By Svetlana Marshall

A VIBRANT alliance with good financial backing is needed to transform the University of Guyana, Professor Eon Nigel Harris said minutes after he was installed as the Ninth Chancellor of the University yesterday.Notwithstanding the negative narratives written about Guyana, he said the country must push to create a vibrant education system that is driven primarily by a vibrant university, which will continue to produce a plethora of professionals that can fulfill that dream of a Guyana that leaps far beyond being the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

“That leap can only occur if university academics and administrators, representatives of the private sector, leaders of government, civil society and academics in the diaspora join to create a vibrant alliance to transform the University of Guyana,” Professor Harris said during his inaugural speech.

According to him, baby steps have been taken to kick start the process, explaining that in February the University Council convened a Transformation Task Force (TTF) charged with reviewing the status of the tertiary institution.

In addition to the task force meeting with a wide cross section of specialists, President David Granger, who was present at the installation ceremony along with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and other Ministers of Government and Dignitaries, met with Professor Niles to discuss the transformation effort.

Governance, financing, quality assurance, student experience, research, and problems with infrastructure and maintenance were among the challenges highlighted by the President.

Like the President, the task force underscored the importance of placing emphasis on governance and finance and resource mobilization in addition to quality assurance and student services.

“The task force recognized the urgent need for a major change in the governance of the university, if it is to progress and recommended a re-writing of the University Act and Statutes,” he explained.

According to the Chancellor, these changes are intended to create a more independent council, with clearly articulated responsibilities for policy formation, oversight of planning and finances. The affairs of the University, he posited, are the responsibility of the university’s leadership and staff.

“The task force also called for a comprehensive operational manual, which outlines proper procedures of all aspects of the university’s operations,” he added, while noting that the institution is moving swiftly to implement these recommendations, hopefully with a grant from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

Resource mobilization to finance the enterprise was also recognized as critically important with the task force recommending an increase in government’s subvention.

Notably, he said, the funds provided for in this year’s budget are being used primarily to improve the abysmal compensation of university staff.

But the task forced in its recommendation acknowledged that the institution cannot rely solely on the Government. “…with the best will in the world, government subventions alone cannot enable the transformation UG requires,” he posited.

As such, it is recommending a moderate increase in tuition fees to ensure that students who cannot afford to pay have access to loans with a solid system in place to collect re-payment of those loans.

“Other recommendations, including a contribution to tertiary education from the Lottery and like funds; creation of an Education Levy; enhancement of corporate philanthropy; building relations with alumni, that among other things must include enhanced alumni giving; partnerships with other universities to access major funding opportunities from international donor agencies; a contribution of US$1.00 for incoming and outgoing passengers at all ports of entry; and grants or government-guaranteed loans from various development banks,” he added.

Professor Harris emphasised that urgent and aggressive measures must be taken to implement the recommendations. But said without appropriate financing the university cannot achieve the transformation necessary to meet the needs of the rapidly evolving world.

In offering congratulatory remarks, Prime Minister Nagamootoo hailed Professor Harris as a son of the soil. Like Professor Harris, the Prime Minister said he is looking forward to the transformation of the university into a world class institution.

Describing him as one of Guyana’s distinguished sons, Professor Clement Sankat, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, said Professor Harris made tremendous contribution to the development of tertiary education in the Caribbean as a scholar, researcher, administrator and a true university leader.

Placing on recording the contributions made to UWI, Professor Sankat pointed out that Professor Harris “saw the unprecedented growth of enrollment at the University of the West Indies from 29,000 students to 50, 000 students serving all 17 countries of the university’s flock.”

According to Professor Sankat, the Chancellor also enhanced UWI’s global visibility and had also placed major emphasis on accreditation. “He insisted as Vice Chancellor on one thing we must always maintain, i.e. a rigorous attention to quality and under his leadership, the accreditation of all our four campuses…were accredited.”

Professor Violet Barriteau, Pro Vice-`Chancellor and Principal , University of the West Indies, Cave Hill and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana Bibi Shadick were among those who offered congratulatory remarks to the Professor Harris on his appointment.

Professor Harris recently demitted office as Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, a position he held from October 1, 2004 to April 30, 2015.