UG’s Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning to Host 2nd Biennial
Conference From September 20-22; to deliberate on issues and find
solutions to the challenges confronting the delivery of tertiary education
due to the impact of COVID-19.

The University of Guyana’s Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CoETaL)
will be hosting its Second Biennial Conference from Monday, September 20 to
Wednesday, September 22, 2021. This is an event that aims to provide a space for
academics, researchers, and other key stakeholders to deliberate on issues and find
solutions to the challenges confronting the delivery of tertiary education due to the
impact of COVID-19. 
 
This year, the forum will be hosted virtually as professionals in the educational
system grapple with and learn to navigate amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The
conference is being held under the theme “Emergency Remote Teaching, Leading
and Learning” and will also be free to the public. However, registration is required in
advance for the event using the following link https://coetal.uog.edu.gy/biennial-
conference-2021/registration.   

The opening session is on Monday, September 20, 2021, at 9:00hrs and will feature
presentations from the University of Guyana’s Chancellor Prof. Edward Greene, UG’s
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin, Honourable Minister of Education 

Priya Manickchand, Principal of the Cyril Potter College of Education Dr. Viola
Rowe, Guyana’s Chief Education Officer Dr. Marcel Hutson and Director of UG’s
Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CoETaL) Dr. Charmaine Bissessar.
The opening ceremony will also include an edutainment session by Mr. Michael
Khan of UG’s Faculty of Education and Humanities, Department of Visual and
Performing Arts. 

The conference brings together a cadre of distinguished researchers, educators, and
key stakeholders as a community involved in tertiary education to share their
expertise, knowledge, and skills with each other. Several high-profile speakers will be
featured including a world-renowned expert in distance education and instructional
technology, Dr. Dimitrios Vlachopoulos. 

Other well-known educators in their fields will be conducting six plenary sessions on
the various sub-themes; these include: Dr. Katija Khan who will be addressing the
issue of care and well-being during the pandemic; Dr. Ramesh Sharma who will be
discussing techniques to enhance student engagement online; Dr. Gordon Harewood
who will be providing some online assessment techniques; Dr. Wayne Wesley who
will discuss the challenges and opportunities inherent in the digital divide; Dr. Carole
Basile who will discuss the issues of leading, teaching and learning post-COVID-19;
Dr. Lidon Lashley will be discussing inclusivity during the pandemic; Dr. Mairette
Newman and Dr. Leory Hill will be part of a panel discussion on emergency remote
learning, teaching, and leading and Mrs. Zaida Khan-Ventour will facilitate an e-
quality workshop. 

A special panel comprising of five lecturers from the University of Guyana – Ms.
Kara Lord, Ms. Lisa Edwards, Ms. Shanomae Rose, Ms. Angelina Autar, and Ms.
Monique Sarius - who are all pursuing their Doctor of Education degrees under a
special UG- Arizona State University (ASU) programme will complete the conference
presentations.

All of the presenters will deliver an enriching and eclectic array of empirical,
anecdotal, and literature reviews on the conference’s sub-themes. The Conference’s
presentations, plenary sessions, panels, and workshops are expected to be inspiring
and innovative at the individual and community levels. They will provide compelling
fodder for future research and, more importantly, empower and motivate academics
to delve deeper into various areas of research. 

The University of Guyana acknowledges the support of its main partners; the
Ministry of Education and the Cyril Potter College of Education for collaborating to
host this event. UG also thanks Elton B. Stephens Company (EBSCO) for its
sponsorship. 

UG CoETaL’s “Emergency Remote Teaching, Leading and Learning” Conference is
the 6th international conference hosted by the University of Guyana this year. There
are two more such conferences to be hosted by UG by the end of the year.  

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UG IN BRIEF
The University of Guyana is the 58 th -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)