President Dr. Irfaan Ali, in a powerful message to the University of Guyana’s graduating Class of 2020/2021, urged the graduates to use their newly-acquired skills to develop themselves and to help “revolutionise Guyana’s development”.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali Giving Congratulatory Remarks to the Class of 2021

President Ali underscored that Guyana needs the expertise of all of the graduates as the future of the country now rests in their hands. “You the graduates of the Class of 2020/2021 have successfully equipped yourself with the most potent arsenal of  change ‘a University education’. You must now use the knowledge, the skills, and the values that you would have acquired to change your personal circumstances and revolutionise Guyana’s development,” the Head of State urged the graduates.

“Your country needs your expertise. Guyana is on a transformative path of development towards a modern and diversified economy. One which will attach extreme importance to the development and retention of these highly skilled and knowledgeable graduates. Your education will unlock doors and open windows of opportunities for you to contribute to national development,” the President told the graduates.

The Head of State heaped praises on the University of Guyana for the excellent work it is doing in building the human resources capacity of the nation and pledged his Government’s continued support in ensuring the institution is provided with the resources to carry out its mandate.

"It is because we believed in the transformative power of education that my Government is devoting increased resources towards improving our education system including University education. We remain committed to equipping the University of Guyana with the tools needed to respond to the needs of an increasingly knowledge-based society,” President Ali stated.

Hon. Priya Manickchand, Minister of Education Delivering the Charge to the Graduands

Minister of Education, Ms. Priya Manickchand in delivering the charge to the graduates said: “I charge you to always embrace the reality that you stand on the shoulders of giants; and as they did, you now have a responsibility to share the knowledge, skills, and dispositions acquired here with your fellow citizens.”

She added: “I charge you to embrace the concept of ‘One Guyana’ and actively seek out ways in which we can advance our ability to not merely coexist, but to do so in genuine harmony, with respect, and general goodwill towards each other despite our differences.”

“I also charge you to be intrepid, imaginative, and innovative. Dream the big dreams and be bold enough to pursue them at all costs. Envision a Guyana at the pinnacle of progress and endeavor to fully contribute to attaining such," the Minister urged the graduands.

Representatives of the UG Alumni Association, President of the Georgetown Chapter, Sarah Bharrat and Somattie Seranje delivered remarks at the first and second ceremonies respectively. They both urged the graduates to think beyond themselves and encouraged them to invest in the University that has shaped and moulded them to be the individuals they are today.

Members of the public can view the ceremonies via the University of Guyana’s Facebook page @uniofguyana.

The dates for the remaining ceremonies are as follows:

Friday, February 11, 2022

• Faculty of Social Sciences

 

Saturday, February 12, 2022

• Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences

• Faculty of Education and Humanities

• Institute of Distance and Continuing Education – Degree and Diploma Programmes Only

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UG IN BRIEF

The University of Guyana is the 58th-year State University of Guyana. It offers 136 programmes in over 60 disciplines online and face-to-face in 8 campuses across Guyana. With a student population of now 10,000, UG has provided education, learning, and research for over 50,000 alumni. The mission of the University is to discover, generate, disseminate and apply knowledge of the highest standard for the service of the community, the nation, and of all mankind within an atmosphere of academic freedom that allows for free and critical inquiry. UG's forward-thinking Blueprint 2040 is currently setting the course for the University's future design and institutional response to the changing needs of Guyana.

Contact:      

Ms. Krest Cummings

Public Relations Officer

Department of Events Conferences and Communications (DECC)

592-623-5104