UG Graduate Research Symposium advances call for Interdisciplinary Research for Resilience

The University of Guyana’s Fourth Graduate Research Symposium concluded last Friday with a strong focus on how research, collaboration and interdisciplinary thinking can help Guyana and the wider Caribbean respond to increasingly complex development challenges.

The symposium was held from Wednesday, September 30 to Friday, October 2, 2026, at the Ramada Princess Hotel, Georgetown, under the theme “Resilience for the 21st Century: Navigating Complexity Through Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Collaboration.” It brought together graduate researchers, academics, government representatives, development partners and other stakeholders from Guyana and the wider Caribbean, with an estimated 100 participants joining sessions daily in person and virtually.

In her remarks at the opening ceremony, Dean of the University of Guyana School of Graduate Studies (UGSGSR), Professor Paulette Bynoe, highlighted its significance in amplifying the work of graduate researchers, while facilitating constructive feedback and engagement beyond their individual disciplines. While emphasising that graduate research should extend beyond a thesis or dissertation, she said, “Research is about equipping our researchers to ask important questions, interrogate evidence, engage with different perspectives and ultimately contribute knowledge that can inform policy, professional practice and decision-making.”