Workers and students in Bermuda are to be given greater opportunities to further their careers with the unveiling of a new four-year Bachelor's degree course on the Island.

From September this year, students will be able to obtain a Bachelor's degree in business administration without studying overseas. The Bermuda College yesterday unveiled its new partnership with Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which will make it easier and cheaper for people on the Island to obtain higher qualifications.

Traditionally, students who successfully completed a two-year Associate degree programme in business administration at the College had to transfer to colleges and universities abroad for the final two years to gain a degree.

But, as of this year, they can do all their learning in areas of business, hospitality and tourism while remaining on the Island. Bermuda College president George Cook said the new partnership with the Canadian university was in response to repeated requests from students.

He said: "This is part and parcel of Bermuda College's efforts to ensure that the people of Bermuda shall have access to degrees and qualifications of the highest level. We must meet the needs of the students and we must ensure they are of the highest level and, at the same time, serve the needs of the Bermudian economy.'' Dr. Cook said he also hoped businesses on the Island would support the new initiative by providing their Bermudian workers with the opportunity and time to further their education, in turn, enhancing their chances of promotion.

Under the present system, he said, many people on the Island were at a disadvantage because they were unable to travel abroad to obtain degrees, due to financial, work or family commitments.

However, the partnership with the accredited Mount Saint Vincent University, which will provide the programme, will open new doors.

Business degree students will be able to complete the whole course in Bermuda, if they wish, or split their time between the Island and Canada.

Duranda Greene, Dean of the hotel and business administration department, said Bermuda College received hundreds of requests from various North American universities for joint programmes, but chose to partner with Mount Saint Vincent because it was a pioneer in distance education and because many of Bermuda's graduates transfer to Canadian schools already.

It will also allow students to take advantage of the lower exchange rate of the Canadian dollar.

She added: "It is becoming more and more evident that both local and exempt company businesses are requiring employees to be equipped with at least a Bachelor's degree.

Last night the Chamber of Commerce welcomed the partnership and said, provided the degree was of the calibre required by businesses, then it was a great thing for Bermudians.

Chairwoman Cris Valdes-Dapena said: "The availability of a local credential that will give people the training they need is a good thing, as long as the credential is equivalent to the calibre of school that the local businesses look for.

Vice president of the Bermuda College Donald Peters said as the institute was looking to become a university, he hoped the business degree course was the first of many. There are 176 business students at the college, of whom between 10 and 15 have expressed an interest in continuing with the four-year course on the Island.

Students who have completed the Associate of Business Administration programme or the Associate of Arts (Business Administration) programme will qualify to enter the third year of the Mount Saint Vincent scheme. They will already have completed 19 of the 40 required courses. Graduates of other programmes may also be eligible.

The anticipated cost of the new programme is $10,000 a year, making it possible for a student to complete a four-year degree for just over $20,000.

An information session will be held by the College today at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.