Nearly 300 students are pursuing engineering and pre-medical studies through the University of Guyana’s regional programmes, which the institution says are reducing the need to relocate or travel regularly to Georgetown.
In a release issued yesterday, UG said its Faculty of Engineering and Technology has enrolled 91 students in Regions Two and Six, while the College of Medical Sciences’ Pre-Medical Sciences Programme serves more than 200 students from all ten administrative regions.
Engineering students can complete their qualifications at the regional locations without transferring to the Turkeyen Campus, according to the university. It said the programmes meet the same academic standards as those delivered at Turkeyen.
Civil and Mechanical Engineering are offered at the Berbice Campus, while Civil Engineering is taught at the Essequibo Technical Institute in Anna Regina. The regional engineering programmes began in February this year.
Of the 91 students, 71 are enrolled at the Berbice Campus and 20 in Essequibo. Berbice has 54 Civil Engineering students and 17 Mechanical Engineering students, while all 20 in Essequibo are studying Civil Engineering.
The second-year students formed the original February intake, with a new first-year cohort joining this semester.
At Berbice, 111 prospective students submitted 135 applications, including applications to both engineering disciplines. UG said enrolment reflected those who met admission requirements and accepted places.
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Dr Kofi Dalrymple said the expansion was intended to address geographical and financial barriers to university education.
“For too long, geography and the cost of relocation have been significant barriers to pursuing higher education,” he said.
For second-year Civil Engineering student Arianah Leacock, who studies in Region Six, the arrangement has meant less travelling and more time for assignments and other activities.
“It’s very convenient being able to do it at home,” she said.
Head of the Department of Civil Engineering Dr Sean Sarran said regional delivery could significantly reduce transport, accommodation and living expenses while allowing students to remain close to their families, employment and other responsibilities.
The Pre-Medical Sciences Programme began its regional rollout in April, followed by a second intake in September. UG said the second intake attracted more applicants and enrolments than the first.
The programme provides preparation for medicine and other health disciplines, including dentistry, pharmacy, medical laboratory science, medical imaging, nursing, rehabilitation sciences and public health.
However, completing it does not guarantee admission to the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Dental Surgery or other competitive programmes. Students must still satisfy the relevant academic and programme-specific requirements.
“Pre-Medical Sciences expands opportunity; it does not remove standards,” Assistant Dean Dr Andrew Hutson said.
He added that regional expansion must be assessed by students’ actual access to teaching and support.
“Decentralisation is not achieved simply by announcing that a programme exists in ten regions; it is achieved when a student in those regions can actually access teaching, receive support, demonstrate competence and see a credible path forward,” Hutson said.
The rollout is led by College of Medical Sciences Dean Professor Rajini Kurup and Hutson, with regional coordinators and support from the Ministries of Education and Health.
Pre-medical student Jemima Mosley, of Berbice, said studying within her region had eased her transition to university.
“I’m much more comfortable and I can manoeuvre better with the classes,” she said.
UG also pointed to its Maka Tawa Forest Campus at Aishalton, Region Nine, as a base for extending programmes to hinterland students without requiring them to leave their communities.
The university said both initiatives were intended to help meet demand for professionals in healthcare, infrastructure, energy, construction and industry.
Further engineering expansion into Regions Three and Ten is being explored, subject to demand, resources and academic requirements.
The College of Medical Sciences is meanwhile developing a student-tracking system to monitor participation, academic activity and competency-based training across the regions. It is also examining opportunities to extend other programmes to additional communities.
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