Bermuda College is looking to “internationalise” the campus with a cultural exchange programme.Economic Development Minister Grant Gibbons told the House of Assembly that cultural exchange programmes will be introduced and the College will also “investigate short-term housing options to be able to accommodate overseas students for a ‘Bermuda term’.”He added: “This investigation involves working with the small guest houses in the Paget area to house international students at a reasonable cost.”Speaking for Education Minister Nalton Brangman, Dr Gibbons added: “Initially, the Bermuda College would like to see five to ten student exchanges each year, or ten to 20 students after the initial year.“If this is successful the second phase would be to market to international students to come to Bermuda to complete their associate degree. It is envisioned that the programme would have 40 to 50 students after the first year.”Shadow Education Minister Walton Brown called on the new College board to establish student residences on campus — an idea he had advocated as chairman but which was rejected.He said the move would generate additional revenue and bring other benefits.“If you have a student residence you will have a residential population. That critical mass of young people will create a more vibrant student environment, so more things will happen there,” he said.“Secondly, a student residence will attract foreign students. We once had a strong presence of foreign students at Bermuda College when we had a vibrant hospitality division and a vibrant hospitality sector in Bermuda. Those two have abated but they can be revitalised.”Mr Brown said foreign students who make enquiries about coming to the College are put off by the fact that there is no student accommodation there.He praised the College as the “embodiment of fiscal responsibility” but said that student residences would put it in a stronger position.“It can help to generate more revenue for the College and make it somewhat more autonomous from government financing.”Government provides 80 percent of the College’s revenue, with an $18 million grant.Mr Brown went on to say that another revenue stream would be to set up a research centre at the College.“Bermuda is bereft of any entity that takes a dispassionate look at key and critical issues,” he said.“We spent over $600,000 to hire consultants and a legal team to look at the Municipalities Act. I argued that that was an irresponsible use of taxpayers’ money and I maintain that today. I also argued that we could have gotten a university professor at less than ten percent of that fee to prepare a report.“And a research centre represents the vehicle by which social policy can be examined.”Mr Brown added: “We have a penchant for going overseas to get consultants at exorbitant fees when a properly structured research centre could not simply generate revenue for the Bermuda College, but it could also reduce the expenditure of government agencies in a whole number of areas.“Academics would love the opportunity to come to Bermuda but they will charge you a fraction of the cost than someone who is set up as a consulting firm.”