first time, after sizeable donations were made to its construction in 2004 by GT&T.
Refurbishing works on the CIT structure will commence immediately, according to the Vice-Chancellor, which will see the Centre being commissioned by the new academic year 2014/2015.
He was adamant that the failure of the University of Guyana would ultimately result in the failure of Guyana, and charged Guyanese to be cognizant of the fact that the university is a national symbol owned by the Guyanese citizens.
He further commented that such an institution should reflect the growth and prosperity of the nation and its citizens, and insisted that citizens should question what possibilities exist for the development of the university instead of hankering on short-comings, which is counterproductive.
According to him, the role of the university is to assist the country to become competitive; he further expressed dismay in the enrolment at the university being at some 7,000 students. The VC declared that the enrolment at the university should be some 10,000 or even 25,000.
Nigerian-born Professor Jacob Opadeyi was appointed by the University of Guyana Council as Vice-Chancellor to the University of Guyana in June, 2013, immediately succeeding Professor Lawrence Carrington. He previously served at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus.

(By Derwayne Wills)