“The DNA of the University of Guyana definitely has been built on its historical roots as the state university that was created to help develop the country,” explains Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin , Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana. “We have been development-focused for most of our 60-year history. Our DNA has to do with dedicated service and focus on national and regional problems, but increasingly, those problems are global.”
As UG transform from a teaching-focused institution to a center of research excellence, the university’s key research institutes now seek to scale up international collaborations in order to increase their national and regional impact.
Key Points:
- The Graduate School of Research delivers graduate programs while fostering multidisciplinary collaboration across the Caribbean. Through innovative research methodologies and international partnerships, the school supports UG's vision of having at least one graduate per household by 2040.
- The Institute for Human Resilience, Strategic Security and The Future represents a pioneering effort to study and develop human resilience systems. As evidenced by the 2023 William J. Perry Center Award, this work is gaining international recognition while addressing critical regional security challenges.
- The Institute for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship manages over 300 projects with direct industry applications. Recent exhibitions showcase innovations in food security, technology, and sustainable development, directly supporting national development goals.
- The Centre for Study of Biological Diversity maintains extensive research collections including over 50,000 plant and 29,000 animal specimens. This repository supports crucial environmental research while facilitating international collaboration in biodiversity conservation.
Graduate School of Research (UGSGSR)
Overview: The University of Guyana School of Graduate Studies and Research (UGSGSR) serves as the university’s hub for advanced research and postgraduate education. The school manages UG’s highest-level research programs including the interdisciplinary PhD/MPhil Programme in Biodiversity, while providing comprehensive research support through specialized seminars, methodology training, and research supervision across all academic disciplines. Its structure enables cross-disciplinary collaboration and ensures research aligns with national development priorities.
National Impact: The school delivers monthly online graduate research-oriented seminars designed to strengthen students’ capacity to conduct robust research, manage the research process, and communicate findings. Students can conduct research at any academic unit of the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen or Berbice Campus, with supervision options including co-supervisors from national institutions.
International Relevance: UGSGSR enables research within institutions in the Guiana Shield Region and the Caribbean, with flexibility for international on-site research. The school maintains partnerships with institutions outside UG, providing co-supervision opportunities that enhance the global reach of its research programs.
Institute for Human Resilience, Strategic Security and the Future (IHRSSF)
Overview: The Institute for Human Resilience, Strategic Security and the Future (IHRSSF) studies and develops frameworks for understanding how communities and individuals adapt and thrive in challenging environments.
The institute integrates research on human resilience with strategic security concerns, delivering specialized courses for security agencies and military personnel while conducting research on youth development and future planning. Created during UG’s 2018 Blueprinting sessions, it represents the first academic attempt to systematically study and document human resilience systems at an institutional level.
National Impact: The institute runs an innovative pilot called RASSR (Regional Accelerator for Stem Students Readiness), working with 100 children from across Guyana’s ten regions. “We’ve taken 100 children, 10 from each of Guyana’s 10 regions, with the highest grades in maths and science. About a third of these children are indigenous,” explains Prof. Martin. “We’ve not lost a single child, and 76% are choosing to stay in STEM fields.”
International Relevance: The institute’s excellence has been recognized through the 2023 William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education, marking it as the sole recipient for 2023. It provides a common academic space for international multi-disciplinary partnerships in human resilience research.
Institute for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (UGIRIE)
Overview: UGIRIE serves as a technology transfer facility for researchers and innovators within UG and allied institutions. “These innovations are important for us to stimulate our economy and for working in partnership with the Government of Guyana and the business sector because much has to be done to scale up some of the projects and to get the prototypes to the marketplace,” explains Professor Patsy Francis, Director of UGIRIE.
National Impact: The institute has showcased over 40 innovations at its Second Exhibition of Innovations, including breakthrough projects in food security.
A notable example is the bread-making project using three non-traditional flours – rice, cassava, and sweet potato – directly supporting Guyana’s goal to reduce food imports.
The institute has also pioneered the resuscitation of the Mocca Market day and hosted entrepreneurship workshops resulting in over 20 cottage businesses.
International Relevance: With over 300 projects available for industry examination, UGIRIE works on protection, patents, and intellectual property for UG-centered inventions. Recent innovations include Project Alpha, which integrates education with cutting-edge virtual reality and augmented reality technology.
Centre for Study of Biological Diversity (CSBD)
Overview: Established in 1992 through UG and Smithsonian collaboration, CSBD houses the National Herbarium and Zoological research collections. The current collection includes over 10,000 fish, 700 amphibians, 300 reptiles, 350 mammals, 820 birds, and over 20,000 insect specimens.
National Impact: CSBD works closely with the Guyana EPA on specimen verification and export control. The Centre supports environmental impact assessments and collaborates with environmental organizations including Conservation International, the Iwokrama International Rainforest Programme, and World Wildlife Fund-Guyana.
International Relevance: The Centre maintains active partnerships with the Royal Ontario Museum, Smithsonian, University of Michigan, University of Warwick, and University of Florida. These collaborations enhance global understanding of the Guiana Shield’s biodiversity while supporting international conservation efforts.
Institute for Food and Nutrition Security (IFANS)
Overview: The Institute for Food and Nutrition Security (IFANS) develops sustainable solutions to Caribbean food security challenges through integrated research and education. Launched in 2018, the institute delivers a comprehensive bachelor’s degree program that combines food science, agriculture, chemistry, biology, and business studies, preparing professionals to tackle the region’s critical food security issues.
National Impact: In November 2023, IFANS marked a significant milestone with its first cohort of 13 food science graduates. “As Guyana positions itself to reduce food imports by 25 percent by 2025, there is an urgent need for persons with competencies in the areas of food product development, food processing and preservation, and food safety,” states Professor Verian Thomas, who developed the curriculum. The institute works closely with local food manufacturers and agricultural businesses to bridge the gap between academia and industry, ensuring graduates can contribute directly to reducing Guyana’s dependence on food imports.
International Relevance: IFANS addresses critical regional challenges, with World Bank estimates indicating 80-90% of Caribbean food is imported. The institute’s research and policy advocacy work contributes to food security strategies across the Caribbean, where approximately 2.7 million people are considered “food-insecure.” Through its focus on sustainable practices and local solutions, IFANS aims to develop models that can be applied throughout the region to reduce import dependence and improve food security.
More Information:
Institute for Food and Nutrition Faces Up To Regional Food Security Threat
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