FOLLOWING a two-week delay of its originally scheduled opening, the University of Guyana (UG) last Friday officially welcomed new and continuing students for the academic year 2012/2013 and classes are set to begin today.

Registrar of the university, Mr. Vincent Alexander, who delivered the opening remarks at the ceremony, cautioned new students of the transition they are about to embark upon, now that they are beginning university life. He noted that, especially for students who are just out of high school, they will now have to learn to be more responsible for themselves since the systems at the university are different from those at the secondary level.
“That taking responsibility is not restricted to your studies. It involves all of what you do, as persons and as students,” he said.
An important aspect of university life, Alexander highlighted to the new students, is that they are expected to “read” for their degrees. He noted that in secondary schools most students rely solely on notes given by teachers. However, he warned that much more effort would now be required.
He further went on to state that the University is all about knowledge, “The university is supposed to be the factory of knowledge, a place where knowledge is produced. And so, what you have come to is a place where you should be involved in the production of knowledge and in learning how to produce knowledge.”
The Registrar also impressed upon the students that the university prepares you for life, not only for jobs but other aspects of life as well.
He also explained that UG is not only about academia and that it affords students an opportunity to be well rounded through their involvement in extracurricular activities such as sports, drama and various religious societies.
Current President of the University of Guyana Students Society (UGSS), Duane Edwards also took the opportunity to welcome students to the first semester of the 2012/2013 academic year, stating that he hopes their time at the university is “socially memorable and academically fulfilling.”
He promised that the UGSS will continue to work in collaboration with the administration of the university to create an enabling and conducive learning environment.
Edwards noted that the opening ceremony was an auspicious occasion and that entering the university is as important as leaving it. Education in general, he said, is a privilege, and higher education is a higher privilege.
He stated that it’s important for students to realise that their education is not only a tool to be used for personal achievements and aggrandizement but more importantly, a medium through which they can fulfill their larger social responsibilities.
Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr. Marlene Cox revealed that UG will soon be celebrating its 50th anniversary, having been established on April 23, 1963. She said that there will be various activities during the academic year to mark this occasion.
In addition, she stated that during this academic year, UG will benefit from changes to the regulatory structure, systems and operations and also the rehabilitation of the science and other facilities at the Turkeyen Campus, all made possible through funding from the Caribbean Development Bank and the World Bank.
These projects, she said, are intended to upgrade the entire university operation so that they can deliver quality higher education and respond better to the needs of our country.
In addition to the remarks by various faculty members, the audience was also entertained by cultural performances from both past and present students of the university. Also, on the university tarmac various booths were set up by the different clubs and societies of the university which new students can now be a part of.
Classes across the entire Turkeyen and Tain campuses are scheduled to begin today, September 10th. Individual faculties will be hosting orientations for new students throughout the first week of the semester.