UG, Lancashire University sign cooperation pact

By Sabatini Daniels –

As part of efforts to further strengthen and formalise collaboration between the University of Guyana (UG) and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Tuesday, with the aim of undertaking several new initiatives.

The pact will see more opportunities for students of both universities, as well as UG staff. The memorandum was signed at UG’s Education Lecture Theatre by UG Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi and UCLan Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Dave Phoenix. It covers four key areas: a new UG/ UCLan Centre for Biodiversity and Environment, a Climate Change International Conference in Guyana, staff development, and student exchange programmes.
Innovative model
The centre is anticipated to serve as a sustainable and innovative model that will ensure future generations retain natural resources and benefit from them. The third International Conference on Social, Political and Technological Dimensions of Climate Change is expected to be held in September 2014 or 2015, and will draw many delegates to Guyana from around the world.
The staff development programme will see UG staff being further educated at UCLan while lending their services to the university, so that when they return they will be highly qualified. The student exchange programme will see students from UG and UCLan travelling to the partner university to study and enhance their international experience.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Opadeyi said the Memorandum of Understanding will provide an outline that will guide the partnership which commenced several months ago. He expressed pleasure at the signing, adding that noteworthy plans have already been identified that should bear fruit within the next five years.
Landmark development
UG Pro Chancellor, Dr Prem Misir said he believes that the partnership between the two universities will be a “sustainable landmark development” for Guyana.
UCLan Dean, Dr Akintola Akintoye stated that the initiative is important for the development of both universities and countries as well.
“We have had a lot of deliberations in the last few months… we have been looking forward to this opportunity to come in here and meet with our colleagues and to come with concrete agreements… in terms what we want to achieve and the kind of road map in the way that we are going to go about that.”
The person responsible for the key venture and one of the greatest benefactors of UG, UCLan Professor Dr Jaipaul Singh underscored that although he left his homeland 40 years ago, his heart has always been in Guyana.
“I’ve always wanted to do something, especially when I come back and see young kids who want really good education.”
Dr Singh disclosed that he desires to see solid post graduate research training in Guyana, noting that the resources are available in the country to do so.
“So some of the kids who cannot afford to go abroad why not bring the education and collaborators to help and that’s the main reason.”
He said in light of the agreement, he hopes that after a few years, Guyana will set up its own graduate school, so Guyanese will not have to spend excessive money to go abroad, but will be able to do their post-graduate studies in their own country.