UCB becomes UB in Belmopan ceremony
The
University of Belize is now a reality. This afternoon, the official inaugural
ceremony for the University was held at its new headquarters in Belmopan.
The University’s President Dr. Angel Cal outlined the various challenges
of the University since it is a brand new era in Belizean Education.
Martin Cuellar, Vice President, Student Affairs
“The ceremony we are taking part in today marks the opening of a new
chapter in Belize’s education. This will affect the lives of current students
and certainly the lives of future students. Today we see in this nice
ceremony that draws together different parts of Belize’s culture, certainly
different representatives from Belize’s business and government sectors
as well as our education sectors. Likewise, for students in the university
in the future, we think that they will stand to benefit from a more comprehensive,
a more condense and a more amalgamated educational experience. We will
notice that students in the future for example, will now have opportunities
for pursuing degrees that were not available in Belize before. Once they
get into the university, they will be able to benefit from a better qualified
faculty. One can say that they will benefit from the best that Belize
has to offer along to lines of university professors. Finally, we look
forward to a marked improvement in the quality of life that the division
of student affairs can provide to students, which we feel very strongly
is one of the most important ways that we can create that optimal graduate
from the university that we are all charged by our mission to create.”
Dr. Angel Cal, President, University of Belize
“We are being entrusted with the nation building task of laying down the
proper foundations of UB, drawing from the strengths of the five institutions
that we come from. Naturally the transition will call for a good degree
of patience, understanding and trust. We wish to assure each and every one
of our faculty and staff that the UB administration is very mindful of the
challenges of moving into a new institution with new and untested policies,
regulations and procedures.”
“UB graduates have to be able to easily move into the world of work
and to remain current in their field, keeping pace with developments in
technology. To integrate the university into the community that it serves,
UB will require of its faculty and students relevant, discipline related
service to the community as an integral component of their educational
experience. It is very important that a Belizean university education
assumes a more proactive role in bringing about change in our community.”
The University is starting its first year with over two thousand students
and two hundred and fifty faculty and staff. Other speakers at the ceremony
were Minister of Education Cordel Hyde, Governor General Colville Young,
and Chairman of the UB Council Evan X Hyde.
