Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, is confident that the US$10M World Bank University of Guyana (UG) Science and Technology Support Project is closer to becoming a reality.
During an interview with this publication yesterday, Manickchand indicated the Ministry and University’s readiness to approach the Minister of Finance next week to sign the loan document with the World Bank.
She related that recent steps taken by the Education Ministry, which is the executing body for the project and the University, show that the conditions for the loan would be satisfied shortly.
According to UG’s Vice Chancellor, Dr. Marlene Cox, the project was approved last June by the World Bank. However, Government was given an 18-month duration to satisfy certain conditions.
Dr Cox noted that the efforts to meet the conditions are in progress and emphasized that for the first time Friday last, advertisements were placed to fill three key positions.
They are an Assistant Accountant, Procurement Specialist, and Project Co-ordinator. The closing date for applications is April 12, 2012.
Another criterion to be satisfied is the establishment of a Project Steering Committee.
Dr. Cox said that the Ministry and the University are working together to finalize the Committee’s membership.
She revealed that the body should comprise eight members- seven from various organizations including the local University, an International University, Private Sector, and the Project Co-ordinator.
Dr. Cox emphasized that the Ministry and the University have to sign a subsidiary agreement outlining how both parties would collaborate on the project.
She said a draft is prepared and very soon that too would be finalized.
The Vice Chancellor pointed out that a draft for the operations manual is already prepared.
This project is linked to the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and will be based in four Science faculties: Agriculture and Forestry, Natural Sciences, and the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
The project is expected to be implemented over a five-year period and would see the improvement of laboratory and building infrastructure at four faculties comprising 14 buildings; providing the laboratories with scientific equipment to enable the delivery of practical science education and research; and establishing of a campus wide internet network.
Source: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2012/03/22/university%E2%80%99s-us10m-project-closer-to-reality-manickchand/