The University of Guyana has always been a major concern of the public and this is seen at the times of the Common Entrance and CXC Examinations when parents are in great anxiety and worry that their children may not achieve good grades. Parents would desire their children to achieve good grades so that they could adequately satisfy the entry requirements of the University of Guyana (UG).

Despite this widespread desire to attend and study at the UG, the Institution has been in a state of decline over the last several years and has suffered widespread criticism. Such criticism has been directed not only to the Institution but to the graduates who are often described by employers as not being able to write a sentence in proper English. It seemed that nothing could be done to change or improve this state of affairs and it appeared that the University was destined to remain in the doldrums of decline for the forseeable future.
There however seems to be a characteristic of Guyana that when it is thought that all is lost, there very often is an unexpected bounce back into success. And the UG over the last few months has unexpectedly embarked upon a course of Renewal.
At the beginning of the year, Professor Nigel Harris took up the post as Chancellor and Mr Nigel Gravesande was appointed Registrar. These are able, qualified and experienced Guyanese and they started on the work of rebuilding. In February, the Transformational Taskforce which had been appointed under their leadership began serious deliberations. The Taskforce’s membership consisted of several talented and able persons such as General Joe Singh. The cloud of pessimism which had enveloped the Institution began to dissipate.
To complete this team and greatly reinforce it, Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith was appointed Vice-Chancellor, in effect Principal and Chief Executive Officer of the University. Prof Griffith began his academic career as a student of UG. As a UG graduate, he entered American Academia earning its highest academic qualifications and continued his very notable and distinguished career in the strictly academic and also administrative fields. Unlike most distinguished Guyanese who had achieved honours and recognition in the Developed World, Prof. Griffith returned to Guyana to give back to the country of his birth.
Though Prof Griffith has taken up the office of Vice-Chancellor only just about a month ago, his leadership, creativity and energy have already began to impact on the Society and the University.
An example of this is his first meeting with the public at the launching of the “Turkeyen Talks” series which was held at Duke Lodge to address the very topical issue of Britain leaving the European Community. Prof Griffith impressively moderated the evening’s proceedings where the distinguished panel consisting of Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, British High Commissioner Greg Quinn, CARICOM Ambassador Colin Granderson, Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Containers and Chair of GoInvest Patricia Bacchus and economist Dr Thomas Singh, presented.
The occasion was a great success and heralded the new extramural impact the University would be offering the Society. Prof Griffith’s leadership seems to have already started to inspire the staff for the University people who organized the occasion did so with enthusiasm and these included Public Relations Officer Paulette Paul, who welcomed the attendees in a gracious and personal way, Dr Paloma Mohamed who did the difficult, comprehensive backroom organization and Dr Thomas Singh, who was an intellectual live-wire.
Prof Griffith, in the very few weeks he has been in office, has adumbrated some of the elements of the programme he has in mind to bring about the Renaissance. He will be making full use of Information Technology in the various aspects of University activity.
This will not only bring UG into the modern academic world but would also result in greater economies and efficiency. He intends raising the standard and quality of the education offered at UG; to better the welfare of both students and staff; to improve infrastructural conditions; to encourage research and publications; to introduce a new faculty offering Petroleum Technologies; to strengthen the link between the alumni and the University since the alumni is a valuable resource; to address the financial state of the University; and to assert the independence of the University.
Guyana and the University are lucky at this time to have such a team administering the University. It is a team informed with and committed to constructive policies and capable of executing them.
Students, staff, government, political parties, NGO’s and the public at large need to give them full support to achieve the success we all desire. Such support requires some sacrifice and above all, the exorcising of the pessimism and negativity which have so deeply infected the Guyanese psyche and society resulting in failure or inability to begin any constructive activity.
The Renaissance of the University could be the catalyst for revival of the country.