VICE-CHAIRMAN of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Mr. Ramesh Dookhoo said, Monday, his organisation has renewed confidence in the University of Guyana (UG).

His invited comment followed calls for the Private Sector to contribute towards the improvement of output from the tertiary institution.

The Registrar, Mr. Vincent Alexander, posited that the Private Sector has a vested interest in UG, because its graduates end up in its employ.

According to him, the support being called for is in the form of materials, equipment and finances, as well as the provision of opportunities for UG students to be attached to Private Sector organisations.

Asked what guarantee the Private Sector would have that its investment would see returns, Alexander said the latter could facilitate contracts from which both sides benefit.

He acknowledged that many graduates are leaving Guyana but did not have the related statistics although he maintained that the Private Sector can assist in alleviating the brain drain.

In that context, Dookhoo said this country is poised to take off economically and, over time, employers will be able to offer attractive salaries to UG graduates.

He posited, however, that, in order for there to be improvements locally, UG graduates must also play their part and contribute.

Dookhoo welcomed the UG four-point strategic plan and said the PSC is fully supportive of it, as the organisation had some input.

He said the PSC will be working to ensure that other stakeholders buy into it.

“We are optimistic that the plan will work,” he said, “as long as we make sure that we have the best persons available.”

Dookhoo said the PSC endorsement should come from all stakeholders, including that of the present Administration, resulting in the opening of avenues for funding to aid the implementation.

He contended that, with cooperation from a cross-section of stakeholders, UG will be able to expand its capability and secure financing, also from other donors such as the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

Contributions
Dookhoo said, at some point, the PSC will invite its members and to hear what UG needs and seek to encourage contributions from individual companies.

Education Minister, Shaik Baksh, said such action by the PSC will be pro-active.

“The private sector must be assured of the quality of the graduates coming out of the University. UG has to earn that support and there needs to be a partnership with the Private Sector,” he agreed.

Baksh said partnerships like that are quintessential and he lauded the objectives of the new strategic plan.

He noted that a key element of it is ensuring quality of the graduates.

Baksh also commented on the migration of graduates and concurred that, as the economy develops, offers for them will improve, too.

He said the migration is not limited to Guyana which has a high rate among graduates but admitted that the Ministry is concerned about it and will make efforts to address it.

Baksh said, of particular concern is the relevance of UG programmes.

“We seem to be churning out a lot of people graduating from programmes that are not geared to meet the need of the country as a whole. This is where the strategic plan comes in,” he said.

Baksh said there must be a balance in the social science and science and technology programmes.

“While we are churning out a lot of graduates, we need to ensure that they are in fields that would assist in the achievement of the national development goals,” he asserted.

Still, Baksh declared that the ultimate success of UG programmes is dependent on partnerships, be it with the Private Sector other stakeholders, as all parties involved must work towards realising their collective goals.