The UG-private sector combination

Dear Editor,
I am very upbeat about what the University of Guyana (UG) is touting these days. I think of more collaboration with other universities, openness and willingness to embrace the private sector, internal discipline where professionalism is concerned, and better facilities even as the present ones are being shored up. The campus at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara is large and a lot can be done.
Recently, the grounds men at UG uprooted a number of trees and they simply garbaged them all. I looked at one massive trunk and I said to myself where are our sculptors and whittlers. I walk down Main Street in Georgetown and I see unnoticed talent. UG has a Creative Arts Department, and I am thinking this is a lost opportunity.
In the George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT) there is a wooden masterpiece, but it is not even noticed. In fact, for many it is a humbug. Someone could have done some sculpting with that discarded tree trunk and enhance the environment at UG.
I know of a few entities that are thinking like this already. These groups sponsor students and have them work for them during their student tenure, but only when it is convenient. Upon graduation, these students go full blast for their sponsors. I am therefore urging more companies to think like this.
The other idea on my mind is that companies can group themselves, according to their needs, and then collaborate on setting up a programme or an entire department that can offer quality education in the specified areas. This will really get the university to expand and, at the same time, there will be great correlation locally, with training matching relevant needs.
I believe that the private sector can contribute to the advancement of the university in so many ways. All that it calls for are a few brainstorming exercises, and then, when an idea seams feasible, to go after it. It will call for hard work, but then, in the long run, the dividends will be great for everyone.
As Professor Opadeyi said, the collaboration means that the private companies simply provide resources that UG needs to offer the course. The course will be an approved programme of the university, the students will be enrolled because they are qualified and would have to write exams like everybody else, and then attend a graduation ceremony like everybody else.
The private sector can even suggest what UG can implement in terms of courses and programmes. After all, many companies have specific needs and I see no reason for them to shop overseas. If we do the foundational work now, in another four to five years, Guyana can have qualified personnel in any chosen field.
In closing, I remind interested persons that the competing schools for higher learning are quite diverse now. Many students are taking to offshore universities, distance education and online programmes. It means that UG must step up.
Yours respectfully,
Simon Barnwell