Premier Ewart Brown is to ask Education Minister Randy Horton to look in to the feasibility of a four-year university programme in Bermuda.

That was one of the key areas outlined by Dr. Brown during a meeting with Bermudian students in London when they were told they were the people who could take Bermuda to the next level.

And a few days after being told their university fees would come down, he told the students that Independence was still an issue that was 'on the stove' and would be pursued.

Speaking during at the 4th Annual Premier's Dinner for Bermuda students, Dr. Brown also said that the Education Minister has been asked to move quickly on firming up a sports programme in schools as part of the effort to combat growing child obesity.

The Premier admitted that he, personally, is "a little ambivalent" regarding university education in Bermuda. During the discussions stressed the importance of going out in to the world and gaining experiences outside Bermuda.

He added: "That would not necessarily be served by doing an entire four year experience on 22 square miles.

"I really wish it was impossible to even complete all of high school without doing at least a year outside of Bermuda. Once Bermuda becomes your world, you live in a small world."

Bermuda needs its people to start thinking outside the box, he said, adding: "Sometimes our people don't even want to think inside the box. I don't want to further limit your exposure."

Dr. Brown was also challenged on a recurring theme among Bermuda's young people: the PLP's decision not to revitalise the old Bermuda Technical Institute.

But he said the Government will continue to focus on ensuring that every technical qualification Bermudians need is available at the Bermuda College.

He said his Government also recognised the importance of sport in education, with the Premier adding: "If it were not for sport, I would not be here today.

"A healthy sports environment is academically supportive," he added. "It serves as a stabiliser in a situation which can be otherwise unstable. That is why we have merged the Ministries of Education and Sport. There is a lot of societal glue that comes out of the common ground of sports ? there is something about sporting activity that can pull a nation together."

The event was held at London's Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel and before he opened the floor for questions, he had one for the students: how did they feel about the recent UK move to charge students from the Overseas Territories the same university fees as home students? And his question was met with loud applause. "Take advantage of it," the Premier replied. "Benefit yourselves."

He then singled out former Premier Alex Scott for behind-the-scenes credit on the new policy, informing the students that a lot of hard work ? from the former Premier in particular ? had gone in to giving them that opportunity.

Dr. Brown was also asked about his stance on Independence.

"I have said since October 30 that it is no longer on the front burner," the Premier replied. "But make no mistake: it is on the stove. We will continue to pursue it."

However, he did not elaborate on what exactly his Government intends to do about independence.

The drive behind the dinner was an effort to convince overseas students to return home after their studies, helping to stop a brain drain away from Bermuda.

Government figures talked to students personally before the dinner and a speech by keynote speaker and the Premier's new Chief of Staff Sen. Wayne Caines called on the students to take responsibility for reshaping the Island's destiny.

"You do not have the baggage of your parents," Sen. Caines told them, adding that their frame of reference was not limited to the bags of black and white. "You have a cosmopolitan outlook ? you are not limited to the myopic viewpoint that many have in our own country." He called on the students to step out of their comfort zones and challenge every boundary and limitation that currently exists in Bermuda. "You are our brightest, our most intelligent, and obviously our most good-looking," he said.

"I am looking at the people who are going to make the difference. If it's going to happen, it will only happen because you do it. Only you can take Bermuda to the next level. It's time for you to get off the bench and get in to the game."

"We're serious," Dr. Brown agreed. "If you really want to play, here's the ball. Now step up."

However, he added: "We don't want you to come back to Bermuda prematurely, to come back to the insular type of thinking that will hold us back. Go out and become a globalised individual, feel the pulse of the world."

The Government plans to make it clear it is not merely paying lip service to the idea of engaging young Bermudians, he said. However, echoing the words of his predecessor Mr. Scott in a similar open-question forum with young people at the Bermuda Industrial Union several weeks ago, he added: "Please know that this is a two-way street. "If you don't connect with us, we can't connect with you ... you must play your part. There is no welfare system in place."

Last year's dinner, hosted by Mr Scott and the House of Commons, had Bermuda-UK Parliamentary Committee Ian Davidson MP present, but this year no British MPs attended.