Bermuda College will soon be launching a needs assessment survey to determine the training needs of the local workforce.

The Centre for Professional and Career Education (PACE), the workforce development division of Bermuda College, expects to provide about 40 percent of Bermuda's total training and professional development needs for the various local employment sectors over the next three to five years.

Later this month, PACE staff will begin compiling data on exactly where their training emphasis should be focused.

PACE Director Eugenie Simmons says the partnership between industry training and higher education is a trend that is gaining momentum.

Dr. Simmons said: "We realise we have a lot more in common than originally thought. "We now have an advisory committee composed of senior officials from the hospitality, technical and retail sectors, international business and government.

"We've also listened very closely to what came out of our recent Strategic Direction Initiative," said Dr. Simmons. "Our mandate is to provide professional development and training opportunities for those resident and working in Bermuda.

"That includes training for national and international certification, professional development opportunities for persons in the workforce, and customised training for public and private sector organisations ? all of which are designed to meet the needs of the business community and other key industries."

The Needs Assessment Survey was distributed via mass mailings to all employers last week. Dr. Simmons said it was important to get employers' input first.

"This is a major workforce development initiative for Bermuda. It is imperative training initiatives be aligned with the emerging needs of the various sectors of industry.

"It's also reciprocal. Employees seeking professional qualifications and other credentials do so to command higher salaries, or seek job advancement ? it's a natural match."

She said workforce development was an important plank in Bermuda's overall sustainable development initiative.

"Unfortunately traditionally, higher education has not kept in line with business and national workforce development needs. It therefore has tended to solve problems in the classroom that business had solved five years prior and has not necessarily aligned itself with national workforce development.

"However, as the only tertiary institution in Bermuda, it is essential the College provides leadership in this area and provide manageable solutions to workforce development for the country."

The Needs Assessment Survey will seek to bring real problems identified in industry to PACE so that programmes can be developed that will address them in a timely manner.

The Survey takes only a few minutes to complete and can be returned to the PACE office in the self-addressed pre-paid envelope provided.

Organisations that have not received the questionnaire and who wish to participate in the survey, can contact the PACE offices for a package.

For more information contact Dr. Simmons at 239 4075.