UG, Trent University collaborate on $700M five-year academic research programme
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, October 3, 2019
In less than a month, twelve Guyanese will, over the next five years, benefit from a $785M Advance Academic Research Programme in Sustainable Transformation scholarship aimed at boosting training and research here.
The four PhDs and eight Masters students will journey to the Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada to expand their knowledge in five disciplines.
With funding from the Canadian oil and gas companies CGX’ and Frontera Energy Corp (FEC), the academics will become the central trainers that will transform Guyana into a robust sustainable economy.
At the University of Guyana’s Education Lecture Theater (ELT) today, 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 the country’s premier tertiary institution.
“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, 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 has dubbed the collaboration 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.
According to UG, the areas of research and training target the United Nation’s Sustainable Development goals relating to Guyana.
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 event was Director of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, representatives of the Canadian High Commission, CGX officials and Vice President of Operations Development, Frontera Energy Incorporated Duncan Nightingale and Trent University Professor Dr. Suresh Narine.