Premier Ewart Brown stressed the need for higher performance standards when he met with Bermudian university students on the first leg of his second College Tour in Halifax.

"When you come home there are no entitlements and the standards are high. It's no longer good enough to meet the Bermuda standard, you must meet global standards," he said.

"If it's your intention to come home with your papers, stand on a street corner and wait for the big job to come find you, you'll be waiting on that sidewalk for a very long time. Despite the fact that it's your county, you must go after that job and you must be ready to compete."

More than 50 students attended Friday's event at the World Trade Centre, in Halifax, where the Premier hosted a reception and dinner.

Bermuda Government Human Resources, Butterfield Bank, Institute for Chartered Accountants Bermuda and a representative of the Bermuda Employers' Council participated in the event.

Kanika Cameron, 26, a product of Butterfield Bank's Management Trainee Programme, addressed the students before dinner.

Ms Cameron said: "The key to a successful career is not finding the best paying job but rather finding a job that you love. I know that going back home was the best choice for me and it may or may not be for you, but it should definitely be a consideration. We have to realise that the grass is not always greener on the other side."

After the meal, the Premier conducted a 60-minute question and answer period. Questions ranged from education scholarships to conscription, healthcare jobs to energy policy.

Dr. Brown created the College Tour in 2007 to encourage Bermuda's young people to bring their talents back to the Bermuda workforce after graduating.