<p>STUDENTS from across the country showed up in their numbers with teachers in tow to participate in the University of Guyana (UG) 2018 Open/Career Day at the Turkeyen Campus on Friday morning.</p>

<p>The event which was packed to capacity, saw students filling the many booths that were in place to share information on career choices and programmes that the tertiary institution offered.</p>

<p>In his keynote address, Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, Vice-Chancellor, UG, charged the large gathering of students in the George Walcott Lecture Theatre that education is the enabler to make change and for them to become agents of change.</p>

<p>He added that UG is a place for students to change their circumstances — and make use of the 113 programmes offered by the tertiary institution — to become professionals.</p>

<p>Professor Griffith disclosed that when UG started in 1963, there were only 164 students and only five degree programmes offered.</p>

<p>He added that today, UG has 8,255 students with 113 programmes and they are seeking to establish a Department of Petroleum Engineering to gear young people for the oil and gas sector. He said next semester, UG will launch a psychology degree programme.</p>

<p>The UG Vice-Chancellor admitted that even though UG is not perfect, they are working towards making improvements and advised students to be prepared to embrace certain values to be the change they want.</p>

<p>He encouraged the gathering of students to follow three tips to becoming successful: to desist from being comfortable with mediocrity, to focus on excellence and to practise the value of respect.</p>

<p>He had a lively interactive session with the students in which one, a pupil of Queen’s College who provided the correct answers to his three questions, won herself $50,000 as part of a scholarship to apply to UG to pursue further studies upon completion of her secondary education.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, in opening remarks, Dr Nigel Gravesande, UG Registrar, told the students the event is geared towards the premier tertiary national institution to showcase and make a direct appeal for them to expand their academic scope.</p>

<p>He pointed out that they should consider UG as the institution of their first choice upon completion of their secondary education, since they have more than 100 programmes in various disciplines.</p>

<p>Dr Gravesande added that UG’s mission is to respond to the developmental needs of Guyana, regionally and globally, since many graduates of UG are assisting in many continents, which is a testimony to the quality of education they provide.</p>

<p>He said it is no secret that UG continues to provide quality graduates and the open/career day is to whet the appetites of students to get registered for available programmes.</p>

<p>Dr. Gravesande however, encouraged the students to visit the various booths and ask questions in an effort to be informed of their choice of careers.</p>

<p>Also making remarks was Assistant Registrar, Students’ Welfare, Daniella King, who said that the event is specially designed to enlighten students of the programmes offered by UG, to provide insights into their career choices and for them to be aware of the steps they can take to pursue further studies at UG.</p>

<p>Article adapted from:&nbsp;<u><a href="http://guyanachronicle.com/2018/02/17/secondary-school-students-flock-ug-career-fair">http://guyanachronicle.com/2018/02/17/secondary-school-students-flock-ug-career-fair</a></u></p>
