a challenge issued by College president, George Cook. Asking that they make a real investment in Bermuda's future, Dr. Cook is inviting businesses to become partners with the College by creating programmes to help employers and job-seeking students. Such plans could be based on an similar arrangement already in place with Corange Ltd, a major pharmaceutical firm. Through the industry giant, the College was able to develop innovative plans and to also set up the Corange Merit Scholarships in science and maths. The endowment enables secondary school students to earn "scholarship credits'' which are then put towards the payment of fees when they enter the College's Associate of Science programme. "I think the future is very exciting,'' said Dr. Cook, "The community as a whole will surely be advanced. And this, we believe, will encourage higher levels of achievement and encourage students, parents and the schools to work together in pursuit of the scholarship credits. This model may commend itself to others, and I should be pleased to discuss it further with Corange Ltd. also gave the College $1 million which saw the establishment of the Corange Science Centre. "We're all in this together,'' he said. "It's actually very rewarding to develop these innovations. The funds will be used particularly to sustain the quality of our labs. And the Corange Merit Scholarship in maths and science is a definite building process through which students can acquire the means to pay for education while still in secondary school. It's also a means for the school, the parent and the student to think about future options and it's a programme which we think can be replicated quite readily in other areas. It's kind of a prototype but the principal, we think, can make a big difference in terms of general student interests and enable students to see how to get to wherever want to be. "It will also help to improve the quality of teachers by establishing teaching chairs in science which have as their objective, to provide funds to assist in the improvement of the institute by acquiring new facilities and equipment, enabling lectures to go on study leave, to do research and to enable visiting instructors to come to Bermuda. "There are a number of examples in other parts of the business world of companies which might like to associate with us; not necessarily to provide a building, they can provide funds to help students.

That's why we exist and so the Corange partnership I think, is of very great importance. I would say an investment in the College is an investment in Bermuda's future. This is a major bulwark for development of Bermuda's future.'' Similar programmes have also been established with SERCO Facilities Management and members of the insurance industry, he said. "What this facility makes possible is a development of partnerships between the college and the school system on one hand, and the business community on the other for example, the insurance industry,'' he explained. "One of our objectives is to create a pool of educated and talented people to enter the industry and help develop Bermuda's economy. To that end, we have developed within our already existing business studies programme, a concentration in insurance studies -- a basic business programme with additional courses in insurance. "Our `seamless transfer arrangement' with the College of Insurance in New York aids that.

They accept all our courses for transfer. A student can expect, if they graduate with a 3.0 GPA, to get 60 full credits and go right on and complete the curriculum (of the College of Insurance) in two more years. Bermuda has a first-class education facility here in every aspect. A good facility and a good programme. We know students get transfer credits and we know the facilities abroad are looking for them. That's why they come back every year.

Why else would they enter into a seamless transfer unless the quality was there?'' Local insurance companies are doing their bit as well, he added.

Through a local foundation established by those in the industry, students are availed financial assistance in the form of scholarships and awards, with the potential of further assistance when they graduate successfully. "These kinds of programmes can be developed in other areas too,'' he said. "We are very interested in working in other areas of the business industry and there an already established partnership with SERCO Facilities Management which aids the technical trades, providing funds for entry awards for students interested in our electrical programme. They've put a great deal of investment in the training of young people, educating them and providing work for them so they can get experience and so employers get to see them. And at the same time, students earn a little money and ultimately, Bermuda has a pool of trained people so we don't have to import from overseas. It's a true `win-win' situation and offer opportunities for future employers who have to work with us closely in the establishment of standards.'' Establishing such standards, the president added, is good for the students and the workforce. "Because of the nature of Bermuda's workforce, (our standards have) got to be of a good, international standard. Our entry requirements are based upon the content of the programme we have, which is determined by the workplace and the demands of other institutes that the students transfer to. We have to bring students to a level where they can go straight into the workworld, or go abroad and fit into the demands of an educational institute. And wherever they go, we have to determine what the entry requirements are and what the school has to do; ultimately, what our end objectives are, and work backwards to ensure various steps fit together.'' For their part, said Dr. Cook, employers must be willing to support students and employ them when they graduate. "These are all very important prototypes which we would like to see developed in other areas. They provide a real opportunity for the future and a means for the business community to have a direct role in what we do and the quality of what we do and to work with the community at large. It also helps students to more readily reach their goals.'' Building partnerships between the college and business and community groups served the welfare of Bermuda, he added, and the completion of the campus had made this easier. "With our facilities, our programmes and our faculty, combined in active partnerships with the business community, students' interests, employers, the college, and the community as a whole, will surely be advanced.'' MINI SUPPLEMENT SUP