Promoting Reflection as Practice.
To “reflect” means to think deeply, thoughtfully and carefully about something. It may be an incident in one’s own life or another’s. It may be about something artistic that has been presented. Reflection aids in developing critical enquiry and critical thinking.
Workshops
IGS also offers workshops to facilitate Gender Mainstreaming and Gender Integration
Programmes
The Institute of Gender Studies (IGS) writes the syllabus for courses that the Institute will offer and that will be offered in conjunction with other departments at the University.
About the Institute
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE
The Institute of Gender Studies (IGS) at the University comes under the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and its Director reports to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Engagement. It is the goal of the IGS to fulfill The University’s mission of offering a focused, inclusive and empowering program of education designed at correcting systemic inequities and promoting reflective practice. The Institute is envisioned as one for transformational teaching, learning and leadership and consistent with The University of Guyana’s regulations will:
- Offer certificate and credit courses designed to critically analyze, from a human rights and social justice standpoint, cultures, institutions, individuals and intellectual ideas.
- Facilitate research and other program/project activities;
- Address gender-related issues pertinent to the personal and academic success of undergraduate and postgraduate students;
- Develop policy and make policy recommendations on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research, teaching and outreach program and activities related to gender mainstreaming.
- Work to advance a national agenda on women and gender studies.
- Maintain and share course materials and resource data for IGS inter-faculty and inter-campus teaching;
“… I would like to recommend IGS workshops to everybody, I think everybody should be aware of who they are and I think these workshops have the power to do that…”
Former Student Nkofi Hodge speaking on his experiences after attending one of our workshops.
OUR NETWORK
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Gender Studies at UG, under my directorship, advocates reaching outward to engage the system. Students in our courses and programs are required to analyze the social and political structures that inform their realities. They are given more than simply marginal opportunity to examine the complexity of the networks of relations in what has become an increasingly “technocratic” society that threatens to dull their sensitivity to the moral or ethical issues in their local and global communities. In the Gender Studies classroom, students are challenged to examine themselves and their societies from revolutionary and liberatory standpoints for sustainable families and communities.
Please browse through our website and sign up for our workshops and courses.
Director
Institute Gender Studies
Our team
Testimonials
Dr. Pauline Bullen has occasioned a new approach in her Leadership style at the Institute of Gender Studies which inspires hope and provides motivation for students who aspire to acquire knowledge about Gender Equality and Gender Perspectives at IGS. Her wealth of knowledge and experience is exemplified by her ability to address thorny issues surrounding Sex, Sexuality, Socialization, Biological differences, Patriarchy and Toxic masculinity."
“Dr. Bullen’s networking skills are awesome. IGS is poised to deliver the requisite competencies and behavioral modification skills for a socially cohesive and advancing Guyana.”
“I am happy to see that the Institute of Gender Studies is in operation. I have benefited from the community engagement of its predecessor Women's Studies Unit and I am happy that the IGS maintains the same philosophy of interacting with the community. I am glad that the Director Dr Pauline Bullen, has sought to network and ensure that the work of the IGS is connected to the needs of the society."
“I am a student and a staff (Secretary) at the University of Guyana. I have attended each event held on campus by IGS since August 2017 to February 2018 and was even asked spontaneously to participate during an event for the 16 Days of Activism against Violence in our communities. I am able to take the knowledge I have gained and use it in my day-to-day life. The events have been emotional, educational, moving and uplifting.”
I would like to extend appreciation to IGS for the outstanding work it has been doing since it came into existence under Dr. Bullen’s stewardship. I do believe that we as a society have the power and ability to create and promote positive change. IGS has started such a movement by educating and providing platforms for persons like myself to dissect the current social truths that exist in our society. On-behalf of myself and Team SWAG, we would like to take this opportunity to offer sincere thanks to Dr. Bullen and her assistants - hardworking vibrant pioneers, for being so organized and methodical in the execution of the events hosted by the Institute. Great job guys!!
"I attended the first event on ‘how gender is conceptualized and actualized in Indigenous communities’, organized by the IGS under the direction of Dr. Pauline Bullen, and I fully support the work being done by the Institute to bring new conversations to the academic arena and public."
In this section we feature a woman who excelled in her field and has been a inspiration for all women to follow.
Dr. Carla Barnett
On August 15, 2021, Dr. Carla Natalie Barnett was appointed the first woman and 8th Secretary-General (SG) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Dr. Barnett is also the first Belizean to be appointed to the post.
Since the establishment of CARICOM in 1973, the appointment of the first female is recognized as a major milestone. In her first address, the new SG recognizes that the community is faced with ever increasing challenges which is further propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges affect not only our livelihoods, but our youth, environment and health. Therefore the call for a more resilient and sustainable future within the region is ever more pressing. As the new Secretary-General takes up her post, she reminds all, “I am here to serve.”
A Return to School: Manual for Welfare Workers, Guidance Counsellors, School Administrators and Other Staff
35 welfare officers have been certified to provide psychosocial support to students across Guyana. Director of IGS, Dr. Pauline Bullen, created a manual using a gender responsive approach to address the psychosocial needs of children in Guyanese schools.
Spring 2021 funding: Laura Bassi Scholarship
The Laura Bassi Scholarship, which awards a total of $8,000 thrice per annum, was established by Editing Press in 2018 with the aim of providing editorial assistance to postgraduates and junior academics whose research focuses on neglected topics of study, broadly construed.
Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!
In recognition of the 16 days of activism, IGS participated in protest action against gender-based violence. Director, Dr. Pauline Bullen and volunteers raised the call to action and invites you to Orange the World!
“Beware the Promise Today” by Errol Brewster
“BEWARE THE PROMISE TODAY”, is a photo essay about the demise in Guyana, in the early 1970s and the very first trains to be introduced in South America in 1846. Brewster’s work will be featured at IGS’s magazine launch, “Issues Guyana”, on November 19, 2019 – International Men’s Day. We will also be featuring his film, ‘Flambeau’, an extract from Earl Warner’s Man Talk.
Panel Discussion
On September 25, 2019 the panel discussion on Women in Agriculture in Leguan, North, South and Central Rupununi led by Dr Maxine Parris-Aaron, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Dr. Gillian Smith, FAO, Louisa Daggers, Coordinator, Amerindian Research Unit (UG), Seon Hamer, Assistant Dean, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences (UG) was a huge success with 116 attendees. Our next event will take place on November 19th when we launch the first publication of ISSUES Guyana: Come Hear Dis.
Scholarship Opportunity – Update
IGS wishes to congratulate Kadesha S. Lewis – reading for an Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering and Obena Vanlewyn – reading for a BSc. in Medical Imaging being granted scholarships in The Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC).
Magazine Issue 1
A magazine with writings by men on what it means to grow up in a “rape” culture or culture of violence.
Fellow Opportunity
3-year Postdoctoral Research Fellow opportunity in sociology of youth to work on our longitudinal mixed-methods Life Patterns research project at the Youth Research Centre, in the University of Melbourne.