The Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, in collaboration with the Government Technical Institute, hosted a one-day national seminar on Problem-Based Learning and Urban Challenges on Thursday July 25, 2019 at the Education Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Campus.
The seminar was one of the planned events under the CITYLAB CAR project, which is being executed in collaboration between 15 European and Caribbean Higher Education Institutes. The aim of the CITYLAB CAR project is to stimulate innovation in teaching in higher education through Problem-Based Learning in the Caribbean, to make higher education institutes and students better prepared to deal with contemporary urban problems and challenges.
The seminar brought together approximately 40 participants, including key stakeholders, students, and members of academia in discussing Problem Based Learning as a teaching innovation in response to urban sustainability challenges through a multidisciplinary approach.
Opening remarks were delivered by the University of Guyana’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement Professor Paloma Mohammed. Additionally, presentations were made by invited CityLab Project expert partners and notable planners and academics, namely Dr. Asad Mohammed of UWI, St. Augustine and Ms. Angelika Namdar of Anton de Kom University, Suriname. A special session on Problem-Based Learning as a teaching technique was delivered via Skype by University of Trinidad and Tobago Professor Dr. Betty McDonald.
University of Guyana Urban Geography students Mr. Muzzammil Mohabir and Ms. Alana Norville delivered a presentation that was derived from their Urban Geography class group work on the issue of urban informality in central Georgetown. This presentation was introduced by Lecturer Mr. Rawle Edinboro who explained how Problem-Based Learning techniques were being infused into the Course.
Participants at the seminar also engaged in group work specifically geared to garner feedback on how the experience of stakeholders can help to support the infusion of problem-based learning approaches into the delivery of relevant courses at the University of Guyana.
At the end of the seminar, closing remarks were delivered by the Dean of the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Dr. Temitope Oyedotun who also awarded presenters with tokens of appreciation.
