“No Shortcuts to Success”: UG Enrollment Hits Historic 16,000 as Tuition Abolition and Online Learning Transform Access
By: Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News|
TURKEYEN, GUYANA — The University of Guyana (UG) has shattered its previous enrollment records, reaching a historic capacity of 16,000 students. In an exclusive exit interview with Nightly News, outgoing Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Paloma Mohamed Martin revealed that this “remarkable” expansion is the direct result of a strategic hybrid learning model and the government’s landmark decision to abolish tuition fees.
As she prepares to conclude her tenure in July 2026, the first female Vice-Chancellor in the university’s history leaves behind an institution that is significantly larger, more diverse, and more gender-balanced than the one she inherited in 2020.
The Triple-Threat Growth Strategy
The surge from roughly 8,000 students in 2020 to 16,000 today was not accidental. Dr. Mohamed-Martin credited three specific pillars for this transformation:
- Abolition of Tuition: The most significant surge occurred following the transition to state-funded tuition. Enrollment reportedly tripled last year as financial barriers were removed for thousands of eligible Guyanese.
- Online Integration: To prevent the campus from being overwhelmed, the university transitioned most theoretical courses to online delivery. This “borderless” classroom allowed the student body to grow by approximately 1,000 students annually without requiring immediate physical classroom expansion.
- Hybrid Tradition: Practical and lab-based components remain on-campus, ensuring that the increase in quantity does not come at the expense of technical quality.
Global Reach and Gender Equality
Beyond the numbers, the university’s internal culture has undergone a seismic shift toward inclusivity and internationalization.
- International Diversity: UG now hosts between 400 and 500 international students, a 2026 milestone that strengthens Guyana’s position as a regional academic hub.
- The Rise of Female Leadership: Dr. Mohamed-Martin’s tenure has seen a dramatic increase in women at the helm of academic departments. In 2020, there was only one female faculty dean; today, there are five.
- Breaking Glass Ceilings: As the university’s first female VC, she noted that challenging traditional gender norms in academia was a core part of her mission to modernize the institution’s leadership structure.
A Parting Message: Authenticity and Perseverance
With her term ending this July, Professor Mohamed Martin offered a final piece of advice to the 16,000 students currently under her charge, particularly those facing “self-doubt” in an increasingly competitive world.
“There are no shortcuts to success—only genuine, well-rounded effort. Embrace your authenticity and persevere. The growth we see today at this university is a testament to what happens when you commit to a vision and refuse to back down.” — Prof. Dr. Paloma Mohamed Martin
The UG Transformation (2020–2026)
| Metric | 2020 | 2026 |
| Total Student Population | ~8,500 | 16,000 |
| International Students | <100 | 400 – 500 |
| Female Faculty Deans | 1 | 5 |
| Primary Learning Mode | On-Campus | Hybrid (Online/On-Campus) |
| Tuition Status | Paid | State-Funded / Abolished |
A Legacy of Inclusion
The Mohamed Martin era will likely be remembered as the period when the University of Guyana finally became accessible to the “everyman.” By leveraging technology and government funding, the institution has evolved from an elite ivory tower into a high-capacity engine for national development. As the search for her successor begins, the 16,000 students currently logged into the UG portal are living proof of a transformed educational landscape.
