The University of Guyana Blueprint 2040 : Encounter 2

The University of Guyana Blueprint 2040 : Encounter 2 – DESIGNING THE FUTURE UG An Overview – Prof. Paloma Mohamed, Deputy Vice Chancellor (PACE) Chair –TMC

BLUEPRINTING UG OF THE FUTURE Blueprints outline the organization's future goals and documents the specific steps that are needed to accomplish these goals.

Blueprints may be thought of as the “grand designs/plans� realized through shorter term initiatives such as strategic, implementation and operational plans which are expected to produce the short to medium term targets.

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FEEDBACK FROM BLUE1 :The University of Guyana of The Future‌ QUESTIONS COVERED: What is the time frame for the Blueprint?

When to start and when to end?

What describes the UG you envisage of the Future?

What do we need to change to realize the potential of UG? Who will our students be?

How will we grow student population?

Which disciplines? Any disciplines?

Location?

Which problems will be expecting to solve?

Where will we live?

What and how will we teach?

Who will teach and who will be taught?

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BLUEPRINT 1 VISION BOARD 1

International Accreditation Rounded students (both theory and practical) Strategic decentralization of campus 2-5% of Guyana’s population being graduates of the University of Guyana Commercialization of research output. More marketable research aimed at meeting the needs of society Graduates fit for purpose Ecofriendly classrooms UG being a Center for Excellence 40% on our way to a green state Transformation of infrastructure Increase of student population by 300% Robust monitoring and evaluation framework to maintain success A research university arrived at through teamwork, fair treatment of staff, merit and qualifications Commitment of funding Changes were needed: Change in environment Change of mindset and culture Have a forum for ongoing staff and students’ discussion on the way forward Environment of academic and personal respect , support and freedom Have graduate schools to cater to governmental demands for human resource needs Endeavor to have our unique image (brand) A bottom-up approach to management UG of the future should be a premier tertiary institution where walls do not define the learning space The university should be one with a completely overhauled governance structure There should be a master plan to achieve objectives There should be better student-friendly systems A community spirit with involvement of all which would promote belongingness Better HR Management Security There should be an evolving infrastructure across campus with more people-friendly classrooms IT infrastructure transformed There must a commitment for funding towards the future University of Guyana.

There must be a commitment to what we want and we need to pursue it steadfastly. The pathway must be one of dedication regardless of whatever is happening

Vision Board 2: Mapping the Future Orientations: Disciplines, Systems and Services • The university should cater for programes for everyone regardless of physical abilities • The university should create programmes that can meet the needs of industries, who can provide financial aid and employment for students.

• The university should fix and update its curriculum to match reality • The university should integrate sense of learning across disciplinary lines • Disciplines should be taught as groups as opposed to individual. Thus, creating entrepreneurial and survival skills for students • The university should strive to have technology to match the rest of the world • There is a need to change everything from transportation to infrastructure and telecommunications, and to expand the campus to outer regions • UG needs to offer robust programmes from a more regional and national view • UG should cater for sustainable development in medicine and other areas • The institution should be decentralized, having colleges to cater to each of the core needs in each region for urban and rural development • UG should have cross-disciplinary training of core courses across the board • UG should have regional centres and three major campuses with the main campus being somewhere on the coastline • Everyone would be responsible for moving the process forward • A UG Building Code is needed • There should be a Human Resource policy • UG should employ people of high pedigree • UG should drive programmes in agriculture, energy and oil sectors • The Blueprint should be financed by subvention, commercialized research output, sponsorship, grants and other commercial ventures • There should be a committed, excited Planning Committee to execute the Blueprint project • There should be a merging of some departments to maximize the capacity of all resources • Foreign languages should be taught as part of every programme because with the influx of immigrants Guyana is becoming a highly multilingual society • Coding should be taught as an entry level course all students • New and specialized programmes should be introduced in keeping with changes in the society, for example Procurement Management, Proposal Writing, Human Resource Management and Packaging and Labelling for small businesses • Teaching should be a blend of physical, online, case studies and simulation • There should be collaboration among national and international stakeholders and cooperation among academic and non-academic staff to drive the Blueprint Project • The university should be able to attract 75% university-aged local students and 25% international students.

• There should be more continuing education /life-long education • UG should strive to become a specialist in ESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) • UG should develop itself as a research university.

• The process of change should be moved forward by a delegated team while normal activities should continue.

• The facilities at all of the campuses and at IDCE should be upgraded • There is need to market the university • The university needs to study the special potential in each region and integrate those into its national development plans

FINDING THE WAY WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO PRODUCE AT LEAST 1 GRADUATE FOR HOUSEHOLD BY 2040?

Vision Board 2.1: Design the UG of the Future a. What is the purpose of the future University? b. What is the profile of the ideal graduate? c. What might be the physical design of the University? d. What big questions would our research and teaching need to answer? e. What would be the profile of the ideal teacher/lecturer/academic life guide?

Vision Board 2.2: Offerings of The Future - Programmes and Administration What is the purpose of the University Education of the Future?

What might three core goals of the UG of 2040 be?

What might be the profile of the ideal course and programme?

How might the ideal Programmes/courses be delivered?

What might be the structure of the units now known as Faculties?

What might be the structure of administrative units?

What might our research foci be and what is the future of University based research?

What would be the cost and who will pay?

Lighthouse

CLEAR VISON ONE MISSION ONE UNIVERSITY ONE NATION UNIFIED, PROSPEROUS, HEALTHY, GREEN, TECHNOLOGICALLLY ADVANCED , RESPONSBILBLY ORIENTED, LITERATE AND CONSCIOUS NATION .

CLOUDY VISION CONFUSION DISASTER

ALL WE HAVE TO GIVE TO THE FUTURE IS WHAT WE WISH AND PLAN FOR TODAY. THANK YOU FOR HELPING.

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Bluvid@gmail.com .6239930