UG must be worthy of business sector support – VC
attended by the unfolding of an ambitious plan to enhance the institutional capacity of the university. During the interview Griffith reminded that the rebuilding agenda included plans for the creation of a School of Entrepreneurship at Turkeyen, a development which he said would be characterized by an enhanced qualitative relationship between the business sector and UG.
Griffith insisted, however, that it was critical that UG provide the private sector with “reason to believe that when they give they will see a change in output. We have to give them reason to be confident that when they give they will see a changed output.”
And according to Griffith part of that “opportunity” reposed in allowing the private sector “to invest in the design of our programmes.” Accordingly, he disclosed that the feasibility study for the School of Entrepreneurship involved inputs from various business communities across the country including Corriverton, pointing to this collaborative approach as “a change in strategy” designed to “involve the private sector from the get go rather than to simply ask them for money to do things.”
According to the Vice Chancellor, initiatives to fashion a more cohesive relationship with the business sector was reflected in the infusion of co-sponsors including GUYOIL, CGX and Fly Jamaica in the recently inaugurated Turkeyen and Tain Talks. Additionally, he disclosed that the University of Guyana was in the process of crafting a partnership with Giftland. “We have got to reach out but we have got to be mindful that we have had a certain negative image. The negative image is that some of the people that we have put out have not been exactly stellar in their performance. Part of what we have to do is to ask them to help us build the quality. It is a multi-year journey. We’ve got to be inclusive. We’ve got to let them understand that they must have a voice.”
And in his broader assessment of the state of the university, Griffith said the institution had “issues related to the political environment. Some of what I have to say may make some people uncomfortable, but if we don’t face it we can’t fix it.”