THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) has opted for the University of Guyana to be “depoliticized”, but has said its members are optimistic of working with the new Government in realising senior Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine’s dream of transforming the University of Guyana into a world class institution.
Dr Roopnaraine had, in a recent interview with this publication, opined that the private sector should play a huge role in helping the University to function as a world class institution. The PSC had vowed to help rehabilitate the University in various ways in the past, but not much has been realised.
In this regard, Chairman of the PSC, Ramesh Persaud, has said the Commission is looking forward to working with the new Government in upgrading the University, and would contribute to the needs of the University, especially in the area of curriculum development.
In furtherance of this pursuit, Persaud has expressed a condition: “We believe that the institution needs to be depoliticized and be more market driven for it to be more effective.” He added: “If this is done, more private sector support can be garnered.”
The private sector in Guyana and the PSC have always been in support of the University of Guyana, and have several representatives on the various boards of the University. They have done much to support the University financially, but the pervasive opinion among their members is that much more can be done.
World class institutions around the world are being funded heavily by the private sector, and those private sector bodies benefit by receiving quality graduates from those universities.
Dr Roopnaraine has said that many private entities have complained about the low quality of graduates coming out of the University, and those complaining have said they are consequently reluctant to employ any of those graduates.
Persaud admits that many persons in the business community believe that the University is not producing graduates that are well suited to the needs of their businesses. They think the skills those graduates bring to the table are inadequate for what businesses are demanding. Persaud posited also that students need to be more conscious of the market needs when they are opting for careers; and the University needs to be more than just the “producer of students with degrees and diplomas”, but become a generator of new knowledge, information, and innovations suitable to growing and developing businesses in Guyana and globally.
The private sector, Persaud said, would then be more “forthcoming” once these propositions are realised by the University’s faculties and its students.
Having great desire to help realise Dr. Roopnaraine’s vision of transitioning Guyana’s premier tertiary institution into a world class player, Persaud said this can be achieved only by an overhaul of the governance structure, administration and curricula, and there being less focus on politics.
On the other hand, Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, has said that the University would gladly accept further support from the private sector.
By Shivanie Sugrim
