UG graduates, among key players who will lead CARICOM development – Chancellor

…as spike recorded in applications from international students

Through several investments and Government interventions Guyana’s premier tertiary institution the University of Guyana (UG) has emerged as one of the leading institutions in the Caribbean.
This is according to Chancellor of the university, Prof. Edward Greene who added that the institution is currently equipping persons with the necessary skills and expertise needed to push the region forward.
On Friday, Guyana’s premier tertiary institution, UG, hosted a graduation exercise at its Turkeyen Campus. This year’s graduation proceedings will see over 3500 persons being awarded for completing several courses. Speaking at the ceremony was Chancellor of the university, Prof. Edward Greene who highlighted the important role these graduates will play in the development of the nation and region.

“You, the class of 2024, are graduating as medical doctors, behavioral scientists, and futurists whose skills are most relevant to the development of Guyana and CARICOM and are in high demand.”
Moreover, the chancellor, noted that through investments over the years the institution has expanded its curriculum and developed new facilities that will not only benefit Guyana but the Caribbean region at large.
“We are happy to note that the new medical complex at the Turkeyen campus, scheduled to be completed by March 2025, will include state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, which will be done to the benefit of this nation, with reverberations across the Caribbean region.”
On this point he noted that the institution has since positioned itself as a key player within the region’s development.
“Among the major innovations of this university in recent times is the Institute of Human Resilience, Strategic Security, and the Future, which has already produced the common academic space for international, multicultural, and cross-disciplinary specialisation. These galvanised funding and intellectual resources catapulting UG to global recognition but also important is that the Institute offers a Master’s degree in development studies developed for the military in Guyana and the CARICOM region, and features work on youth and the futures. For these pioneering ventures, UG snagged the prestigious International PERRY Award in 2023.”

Spike
Meanwhile, UG has seen a spike in applications from students in 37 countries for the 2024-2024 academic year, according to the institution’s registrar, Nigel Gravesande.
Meanwhile, earlier in August registrar Gravesande highlighted that the institution recorded an increase in international student application for the 2024-2025 academic year. He noted that over 230 students from across the globe would’ve submitted applications to be a part of the institution which represents a 27 per cent increase when compared to 2023 which saw 170 applications.
He explained that student applications were received from some 37 counties. In this regard he highlighted that CARICOM countries are leading the demographic with students enrolling from 10 countries within the alliance, Belize recorded the highest number of students being enrolled followed by Jamaica respectfully.