UG must stand on its own strong footing – Pres Ali

…as Sir Ronald Sanders appointed 11th Chancellor

President Dr Irfaan Ali underscored the growing importance of professional designations as he presided over the installation of Sir Ronald Sanders as the 11th Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG) on Friday.
During the ceremony, President Ali highlighted the need to align academic qualifications with professional certifications and designations, noting that such integration reflects evolving global education standards and the needs of the modern workforce. He emphasised that the university’s education system must be more closely integrated with professional institutions to ensure graduates are properly equipped for industry demands.
“Any successful academic institution or university in today’s world must be strong in research, must be able to deliver research papers that can stand scrutiny, must be able to contribute to literature and research, and the University of Guyana must occupy a deliberate space here nationally and, in our region to begin with, in terms of research. The world is moving away from the traditional form of academic qualification. But we must align those qualifications with professional designations,” the President said.

President Ali emphasised that Guyana’s higher education system must align with international professional standards to prepare the country’s workforce for global opportunities. He noted that degree programmes should lead directly to globally recognised certifications so graduates can meet international requirements.
He also stressed that Guyana’s rapidly evolving economy requires higher education institutions to align closely with global realities and standards, adding that UG possesses extensive and valuable assets that must be strategically optimised to strengthen human capital and global competitiveness.
“Especially given the fact that our economy is more closely aligned to global realities today. We have a sprawling and important piece of real estate here at the University of Guyana. I believe it is important that we optimise the assets of the University of Guyana,” he stated.
The Head of State also addressed the university’s role in national development and its expanding global presence, stressing the need to position the institution on a strong and self-sustaining footing.
“And we have to come up with a clear strategy as to how we optimise the assets of the University of Guyana. This is critical as we build an institution that will be able to stand on its own strong footing,” the President said. He added that many of the world’s successful universities help shape economic and social development. “We can do that if we optimise the University of Guyana.”
The President further emphasised the importance of inclusive access to education.
“Pre-education must allow us to reach the unreached. We have to ensure that whatever the University of Guyana does, we are able to reach the unreached,” he said.
Recognising the university’s potential to benefit from Guyana’s expanding diplomatic footprint, the President pointed to the role of international partnerships.
“Your position in a very special way in the international diplomatic community allows a smoother transit for the University of Guyana to become embedded in what is happening around the world,” he noted.