Guyana should seek to have its own professors in the area of export production – UG vice chancellor

University of Guyana Vice Chancellor Dr Jacob Opadeyi said the time has come for Guyana to have its own professors in areas of export production in which it specialises. He noted that although Guyana is known as the food basket of the Caribbean and produces the best rum in the world utilising practical expertise, persons are lacking the theoretical and academic qualifications.

Dr Opadeyi pointed out that Guyana is noted for its rice, rum and sugar production and yet has no qualified professor of agricultural economics or professors of rum and rice production. Speaking at a recent press conference, the vice chancellor said that he hopes to approach the private sector in order to set up endowment professorial chairs in this regard.
“It’s a shame that Guyana has these really good export products, but no one has the qualifications at the PhD level who can come up with better varieties of rice. If the private sector can sponsor this, we can have PhD programmes and countries can send their experts to be trained here,” Dr Opadeyi stressed.
The vice chancellor also suggested the establishment of a rum-tasting facility on the campus so that persons can have samples and develop variations.
He stated that the academic offerings of the university must be integral to the entire thrust of national development.
Dr Opadeyi also plans to approach the private sector for prospective professorial chairs in the areas of entrepreneurship and low carbon initiatives.
“It’s an opportunity for the current academic staff to get their PhDs and also have collaborative research,” the vice chancellor said. He mentioned that the university will soon begin giving credits for community service irrespective of students’ areas of discipline.
“A student who loves to sing can volunteer to go to a church and teach the congregation a new song or prepare them for Christmas carols or plant trees or whatever they like to do. They can teach people to swim in their spare time.”
Community spirit
Dr Opadeyi said this initiative is geared at inculcating a passion for community spirit and volunteerism.
“They can tell us the idea and we will review it and once it is completed, then we give them the credit for it,” he revealed.
The vice chancellor also plans to host open lecture series where notable international and local figures could speak on issues of concern.
He has proposed several idea forums where students can discuss subjects affecting their everyday life, such as traffic congestion.
The university’s administration will also host an annual market place where graduates who are job seeking can meet with potential employers of firms and find out about the employment opportunities available to them.
Dr Opadeyi also has plans to increase enrolment by marketing the university to nationals in all Caribbean territories.