Geology and Mines Commission

Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between The University of Guyana and the Ministry of Natural Resources-GGMC

UG's Technology Faculty to be among key beneficiaries of $100M GGMC grant

The Guyana Geology and Mines Com-mission (GGMC) through the Ministry of Natural Resources has awarded a grant for a total of $100 million to the University of Guyana (UG) for the Faculty of Technology, supporting programmes, research and scholarships.

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, who engineered the grant, and UG Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ivelaw Griffith signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the grant, described as one of the biggest the university has received, at the latter’s office yesterday.

According to Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin, the grant was negotiated over an 11-month period as the GGMC had to satisfy certain conditions under its Act in order for the money to be disbursed.

A cheque for $45 million was handed over by the minister and Mohamed-Martin explained that the remaining $55 million would be used to purchase needed equipment and supplies for the Faculty of Technology.

Another $15 million will go towards training and scholarships at the institution and $16 million will go towards the improvement of classrooms and teaching facilities for allied and supporting programmes in the faculties of Health Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Agriculture, the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) and the Tain Campus in Berbice.

Funding will also be channeled towards supporting the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation programmes, with an emphasis on the natural resources sector and to support research, curriculum review and development processes, marketing, media and stakeholder consultations.

UG yesterday said that the GGMC has been a longstanding partner of the faculties of Technology, and Earth and Environmental Sciences. In particular, the Geology Department, to which the commission has granted significant sums in the past, has been the main beneficiary.

The new MoU provides for the design and execution of geology, mining engineering and geological engineering programmes; re-tooling and equipping of the geological laboratory to the tune of $55M; curriculum design and enhancement, and provision of laboratory services to the mining sector; collaboration with other government agencies or private entities on areas of common interest for the purpose of participation in research projects for various areas, particularly in the geology, mining engineering and geological engineering programmes; collaboration on students’ internship attachments with GGMC; sharing technical publications based on assignments of the programmes done by scholars of GMMC; and collaboration on annual renewal of the agreement.

In brief remarks at the signing, GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison said the commission will continue to support UG as it would like to see a university grounded in research and scholarships. He said while Minister Trotman had promised the support, it was for the commission to figure out how this could be provided for.

Trotman, on the other hand, pointed out that by supporting the university, the ministry is investing in youths, who are the future. He described the new MoU as the basis for a renewed and enhanced relationship between GGMC and the university and added that it is also a testimony of their pride in the institution and the fact that it is in good hands.

The minister also noted that while Guyana is going to soon be an oil producing state, the other pillars of the economy, such as gold and diamond mining, should not be forgotten.

Article adapted from: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2017/news/stories/10/24/ugs-technology-faculty-to-be-among-key-beneficiaries-of-100m-ggmc-grant/

$100M grant aimed at improving UG's oil and gas programmes

The Ministry of Natural Resources, the Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the University of Guyana (UG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a $100 million philanthropic education grant for the year 2017-2018. The grant will provide the University of Guyana’s, Faculty of Technology with much-needed equipment for its geology labs, curriculum development, training, outreach, and field research, all linked to the emerging oil and gas sector. It also provides specific allocations for all other faculties for student-centered enhancements at the university, the government disclosed in a statement.

Of the total amount, $55M will be used for equipment and supplies to the Faculty of Technology’s laboratories, all of which will be pursued by the GGMC. Some $15M will be used for scholarships and training, while $16M will go towards the improvements of classrooms and teaching facilities at the Faculty of Health, Earth and Natural Sciences, Humanities and Social Science and Agriculture at the Turkeyen and Tain Campuses and IDCE.

The sum of $7M will go towards supporting the School for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation programme with emphasis on the Natural Resources sector, and $7M to support research, curriculum review and development process, marketing, media and stakeholder consultations. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, who handed over the first tranche of the funds ($45M) to Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ivelaw Griffith, at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, said that the government views the initiative as an investment in education, and youth development.

The minister also noted the timeliness of the projects, adding that it is significant as “it represents a renewed and enhanced relationship with the Ministry and GGMC with the University of Guyana,” even as the oil and gas sector develops. Further, Minister Trotman stated that research is also needed in the gold and diamond mining sectors; as they will not be neglected in the period, post-2020 when oil production begins.

Professor Griffith explained that this is one of the university’s most significant grants, which has been negotiated over the last year with the GGMC. Griffith said that it is an investment by the Government in the institution, in an area critical to the nation’s economy. Meanwhile, GGMC Commissioner, Newell Dennison said that GGMC has a long-standing relationship with the University. He highlighted the fact, that many of the commission’s staff through scholarships, have received their higher education at the institution.

Article adapted from: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2017/10/24/100m-grant-aimed-at-improving-ugs-oil-and-gas-programmes/

GOVT/UG sign MOU to improve programmes allied to oil and gas sector

The Ministry of Natural Resources, the Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the University of Guyana (UG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for $100 million philanthropic education grant for the year 2017-2018.

The grant will provide the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Technology with much-needed equipment for its geology labs, curriculum development, training, outreach, and field research, all linked to the emerging oil and gas sector. It also provides specific allocations for all other faculties for student-centered enhancements at the university.

Of the total amount, $55M (55%) will be used for equipment and supplies to the Faculty of Technology’s laboratories all of which will be pursued by the GGMC.  $15M (15%) will be used for scholarships and training, while $16m each (16%) will go towards the improvements of classrooms and teaching facilities at the Faculty of Health, Earth and Natural Sciences, Humanities and Social Science and Agriculture at the Turkeyen and Tain Campuses and IDCE.

The sum of $7M (7%) will go towards supporting the School for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation programme with emphasis on the Natural Resources sector; and 7M (5.7%) to support research, curriculum review and development process, marketing, media and stakeholder consultations.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, who handed over the first tranche of the funds ($45M) to Vice Chancellor Prof. Ivelaw Griffith, at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, said that the government views the initiative as an investment in education, and youth development.

The minister also noted that timeliness of the projects, adding that it is a significant “it represents a renewed and enhanced relationship with the Ministry, GGMC with the University of Guyana,” even as the oil and gas sector develops.

Further, Minister Trotman stated that research is also needed in the gold and diamond mining sectors as they will not be neglected post-2020 when oil production begins.

Professor Griffith explained that this is one of the university’s most significant grants, which has been negotiated over the last year with the GGMC. Griffith said that it is an investment by the Government in the institution, in an area critical to the nation’s economy.

Meanwhile, GGMC Commissioner, Noel Dennison said that GGMC has a long-standing relationship with the UG. He highlighted the fact that many of the commission’s staff, through scholarships have their education at the institution.

Article adapted from: http://gina.gov.gy/govtug-sign-mou-to-improve-programmes-allied-to-oil-and-gas-sector/