By Ariana Gordon
THE challenges facing the University of Guyana (UG) must be addressed decisively as a nation. This is the view of Chancellor of the institution Professor Eon Nigel Harris, who in an address to the Graduating class of 2015 said the university’s council approved on Friday the creation of a Transformation Task force’ aimed at working with all stakeholders to devise a credible plan to address some of the “chronic governance and resource problems we face.”
UG he said is not solely a government responsibility nor UG management and staff responsibility, but “it is a national responsibility and it is critical that all sectors of our nation re- engage more to carry this institution to the next level for our sake and for the sake of generations to come.”
Some 1, 508 students graduated from the faculties of Agriculture and Forestry, Education and Humanities, Health Sciences, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Technology and the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
“While the good news is that a university education may be a clear advantage to you, a degree by itself will certainly not be the sole determinant of your personal advancement.
“I believe that there are three essential ingredients necessary for advancement in whatever field one has chosen: they are initiative, passion, and persistence,” he told the graduating class.
“It is true that initiative alone may not be enough. One does need some intellectual ability and common- sense, but all other things being equal, it is often those who are prepared to go the extra mile at whatever they do will prevail.”
Grades he noted may be important in “landing you your first job, but they will probably not be enough to land your second or third job.”
The Chancellor noted that the university is not in a position to prepare each student for every job available on the market, especially with today’s rapidly developing world. “The nature of jobs will change many times in the course of a lifetime,” he added.
“Initiative expects that you are continually looking to improve the service or the products or systems your organisation is providing. Confining yourself only to the 9 to 5 job, where you restrict yourself only to work given neither helps you nor the organisation employing you.”
Government departments and businesses in the Caribbean often find an absence of sufficient desire among employees and their managers to “engineer improvement and change,” Professor Harris said.
“We live in a world that is galloping along with new technologies, niftier ways of getting tasks accomplished more efficient means of collecting and analysing data.
“Yet, so many in our space seem content with the status quo.
“I believe that we need a culture- one in which we actively seek to solve problem , to make processes easier, to seek customers who will select our organisation, our country, our Region over the rest.”
Professor Harris stressed that it is imperative that one uses initiative. “Initiative involves thinking outside of the box, being bold, taking calculated risks to undertake new ventures. It is equally important to develop a passion with respect to “developing an enthusiasm for what one is doing.
“Everything in life may not be ideal, but the ability to develop a consuming interest in whatever one does is an important factor in doing a job well.” Persistence he noted is needed to see projects through. It is an important ingredient to success.
The former Vice- Chancellor University of the West indies (UWI) said it is not an easy task to predict how one’s like can evolve, but “I urge you not to limit yourselves the jobs assigned to you, but strive to identify new ways to make better whatever organisations of which you will become a part, go beyond the routine day- to- day drudge of an assigned job, be bold and daring, be passionate and persistent and in this way, you will fulfil the promise and hard work that brought you to this point today. Go out there and make a difference. ”
Professor Harris commended Vice- Chancellor (VC) Professor Jacob OPadeyi who will demit office in a few months. “I have been chancellor for just about two months, and I believe that VC Opadeyi has gone to great personal lengths to promote the growth and standards of the university. ”
The chancellor outlined some of the achievements by the vice- chancellor. “Among his achievements have been enhancement of the financial accounting and management systems of the university; reduction of the university’s deficit by negotiating additional government funding; facilitating the promotion of a number of faculty members while working to ensure that a greater percentage of academic staff has higher degrees; he has played a major role in managing the WE UG Technology support project, which I hope will help transform science, technology and engineering education at UG.”
He alluded to the fact that the vice- chancellor’s tour of duty has not been without challenges.
“Inevitably, issues of an under-funded institution, non-competitive staff salaries, gaps in capacity to undertake some teaching and research programmes, inadequate infrastructure, and differing views about how best to address these issues create difficulties for both managers and staff. On behalf of the UG, let me say thanks again to professor Opadeyi for his efforts to improve this vitally important institution and wish him well in the future. ”
Graduates were also urged to become familiar with the history of the university, so as to gain a better appreciation for the need to remain engaged as Alumni, mentors, adjunct lecturers, advocates and donors of scholarships.
This year’s convocation ceremony marked the graduation of the first batch of students with the Master of Science in environmental management, the post- graduate diploma in anaesthesia and intensive care and certificate in industrial engineering.
Eight persons received open prizes and awards for their outstanding performances: The President’s Medal for the best graduating Bachelor’s Degree student was received by Sachin Ramsuran of the Faculty of Technology; the Chancellor’s Medal was awarded to the second best graduating Bachelor’s Degree Student Ashley Bankay of the Faculty of Social Sciences; Tiffana Ross, a student of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry received the Council of the University’s Prize for the graduating student who attained at least a ‘Pass with Credit’ and has made the greatest contribution in other areas of university activities. Ajay Persaud received The University of Guyana Student’s Society (UGSS) Award for attaining at least a ‘Pass with Credit’ (apart from the Winner of the Council’s Prize) and has made the greatest contribution in other areas of university activities.
The K.A. Juman-Yassin Sport Award for consistently high standard in sports went to Stephon Josiah, while Saraswattie Bharrat was awarded the Dennis Irvine Award for making the greatest contribution to the cultural life of the university.
The Dr. Harold Drayton Alumni Award of the University of Guyana Guild of Graduates, Ontario, for the graduating student who has achieved the highest grade point average in one of the three faculties: Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and the School of Education and Humanities and has demonstrated leadership through practical involvement in community and / or social services irrespective of sex, race, religion, creed or political persuasion was awarded to Tristana Gouveia.
Meanwhile, Mark Bastian received the Dr. Allan Earp Award for receiving a Master’s Degree and who has the highest grade point average among the students entering the Faculties of Natural Sciences, Social Sciences or School of Education and Humanities.
There were no nominees for the James Punwasee Memorial Award for the best three final- year projects selected from the Environmental Studies Unit, Division of Mining, Department of Geography and any other project which could advance the development of the mining sector.
The university’s Berbice campus graduation is scheduled for Saturday, November 21.