Staff at The Berkeley Institute will earn graduate degrees and certificates online through an arrangement with a US university.

Keisha Allen-Smith, Berkeley’s director of staff development, said this partnership with Thomas College in Waterville, Maine “will provide access to the entire Berkeley teaching, faculty, support team, facilities and operations team with an opportunity to advance their knowledge and skills suited for their own careers and professional development.

“With the initial cohort of Signature Learning programme students about to complete their second year, rapidly advancing to their third year, it is imperative that faculty continue to advance their own knowledge, skills and pedagogy, and also advancement of their own careers.”

Ms Allen-Smith thanked Sonia Waldron and Leonard Santucci for initiating the partnership.

Citing Thomas College’s history of engagement with Bermuda, which dates to the 1980s, Mikaela Ziobro, the school’s senior director of graduate and professional studies, said: “We are excited to extend this partnership to faculty and staff at The Berkeley Institute and continue to grow our relationships on the island.”

Thomas College will offer the first course to staff free of charge and the others at a discount.

Staff can pursue graduate degrees, including Master’s of Science in education or criminology and Master’s of Business Administration in project management or criminal justice administration.

They can also earn advanced certificates in project management, cybersecurity or human resource management.

Craig Bridgewater, chairman of the Berkeley board of governors, said: “As an educational institution, learning is continuous and ever evolving.

“Creating opportunities for our staff to enhance themselves only adds value to the education provided by The Berkeley Institute.”