Newly-appointed VC confirms major development on way for UG

Newly-appointed University of Guyana (UG) Vice-Chancellor Dr. Paloma Mohamed-Martin, on Thursday, in a zoom interview with Guyana Times stated that there will be some key changes that are expected to roll out within the next academic year.

“We came up with a blueprint 2040 which is on draft right now, and what I will be doing is starting to drill down and work out how that blueprint will be implemented for the next three of five years; and then, after that, somebody will take up the mantle and take it to the next level…so we have a long-term strategic vision for the university”, the newly appointed VC stated.
Dr Mohamed-Martin underscored that the carefully drafted blueprint would trigger the transformation of the University. She explained that the institution will see major developments which include the strengthening of the institution’s financial systems, improvement in the Turkeyen campus’ sewage system, the training of staff and improvement of security for students, among other measures.
“We have four priority areas. The first has to do with sorting out our financial and accounting systems…we are hoping that by next year we would have transformed from paper-based systems, in which the systems are very slow, to a full financial office. The second phase is to deal with security…” she added.
Professor Mohamed-Martin added that the university is pursuing the course of being a science-driven institution, while noting that if that is the institution’s plan, it would need scholars with doctoral degrees. If this is to happen, the Vice-Chancellor revealed, salaries must also be increased.
The Professor explained that the staff that is already in the institution’s system will be balanced with imported staff. She confirmed that the institution has already begun to train 20 PhDs in the sciences, students who will be finished in the next three years.
During the discussion, Mohamed-Martin noted that the improvement of the university’s support system for students, along with the quality assurance for students, has spiralled downhill.
“We are going to put more energy into expanding students’ services, student care, as well as tracking them all the way and supporting them all through alumni and the first years of their alumni.”
The Vice-Chancellor further assured that the University’s sanitation would also be given more attention, and she posited that a project to revamp the Turkeyen campus sewage system is underway.
When asked how she plans to manage her new role, the VC said her new title will mean more work for her, since there are a lot of expectations, given that she is the first female in the 57 years of the institution’s history to hold this position.
However, the Vice-Chancellor said she is prepared to work diligently to see the University of Guyana moved to a place of extreme excellence.
Dr. Mohamed-Martin, a born Guyanese, is a behavioural scientist who received her education at the University of Guyana, Harvard University, and the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus.
Mohamed-Martin is specialized in social and behavioural change, specifically how communicative and cultural aspects of life are implicated in change.
She told this publication that she returned to Guyana in 2007 to help re-establish the failing Centre for Communication Studies at the University of Guyana, and despite major challenges, she is eager to contribute to UG progressing to becoming a university of excellence, which has now landed her as the new Vice-Chancellor.