Sir Ronald Sanders installed as University of Guyana’s 11th chancellor

The University of Guyana on Friday formally installed Sir Ronald Sanders as its 11th chancellor during a ceremony at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre on its Turkeyen campus.

Sir Ronald was welcomed with tributes highlighting his decades-long career in diplomacy, academia and public policy, as well as his advocacy for regional integration and the interests of small states in global affairs. Attendees included Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Education Minister Sonia Parag, Public Service Minister Zulfikar Ally and Vice-Chancellor Paloma Mohamed-Martin, along with regional officials.

In his inaugural address, Sanders stressed that free education must not be mistaken for lower standards, urging continued investment in quality higher education. “National expectations have risen, global competition has shortened, in such moments a country’s future is not secured by resources alone, it is secured by what its people know, how quickly they learn and how effectively they apply knowledge,” he said.

He also praised the university’s expansion into virtual learning, describing digital education as an equalising force in a geographically dispersed country, and called for sustained investment from government and the private sector to maintain quality and growth.

President Ali, speaking at the ceremony, said the university must convert research into innovation and practical national value, positioning higher education as central to Guyana’s long-term development.

“The nation requires a national university of strength and stature, one that will supply the continuity of highly trained and skilled graduates across every discipline to propel and sustain our development,” the president said.