THOSE of us who are still surviving and knew the University of Guyana from its beginnings and were associated with it from those early days feel deep, victorious satisfaction as we see the University grow from strength to strength.

In the early 1950s, Guyana’s political leadership felt the deep need to emancipate the country from colonialism. However, much of the population still held the ingrained assumption that the tertiary educational institutions of the colonial power, Britain, were so superior that it would be ludicrous for Guyana to attempt to initiate such institutions—even as an independent country. Many believed that Guyanese should continue to go abroad for higher education.

Dr. Cheddi Jagan, the most visionary political leader at the time, felt that Guyana had to embark on establishing its own University so that higher education would be accessible to all Guyanese, not just a tiny elite who could afford the cost of a British education. He was fully aware that the University of Guyana would not initially match the standards of Cambridge, Oxford, or even his own alma mater, Howard University, but he was confident that it would grow in quality over time. By founding a local university, all Guyanese youth would now have the opportunity to pursue higher education, and employers would have access to a trained workforce.

Despite strong opposition from a large segment of the population—including members of his own party—Dr. Jagan unflinchingly launched the University. Many critics predicted that it would soon fail. Since classes initially took place at Queen’s College after 5:00 p.m., with a mostly part-time teaching staff, the institution was mockingly called “Jagan’s Night School.”

However, the University persisted and eventually held its first graduation. It was later granted 100 acres of land at Turkeyen by Bookers for its campus. The Canadian government assisted in the construction of much-needed buildings, which were initially wooden structures, and the University began to expand. Over the past 60 years, several of its programmes have gained international recognition. Many of its graduates have been accepted into some of the world’s most prestigious universities to pursue higher degrees, and today, University of Guyana graduates hold prominent positions both locally and internationally.

Although the University’s impact on society and the respect its graduates earned worldwide were well-recognised, the institution itself had never been formally conferred with the recognition that other such institutions received. Educationists and academics understood the immense value of formal accreditation, as it would allow both the local and international public to fully appreciate the quality of the University and its vital contributions to society.

The accreditation journey
Recognising this, the National Accreditation Council, led by Dr. Mohandat Goolsaran and with Vice Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin and Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Emanuel Cummings serving as key members, embarked on the challenging task of accreditation.

To ensure a rigorous evaluation, five internationally renowned non-Guyanese evaluators were engaged to assess the University across multiple dimensions. They spent two weeks conducting an in-depth review of all aspects of the institution, emerging with a score of nearly 100%. A follow-up evaluation will be conducted in five years, but for now, the University of Guyana has secured its place as an accredited institution on the global stage.

The Benefits of Accreditation
The advantages of formal accreditation are numerous:
• Increased Funding and Resources: Accreditation attracts greater funding and opportunities for collaboration and partnerships with other universities and equivalent institutions.
• Enhanced Trust in Degrees: Students, faculty, employers, and the public can now have greater confidence in the University’s degrees.
• Stimulated Continuous Improvement: Accreditation encourages ongoing self-evaluation and improvement to maintain high standards.
• Seamless Credit Transfers: Students can more easily transfer their credits to international universities when pursuing further studies.
• Attracting and Retaining High-Calibre Faculty: Accredited universities draw in highly qualified faculty members, enriching teaching and research.

A University led by its own graduates
Another remarkable aspect of the University’s growth is that today, its leadership and staff are predominantly products of the institution itself. This speaks volumes about its capacity to nurture and develop world-class professionals.

A distinct feature of the accreditation process was the infusion of Guyanese cultural elements into traditional evaluation procedures. Vice Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin and Mr. Jainarine Deonauth, Director of Events, Conferences, and Communications, played integral roles in ensuring this process maintained a distinctly Guyanese identity.

Professor Mohamed-Martin’s deep empathy for both faculty and students, along with her active involvement in all aspects of University life, has positioned her as an exceptional leader. Her vision for transforming the University of Guyana into a truly international and world-class institution is steadily becoming a reality.