Echoing the GUYUNIV2 missionFollowing its exploratory mission to Surinam and Guyana last June, the University of Guyana welcomed 3 university delegations from 14 to 16 November. The University of Surinam (ADEKUS), the University of Guyana (UoG) and the Federal University of Amapa (UNIFAP) met at the University of French Guiana to officially launch the Conference of University Rectors of the Guiana Shield.
L' Université de Guyane organised the launch of the first Conference of University Rectors of the Guyana Plateau. On this occasion, it welcomed its counterpart partners from the macro-region: the University of Surinam (ADEKUS), the University of Guyana and the Federal University of Amapa (UNIFAP). This event marks a turning point and the start of a great adventure for the four higher education establishments.
Over the course of the three days, the four institutions discussed the issues they face in common, both in terms of research and training. The question of an academic and university identity for the Guiana Shield macro-region came to the fore. The challenges faced by these territories and countries, the issues of public health and the richness of their biodiversity are all common themes.
Through this meeting, the University of French Guiana hopes to lay the foundations for a consortium of universities from the Guiana Shield, which is set to expand, in order to boost educational and scientific initiatives between the four universities. The meeting will also provide an opportunity to lay the foundations for three key projects: the Amazonian Institute of Biodiversity and sustainable Innovation (AIBSI), the creation of a university press for the Guiana Shield and the creation of a North Amazonian doctoral conference.
Building a macro-regional university identity
Over the course of the three days, a morning session was organised to lay the foundations for the three key projects that will help to build a macro-regional academic and university identity for the Guyana Plateau.
AIBSI (Amazonian Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainable Innovation): an operational framework to support the emergence of a macro-regional academic and university identity;
A North Amazonian doctoral conference as a forum for building an academic identity through high-level training. The creation of an Amazonian doctoral training programme could make a major contribution to strengthening the emergence on the Guiana Shield of networks of specialists and experts on Amazonia, focusing on issues such as knowledge of biodiversity, the environment, the use of innovative technologies, knowledge of our societies on the Guiana Shield and development issues.
A university press for the Guyana Plateau: a tool for building a macro-regional identity. The aim is to raise the international profile of scientific and educational publications, as well as popular works by the four institutions. By pooling the skills of the four institutions, the idea of a shared university press could create a real space in which their scientists and doctoral students could publish their work.
