UG can become a world-class university

Oct 24, 2026 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

(Kaieteur News) – The ambition to transform the University of Guyana (UG) into a world-class institution must begin with an honest recognition of what such a transformation requires. It is not enough to construct new buildings, expand enrollment, introduce additional degree programmes or invest in digital technology. These are important, but they do not, in themselves, make a university world-class. The defining characteristics of a great university are the quality of its students, the competence of its academic staff, the rigour of its examinations, the integrity of its qualifications and the international recognition of its academic standards.

If UG is serious about competing with leading universities in the Caribbean and beyond, it must confront two fundamental questions: Are its entry requirements sufficiently demanding, and are its systems for assessing students rigorous enough to guarantee that a degree awarded by the university represents a consistently high standard of academic achievement?