IN an effort to encourage persons to attend the University of Guyana (UG), Chancellor, Professor Edward Greene, said that Guyana’s premier tertiary institution would “give them an experience of a lifetime.”

Professor Greene made the remarks during the opening of UG’s career-day fair on Friday, which was done virtually. The fair is being held under the theme, ‘Discover Your Potential: Beyond Limitations’. It seeks to provide all the necessary career, application and registration guidance and support to prospective students.

Thousands of prospective students, both locally and internationally, got the opportunity to learn about the 140 programmes across 50 disciplines which are being offered by the university.
Chancellor Greene acknowledged the resilience of the 58-year-old institution, stating that the university has shown that great innovation can be birthed out of challenging circumstances, noting those challenges imposed on the university with the advent of the COVID-19 virus and how those challenges were used to better the university.

“Here at UG, you will be exposed to an environment where the academic staff are engaged in cutting edge research. Where increasingly their research results are being recognised internationally. Where, increasingly, our faculty collaborates in studies that provide an understanding of the various levels of national, regional, and international developments.

Where there is a continuous flow of seminars and workshops on topical issues. Where there is an active student association and continuous student engagement. Where there is an emphasis on fostering debates, sporting talent, even in religious and political activities – all of which make student life so enjoyable – it gives you an experience of a lifetime,” Greene expressed, according to a press release from the institution.

Meanwhile, UG’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, reminded that university education is attainable to anyone, as she urged persons to take up the opportunity of pursuing their dreams.

According to the release, she further reminded the students of the affordability of the institution, pointing out the affordable packages that are available to students.

“Even if you’ve never thought about attending the university before, I am here to tell you, yes, you can, even if there has been no one in your life or your family who has graduated from university before, you can be the first. Even if there’s a small place inside of you that is doubtful and you feel as if you couldn’t cope, I’m here to tell you, you could go fast, or go slow, but yes you can. Even if you feel that you can’t afford it or it’s going to be too difficult for you, we have affordable prices, affordable packages just for you,” said Professor Martin.

At the fair, the university launched 12 new programmes which will commence in the new academic year. It was noted that three of the programmes: BSc. in Sustainable Tourism Management, MSc. in Supply Chain Management & Procurement and MSc. in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management, were launched under UG’s School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI).

According to UG, these programmes were launched in recognition of the skills gap between the public and private sectors in the areas of supply chain management and procurement as well as the gap in the national framework of Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management.

The additional six programmes are: BSc. Computing, Information Technology and Business, Diploma in Crime and Criminology, Pre-University English Reading Skills, Pre-University English Writing Skills, Small Business Management, and Business Plan Preparation and Writing, are being offered under UG’s Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE).

Meanwhile, the newly-established Institute of Energy Diplomacy has announced a suite of executive-level professional courses, some of which have already begun. These courses are being taught by leading international academics and experts from universities around the world with long track records in training for the energy sector, the release said.

The Centre for Communication Studies (CCS) has also launched three new Masters in Communication Studies in Strategic Communication, Social Change Communication and Visual Communication.