Convocation Booklet 2018
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52nd Convocation & Conferral of Honorary Doctorate Degrees Saturday, November 10, 2018 9:00 h, 13:00 h & 17:00 h National Cultural Centre Mandela and Homestretch Avenues D'Urban Park Georgetown Historical Notes The University of Guyana is Guyana’s sole national higher education institution. It was established in April 1963 with the following Mission: “To discover, generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge of the highest standard for the service Aims of The University of Guyana of the community, the nation, and of all mankind within an atmosphere of academic freedom that allows for free and The aims of the University are to provide a place of critical enquiry.” It began its operations in October of the education, learning and research of a standard required and same year at Queens College, the nation’s premier expected of a university of the highest standard, and to secondary school, before moving to the Turkeyen Campus secure the advancement of knowledge and the diffusion and in 1970. At first, programmes were confined to the Arts, extension of arts, sciences and learning throughout Guyana. Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. A Faculty of (University of Guyana Act, Chapter 39:02, Act 6 of 1963 Education was created in 1967, and this was followed by the Amended by 5 of 1965, O. 14/1965, Section 4;21 of 1977, 19 of Faculty of Technology in 1969, the Institute for Distance 1993 and 14 of 1995.) and Continuing Education (IDCE), in 1975, the Faculty of Agriculture in 1977, and the Faculty of Health Sciences in 1981, the latter as an outgrowth of Natural Sciences. A Forestry Unit was established in 1987 and it Mission Statement of The University of Guyana subsequently became part of the Faculty of Agriculture, and in 2003 the Faculties of Arts and Education merged to The mission of the University of Guyana is to discover, become the School of Education and Humanities. generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge of the highest Additionally, the turn of the millennium saw the formation standard for the service of the community, the nation, and of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES), of all mankind within an atmosphere of academic freedom born of the merger of the Geography Department and the that allows for free and critical enquiry Environmental Studies Unit. Also created were the (Academic Board, 2001) Biodiversity Centre, which is pertinent to the activities pursued by SEES, the Faculty of Natural Sciences, and the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, and a Centre for Information Technology (CIT), which serves the entire university. The University of Guyana expanded in 2000 with the addition of the Berbice Campus at Tain. In October 2016, as part of a broader reorganisation, which is discussed below, SEES was transformed into the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Studies, with a Dean, rather than a Director, as academic and administrative head of the unit. I Historical Notes The University of Guyana is Guyana’s sole national higher education institution. It was established in April 1963 with the following Mission: “To discover, generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge of the highest standard for the service Aims of The University of Guyana of the community, the nation, and of all mankind within an atmosphere of academic freedom that allows for free and The aims of the University are to provide a place of critical enquiry.” It began its operations in October of the education, learning and research of a standard required and same year at Queens College, the nation’s premier expected of a university of the highest standard, and to secondary school, before moving to the Turkeyen Campus secure the advancement of knowledge and the diffusion and in 1970. At first, programmes were confined to the Arts, extension of arts, sciences and learning throughout Guyana. Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. A Faculty of (University of Guyana Act, Chapter 39:02, Act 6 of 1963 Education was created in 1967, and this was followed by the Amended by 5 of 1965, O. 14/1965, Section 4;21 of 1977, 19 of Faculty of Technology in 1969, the Institute for Distance 1993 and 14 of 1995.) and Continuing Education (IDCE), in 1975, the Faculty of Agriculture in 1977, and the Faculty of Health Sciences in 1981, the latter as an outgrowth of Natural Sciences. A Forestry Unit was established in 1987 and it Mission Statement of The University of Guyana subsequently became part of the Faculty of Agriculture, and in 2003 the Faculties of Arts and Education merged to The mission of the University of Guyana is to discover, become the School of Education and Humanities. generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge of the highest Additionally, the turn of the millennium saw the formation standard for the service of the community, the nation, and of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES), of all mankind within an atmosphere of academic freedom born of the merger of the Geography Department and the that allows for free and critical enquiry Environmental Studies Unit. Also created were the (Academic Board, 2001) Biodiversity Centre, which is pertinent to the activities pursued by SEES, the Faculty of Natural Sciences, and the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, and a Centre for Information Technology (CIT), which serves the entire university. The University of Guyana expanded in 2000 with the addition of the Berbice Campus at Tain. In October 2016, as part of a broader reorganisation, which is discussed below, SEES was transformed into the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Studies, with a Dean, rather than a Director, as academic and administrative head of the unit. I The University of Guyana now offers more than 120 subjects, establishment of the Undergraduate Research undergraduate and graduate (post-graduate) programmes, Programmes and the hosting of successful inaugural student including in Natural Sciences, Engineering, Environmental research conferences at Turkeyen and Tain, and founding Studies, Forestry, Urban Planning and Management, of the The University of Guyana Press, as part of efforts to Tourism Studies, Education, Creative Arts, Economics, boost research and scholarship. Law, Medicine, Optometry and Nursing. The 2017-2018 academic year witnessed the introduction of several new LEADERSHIP PROFILE undergraduate and graduate programmes, including ones in The University is governed by a Council, the policy making P s y c h o l o g y , A g r o - t e c h n o l o g y a n d B u s i n e s s , body, which currently is chaired by a Chancellor supported Entrepreneurship, Supply Chain Management, and Visual by a Pro-Chancellor. Both positions are non-executive Communications and Social Work. Several online positions. The current Chancellor is Professor E. Nigel programmes are available, as are extra-mural classes Harris, MD, former Vice-Chancellor of The University of through the IDCE at four locations--in the city of the West Indies.The administrative and academic head of Georgetown and the towns of Anna Regina, Essequibo, the University is the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, who is Region 2; Linden, Upper Demerara, Region 10; and New also an ex officio member of the Council. The current—and Amsterdam, Berbice, Region 6. The institution has a 2018 Tenth—Vice-Chancellor and Principal is Professor Ivelaw enrollment of just over 8,000 students from all 10 Lloyd Griffith, appointed in June 2016. The Council has administrative regions and it has graduated more than two statutory committee; the Finance and General Purposes 22,000 students, who have gone on to successful careers Committee, and the Appointments Committee. The other locally, regionally and internationally in all professional major organ of governance is the Academic Board, which is fields of endeavor. The University also is a major supported by two statutory entities, the Academic Policy and contributor to the public and private sectors and to the Planning Committee, and the Board for Graduate Studies. national economy. The Academic Board is presided over by the Vice- The University of Guyana offers certificate, diploma, Chancellor and Principal. The Vice-Chancellor is aided by associate degree, undergraduate degree, graduate (post- an executive team that includes three Deputy Vice- graduate) degree, and professional degree programs. These Chancellors, a Registrar, a Bursar, and a Personnel Officer. programmes are delivered through the following eight In August 2016 the Finance and General Purposes organisational units: seven Faculties and one School, each Committee (F&GPC), the second highest policy making of which is headed by a Dean: Agriculture and Forestry; body after the Council, approved a proposal by Vice- Earth and Environmental Studies; Education and Chancellor Griffith to comprehensively restructure the Humanities; Health Sciences, with a School of Medicine; university’s leadership. The reorganisation plan aims to Natural Sciences; Social Sciences; and Engineering and create greater levels of efficiency and effectiveness and set Technology. The newest unit, the School of the stage for innovation in academic and non-academic Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI), was areas. The changes, which became effective on October 1, established in June 2017. The 2016-2017 academic year 2016, entail having Dr Michael Scott, until recently Dean of also witnessed the launch of Turkeyen and Tain Talks as a the Faculty of Social Sciences, become Deputy Vice- bi-monthly series to facilitate conversations with the Chancellor (DVC) of Academic Engagement. In addition to community on important national and international the Faculties within his portfolio, Dr Scott has oversight over II III The University of Guyana now offers more than 120 subjects, establishment of the Undergraduate Research undergraduate and graduate (post-graduate) programmes, Programmes and the hosting of successful inaugural student including in Natural Sciences, Engineering, Environmental research conferences at Turkeyen and Tain, and founding Studies, Forestry, Urban Planning and Management, of the The University of Guyana Press, as part of efforts to Tourism Studies, Education, Creative Arts, Economics, boost research and scholarship.