programme offered by Bermuda Microsystems.

BMS yesterday held the first of a series of Internet and e-business seminars aimed at information technology professionals, with more than thirty people in attendance at the two sessions at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

BMS brought Simon Geoghegan, Director of Academic Services at Toronto-based CDI Educational Services, to explain basic Internet commerce and development strategies to the professionals, representing financial services firms, telecommunications companies and Government.

Mr. Geoghegan also introduced subsequent seminars that BMS will be offering in conjunction with his company, ProsoftTraining.com. The firm offers a Certified Internet Webmaster qualification designed for professionals who design, develop, market, administer, secure and support Internet- and intranet-related services.

Subsequent seminars will focus on Internet fundamentals and HTML (the Internet's language code).

BMS Project Manager Hoda Hassan said she thought the company would be able to fill its courses.

"There is a skills gap,'' she said.

"People need to be aware and informed.'' And Ms Hassan said BMS had to import trainers for its programme because they required a high degree of specialisation currently unavailable on the Island.

But she said that there was a large enough market to hire a locally-based trainer if they could be trained with a broad enough skills base to teach various Internet- and computer-related concepts.

Next month, BMS will open a new training centre equipped with two classrooms at 37 Reid Street in the Armoury Building. The centre will also offer Microsoft technical courses focusing on administration of various Microsoft software products, including the operating systems Windows NT and Windows 2000.

And an agreement with Virtual University Enterprises will allow the company to provide IT certification exams with VUE's Internet-based system.

BMS Managing Director Philip Cooper said that VUE's testing system is "the most powerful available''.

"It's breakthrough technology and passion for service will enable us to provide even greater service for our customers,'' he said.

"VUE's technology also give unparalleled control and flexibility over our ability to provide testing services. We will be much freer to experiment with testing hours and number of testing stations,'' he said.

BUSINESS BUC