19/09/2024
University of Guyana and Massy Guyana Ltd. Ink Agreement to Enhance Student Development and Innovation
MOU Signing 12.jpg
From right, seated: Assistant Vice President - Corporate Management Systems, Massy Distribution and Massy Stores , Christpen Bobb-Semple, UG’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement Dr. Melissa Ifill; UG’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin; Chairman, Massy Guyana - Navindra Thakur; Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Engagement, Prof. Emanuel Cummings; Dean of SEBI, Professor Leyland Lucas. From Right standing: Assistant Vice President - Commercial, Massy Gas Products - Hekima Paul; HR Manager, Massy Stores - Sharon Rodrigues-Alguram; Quality Manager, Massy Distribution - Tiffany Andrade; and Head of IT & Business Solutions, Massy Guyana - Sherry Ann Khan.
The University of Guyana (UG) and Massy (Guyana) Ltd., on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at providing UG students with increased opportunities for career development, practical experience, and research innovation. The signing, which took place at the Office of the Vice-Chancellor at UG’s Turkeyen Campus, was formalised by Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohammed Martin and Massy (Guyana) Ltd. Chairman, Mr. Navindra Thakur.
This five-year MoU is designed to foster collaboration between the two organisations, enhancing the academic and professional pathways available to UG students. Through this partnership, UG students will benefit from scholarships, internships, and the Massy Management Trainee Programme, which will provide invaluable real-world experience and training. Additionally, the agreement will support the development of a talent pipeline, allowing students to transition into the workforce with essential skills.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohammed Martin expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership and encouraged Massy representatives to invest in students, even from the secondary school level. “The labour market is becoming increasingly competitive, with companies offering better packages to attract and retain talent. I’ve been advocating for local companies to focus on younger talent, such as CXC students. By engaging high-performing schools and sponsoring students to attend university, businesses can invest in training the next generation while addressing their own staffing needs. Beyond the job market, we must also focus on lifting people up by providing opportunities where they are often overlooked,” the VC said.
We look forward to continued support from UG, ensuring that the talent and skills we need continue to flow into Massy."
Dr. Melissa Ifill, UG’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, was also present at the signing session. She expressed her pleasure with the collaboration, highlighting that Massy is a significant player in the Guyanese market, making this agreement an important step forward for both institutions.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Engagement, Prof. Emanuel F. Cummings, expressed his satisfaction with the partnership between Massy and the University of Guyana. He noted that it presents an opportunity for past graduates of the Massy Graduate Trainee Programme to serve as mentors for new trainees.
Dean of the School of Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation (SEBI), Professor Leyland Lucas, also shared his enthusiasm, highlighting that students who participate in the programme will return to the classroom with valuable practical knowledge, enhancing their academic and professional development.
Other key areas of collaboration under the MoU include professional development programmes, guest lectures delivered by Massy executives, and community engagement initiatives designed to enhance relationships between UG, Massy, and local communities.
