Administrators at the Bermuda College expect the institution to become a degree-granting university college by 2002.

To better learn the process of granting degrees in certain areas while still teaching trades, the College will hold a ground breaking conference in the autumn on the evolving trend in education, the university college.

The conference is expected to attract almost 200 experts.

College president George Cook said at a press conference yesterday: "The interest we are getting from around the world is phenomenal.

"When we started out talking about it we realised there had never been a conference on this topic,'' Dr. Cook said. "It will help us learn the best practices and the pitfalls of what we are about to do.'' And he confirmed a long held wish in Bermuda's educational community.

"Our objective is to become the University College of Bermuda by the year 2002,'' Dr. Cook said.

The conference will be held at the Stonington Campus for three days from October 18.

University colleges combine educational programmes from academic, technical, and community college divisions for the communities they serve.

While they do not offer the full slate of degrees offered by full universities, they do allow communities to educate a variety of members of their population in fields that are needed.

University colleges are growing in popularity in small islands and in regions with sparse populations because they can be cost effective, not only for governments but also for students.

Dr. Cook said no-one has brought together those who have organised the schools, or people who have studied the trend, or governments and administrators who have considered the direction in higher education in their countries.

College plan The objectives of the conference will be to inform the College on the concept, provide a network of advisors, and give an opportunity for all involved to explore trends.

The College has had confirmation of attendance from the Caribbean, Central America, British Columbia, and the Maritime Provinces of Canada, and Malta.

Dr. Cook said numerous islands in the South Pacific have expressed keen interest in the conference and he has heard from educators in Tonga, Kiribati, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands.

The keynote speaker will be the Governor-General of St. Lucia, Pearlette Louisy.

Gov. Louisy is the former president of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in St. Lucia and wrote her doctoral dissertation on the problems of small islands and tertiary education.

"She's acutely aware of the challenges of small island states educating their population,'' Dr. Cook said.

"Dr. Louisy has been the leader in the idea that policy in countries has reopened the debate of the credibility and viability of tertiary education in small islands.

Now she's the Governor-General of her country.''