Twelve Guyanese will over the next five years benefit from a $785M academic programme sealed between the University of Guyana (UG) and Trent University of Canada.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) said that the four PhDs and eight Masters students will journey to the Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada to broaden their knowledge in five disciplines.
With funding from the Canadian oil and gas companies CGX and Frontera Energy Corp, the academicians will become trainers.
At the University of Guyana’s Education Lecture Theatre (ELT) yesterday, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Philanthropy Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE) and chair of the Transitional Management Committee, Dr. Paloma Mohammed said the project will open new doors for UG.
“It is going to pay for funding, it is going to pay for publication and travel. It is going to pay for accommodation and tuition for over five years. A very important aspect of this, which is important to UG at this moment during our transformational process is that CGX and Trent will also lend technical support to the university in the areas of strengthening our financial, HR and security systems,” Dr Mohammed said.
During the five years, DPI said that students will be exposed to training and research in programmes including watershed ecosystems and water quality, sustainable food and agriculture, indigenous studies, natural products, materials physics and chemistry.
Manager of Trent University’s Office of Innovation, John Knight described the collaboration as a “strategic partnership with a purpose.”
“This is a rather exciting initiative that is taking place here. Two universities one in Canada, one in Guyana. A small university, Trent and a larger university UG,” he said.
Funding for the project will also allow for the development and funding of local research areas of national need for Guyana. It will also provide technical support in areas of critical transformation of the University here.
Present at the ceremony were Director of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, representatives of the Canadian High Commission, CGX officials and Vice President of Operations Develop-ment, Frontera Energy Incorporated, Duncan Nightingale and Trent University Professor Dr. Suresh Narine.
