Georgetown: Government wants to invest billions over the years ahead while focusing on modernizing the University of Guyana to offer innovative and later online services which will compete with foreign universities elsewhere.
These sentiments were shared by President Donald Ramotar when he gave his first convocation address at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus Saturday evening.
Over 1,400 graduants were present at the 46th Convocation at the Turkeyen campus square where the graduates, relatives, university staffers, and friends gathered to be a part of the auspicious occasion.
Graduants from various faculties gathered to receive their degree, diploma, certificate programmes and oaths respectively.
Delivering his feature address at the ceremony President Ramotar said higher education provides opportunities for hope and reform.
“The University of Guyana must embrace hope and pursue reform as it commits itself to the provision of increase access to the attainment of quality higher education at low cost.”
He said the information communication technology has the possibility of revolutionizing the delivery of education. Technology can radically reduce the cost of education through distance learning.
“The days of talk and chalk are becoming redundant, and new technologies of learning are available. Students are now on the internet while classes are in session, and downloading information from electronic sources while in the classroom.”
He continued: “The University must examine this as a tool to reach out to students who for one reason or the other cannot be on campus, I am extremely heartened that over the past years the university has taken positive steps in improving its technological infrastructure since there is now online registration and other services now made available online.”
Adding that competition should not carry up the cost of education, the President said competition can be a good thing when it forces greater efficiencies and drives cost down, but in academia the exact reverse seems to be happening and that must be guarded against.
“Another challenge facing the university is improving the quality of remuneration of lecturers in a way that must be sustainable and to allow the university to attract the best personnel to enhance the standards.”
The President added that he will seek dialogue with stakeholders to improve the University.
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