The Bermuda College will be hosting over 40 colleges and universities from across the United States, Canada and England at their annual International College Fair tomorrow and Friday.

Speaking at the Hamilton Rotary Club yesterday, Sandra Dill, who serves on the International College Fair Committee said the goal of the fair was to provide an opportunity for every citizen, young and old, to identify a college or university that can help them attain their goals. Participating colleges and universities' admissions officers will be on hand to educate and advise people on how best they can pursue their academic dreams at their various institutions.

About 14 years ago, a group of local high school counsellors identified the need for the students to have a close up, face to face chat with college admissions officers.

Ms Dill said they felt that their students should have access to as many options as they could provide.

Hence the beginning of the annual Bermuda International College Fair.

The fair co-ordination has changed from a group of local counsellors to overseas co-ordinators and is now back in the hands of local co-ordinators representing the Ministry of Education, Bermuda College, Bermuda Careers Centre, B-TEC and the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

"The purpose of having such a cross section of the local community is to match education and industry so that our students are guided in the right direction," she said.

She added that students are given information about selecting accredited colleges and universities and aligning their education with the career of their choice.

The fair is open to anyone 12-years and older and she encouraged M2 and S2 students to attend. "Good early planning and preparation is the key to getting into a college of your choice," she said.

On Thursday and Friday, S3, S4 and junior and senior students from the public and private high schools will be attending the fair with the goal of identifying the college which best meets their needs.

Thursday evening from 5.30 p.m. the 7 p.m. an informal session for the general public to find out about local scholarships, completing the application process, how to get the most of the fair and apprenticeships and management in training programmes from the Bermuda Insurance Institute, Bank of Butterfield, Bermuda Alliance for Tourism, the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Belco.

After the information session, the fair will reopen from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Quoting Nelson Mandela, Ms Dill said: "Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change a world" and the Bermuda College hope to use education to prepare Bermuda for the global marketplace.