happy'' with the standards attained by the many Bermudian students who attend the Nova Scotia institution.

Dr. James Perkin, who retires in June, was in Bermuda for a brief visit last week, during which he gave his farewell address to the Bermuda branch of Acadia's Alumni Association.

In an interview with Living, Dr. Perkin said a formal agreement between the university and the Bermuda College, by which successful students are guaranteed entry into the third year of Acadia's business programme, would never have been signed unless there was already "comfort'' with Bermudian standards.

"We were merely recognising the quality of performance reached by Bermuda students over the years, so this merely formalised existing arrangements,'' he said.

Acadia, recently ranked by Maclean's magazine as the top undergraduate university in Nova Scotia and third in that category in the whole of Canada, has enjoyed a long-standing connection with Bermuda, with an average of 30 to 40 Bermudian students enrolling at the university each year.

"We can all be proud of Acadia's reputation,'' he said. "This year, there was a separate survey for primary institutions, as opposed to larger ones that have medical or law schools attached. Over 2,000 institutions representing the leaders of Canadian business and intellectual life were asked to assess 18 universities. We placed in the top four of every category.'' Dr. Perkin is also proud of Acadia's international reputation, "something I have always tried to encourage''.

"For such a small university, we have a remarkably high number of overseas students, coming from 35 countries and representing 10 percent of the total enrolment. But,'' he added with a smile, "In one way, perhaps, Bermuda is not `international' as you have always had such very close ties with the Maritimes.'' Dr. Perkin's successor will be Dr. Kelvin Ogilvie, a graduate of Acadia and one of the world's leading scientists.

Widely honoured for his work in genetic engineering, he invented the "gene machine'' which chemically synthesises and manufactures RNA and DNA. He has also made dramatic breakthroughs with the development of Ganciclovir, a drug that fights infections in weakened immune systems and which is now being tested for use in treating AIDS and Herpes. Last year, he received the Manning Principal Award for Innovation, often referred to as "Canada's Nobel Prize''.

"I am sure there will be new opportunities for Acadia under Dr. Ogilvie, arising out of his scientific distinction, but we have a very strong tradition in the liberal arts. And at Acadia, you cannot take a degree that concentrates in only one area. Our students are well rounded, which is why they do so well in graduate schools. So I do see new horizons, but within the concept of a traditional Acadia education.'' Asked how he would like to be remembered, as his ten-year presidency draws to a close, Dr. Perkin reacted quickly.

"I think self-perception is a very dangerous thing! It is ultimately only a judgement other people can give. But I have heard it said -- and I think I would endorse this -- that I have been a stabilising influence. I'm a product of war-time Britain and the Royal Air Force, so I think that gives some sort of standard by which to judge me.'' Dr. Perkin attended Daventry Grammar School in the Midlands of England and in 1946 entered the Royal Air Force before going on to Oxford University and winning the Baptist Union Open Scholarship.

Rather modestly, he maintains that Oxford, at that time, did not have "the sophisticated entrance requirements they have now -- I just went to Oxford and spent two days writing exams, then a morning of interviews -- and I was offered a place. I had to demonstrate some ability in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, etc. as I was doing a linguistic programme, but some of us had been in the Forces, so they allowed for the fact that we might be a bit rusty.'' Asked if he regretted today's decline of emphasis on a classical education, Dr. Perkin's reply was revealing, if somewhat unexpected. "The world is a very difficult place and makes difficult demands on people. We can't live in today's world without computer technology and you can't keep adding extra subjects without taking some away. So, to a large degree, computer and other technological subjects have taken over from subjects like Latin. I don't think the world will come to an end without Latin. But,'' he added, "I do wish that people would learn to speak their own language, whatever it might be, properly!'' In Dr. Perkins' view, one of the great concerns facing the world today, and intellectuals in particular, is that of ethical issues.

"If you are going to be a leader these days, you have to make ethical decisions. Some of these are very difficult and need to be addressed, particularly by academic people. For example, on what basis do you decide who receives an organ transplant? Is an older, but brilliant philosopher more valuable than a 25-year-old garage mechanic with two children and a whole life before him? Doctors know no more about ethics than anyone else. And sexual morality has changed completely from 50 years ago, when sleeping together meant risk of pregnancy. Now that's been virtually eliminated so the question of personal morality goes into a new thing, where fear of consequences is not a major element.'' One of the more predictable problems that Dr. Perkin will be handing over to Dr. Ogilvie will be that of maintaining services with decreasing funds -- a constant problem for all Canadian institutions.

"Canada's economy is going through hard times and some Provinces have spent too freely. But Acadia has a very supportive, albeit tough Board. We have never been allowed to have a deficit. In terms of spending, we have never received lavish treatment, so, unlike some universities, we are used to living more modestly.'' It is in the area of finance that Dr. Perkins hopes the 53 world-wide Acadia Alumni associations will be able to assist future students to complete a university education.

"In the past, Alumni support has been important. But if we are to maintain our standards and services, it will become absolutely crucial to our survival.'' Meanwhile, Dr. Perkin, who has only spent 24 hours in Bermuda on each of his two visits here, hopes to return for a longer visit when he retires. Not that he will have time on his hands: as a prolific writer with many publications to his credit, he is proof-reading his latest book, and a collection of his articles is to be published next month. Immediately after that, he plans to write a book on one of Canada's most celebrated artists, Alexander Colville -- who just happens to live in Wolfville, the small university town which, ever since Acadia was founded in 1838, has become a temporary home for so many of Bermuda's young people.

FAREWELL VISIT -- Dr. James Perkin, President and Vice Chancellor of Acadia University, retiring in June.