Thanks to the UG-RASSR program of the University of Guyana, the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technical professionals will be distributed across the country, not just in Georgetown, the capital city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now in the fifth and final year of its first cohort, and the first year of its second, the program has reached students from Guyana\u2019s 10 administrative regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin, outgoing UG Vice-Chancellor, described the program as an accelerated pathway into advanced STEM learning. It identifies and mentors young students with strong ability in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and related fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDefinitely, STEM education and potential are there in our students\u2026sustained engagement\u2014from students in every region, year after year\u2014signals that STEM interest is not confined to the capital,\u201d Professor Mohamed-Martin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The results so far show strong retention. The professor commented that UG expected about half of the students to leave the program over its five-year period. Instead, 92 remained by the end of the cycle. More than 75 have chosen to continue in STEM-related fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Four outstanding students from the program gained admission to the University of Guyana at the unusually young ages of 14 and 15 and are completing their first year in computer science. One student completed the full CSEC complement in Grade 10, earning eight Grade Ones and one Grade Two, and is now at UG studying petroleum engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n