Officials at Webster University's local campus want to see more employers sponsoring graduate students.

Programme director Dara van Dijk said an increasing number of employers were recognising that their employees did not need to go overseas to learn oral and written communication skills, critical thinking and team building skills.

And she noted that companies, such as the banks, were willingly sponsoring their employees' education.

But Mrs. van Dijk said: "We would like to see more employers sponsoring of our students, either directly to individual students or by scholarships.'' While noting that the banks traditionally sponsored undergraduates, she said more funding could go toward graduate students.

"If you calculate the cost of the loss of an employee it is worth it to have them attend college here,'' Mrs. van Dijk pointed out. "If people can also stay here and not disrupt their family life and obtain a degree, why not. We would rather see them stay in Bermuda and have them committed to the community.

"An investment in a student will reap great rewards for the individual, the organisation, and the community.

"I always encourage students to approach their employers.'' She also noted that Webster's local fees were not much higher than the fees it charged overseas.

"We're only about $100 higher than the rates at our main campus in St.

Louis,'' Mrs. van Dijk said. "And we're a non-profit organisation. We were at the base rent free. Now we're paying rent and have other expenses.'' With an enrolment of some 50 students since it relocated from the former US Naval Base in St. David's to Hamilton last year, Webster University has plans to offer Masters of Arts degrees in international business this fall and in Human Resources Development next spring.

"We do have the flexibility to meet the needs of the employers,'' Mrs. van Dijk stressed. "We were isolated when we were on the base. Now I've been working very hard in the last year to develop dialogue with companies to determine their needs.'' As enrolment increased, she said, the university will be able to subdivide its office space above The Marine Locker on Gorham Road in Pembroke.

And while noting that the local campus was small in comparison to other Webster University sites, she said: "Our mission statement for this campus is small in size, large in stature.

"We can offer endless options to our students if the interest is there.'' The university hoped to eventually offer a marketing graduate course and an undergraduate completion programme, Mrs. van Dijk revealed.

But she explained that the latter was not presently feasible due to the fact that the university did not have accreditation in that area.

"I'm certainly trying to do it,'' she said, adding that one of Webster's vice presidents was expected in Bermuda next week.

"Whether it's Webster or another university I feel strongly that there should be a place here where students can complete an undergraduate degree.

"What I would love to see happen is for us to offer undergraduate summer courses. We don't use our offices during the day, perhaps it could be possible.'' Mrs. van Dijk said the university was also looking to expand its computer lab services.

"We are heavily into technology and have on-line research for students,'' she pointed out. "We did not have a computer lab when we were on base. But now we have Internet access. And we are looking to expand that and make it available to students at no charge.

"We bring the instructors, textbooks, and registration paperwork to Bermuda so that the student does not have to travel off the Island to pursue a Master's degree.'' Bermuda Employers Council executive director Malcolm Dixon could not be reached for comment.

But head of the International Companies Division of the Chamber of Commerce Anthony Goodfellow said international companies in Bermuda were already spending "an enormous amount of money on education''.

"International companies give a hell of a lot of money,'' Mr. Goodfellow stressed. "Even in the International Companies Chamber of Commerce award scheme there was money for graduate students in need. And this year we raised over $200,000. That's just a start.

"International companies, including Jardine Matheson, XL, and Johnson & Higgins, just to name a few, are doing it (providing scholarships).'' Mr. Goodfellow also noted that the Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies was set up to help Bermudian college students interested in the insurance industry. And he said the banks published a book of available scholarships.