When Dr. Duranda Greene began working at the Bermuda College as a lecturer more than 20 years ago, she had no idea that one day she would be in charge of Bermuda’s only institution of higher learning.

Next year, however, the 43-year-old will become the first female president of the College and the youngest person to hold the much sought-after position.

The soft spoken, but focused and determined educator has no misconceptions about the challenges the College will have to confront in the immediate future.

Issues ranging from under-prepared students entering the College from the Government-funded education system to declining enrolment will keep her busy when she takes over the management of the College from outgoing president Dr. Charles Green.

Dr. Greene admits that the public education system is failing to produce students who are academically prepared to enter the College.

“We have a problem with under-prepared students entering the College, but the problem is not unique to Bermuda, it is an international problem. It is an issue that comes along with being a community college.

“You are always going to face this issue because the Harvards and Cornells of this world are only going to take certain students and will leave the rest to the public education system or community colleges,” she said.

Dr. Greene believes one way to address the problem is for the College to form a closer relationship with educators in the public school system.

“One of the things I would like to see is a closer partnership with the high schools.

“When a student leaves CedarBridge Academy or the Berkeley Institute with their Bermuda Secondary School Certificate and they have passed English and Maths, they should automatically be able to enter the College’s freshman English and Maths classes, if they have passed with a certain grade.

“I don’t see why this should not happen. At this point, there is a disconnect between the two curriculums and this is something we need to address,” she explained.

Enrolment at the College has declined by more than five percent over the last year and the president elect said the College has to aggressively address this problem. Everything from offering online education and devising new marketing strategies to attract male students are currently being considered as viable options to increase student enrolment.

Dr. Greene said: “Private schools are keeping their students longer and are preparing them to go directly overseas to university once they graduate, so the majority of our students come from the public school system. “We have to look at other ways to attract people to the College and, to this end, we have already met with prison officials to see if we can offer a programme to inmates to try to prepare them with new skills when they are released and re-enter society.

“We have to also look at doing online education, because even though we have the College for working adults there are still individuals who cannot make it to the College for three hours a week. Offering online education will give adults more flexibility to improve their skills.”

Dr. Greene also disclosed that the Government has agreed to pay school fees for Bermuda Regiment soldiers who continue their education at the College.

“The Government has agreed to pay for the education of young men serving in the Bermuda Regiment. This is similar to what they do in the United States and Canada.

“I think this would help to increase the enrolment of male students if we could get the soldiers to realise the importance of education and that it is in their best interest to attend College while it is being paid for by the Government.”

Dr. Greene was not overly enthused about the College becoming a four-year university, as was recently suggested by Premier Dr. Ewart Brown.

“Personally, I don’t think it is in the best interest of Bermuda for Bermudian students to have all of their education on this 21-square mile Island.

“I do believe however, that Bermudians should have access to a four-year degree on this Island, but I think it would be a mammoth task for the Bermuda College to become a four-year institution. This is because you are not talking about a very large population of students that will be in that bracket, unless we build dormitories to accommodate international students.

“You also have to worry about library resources, research funding grants. We would have to double the size of the campus and hire twice as many faculty members. “All of these things, plus others, would have to be put in place in order to make it a reputable institution.

“Some would argue that we could offer undergraduate degrees in certain areas, like hospitality or international business, but you can’t sustain a four-year institution on two or three Bachelor Degrees,” she explained.

Dr. Greene believes there are other less costly ways to introduce a four-year degree programme to the island.

“I do believe, however, that there could be a campus of another university here, for example the University of the West Indies, just like they have campuses in Jamaica and Barbados, they could have a campus here so that the overall umbrella is under the University of the West Indies.”

Dr. Greene also briefly addressed the recent controversy surrounding the financial affairs of the College. “We are a public funded institution and I think everyone should be held accountable, so scrutiny of our financial affairs is warranted.

“The College is right now reviewing the way public funds are currently being used and I am sure better controls will be put in place,” she said.

Dr. Greene believes her long association with the College will be an asset when she assumes the role of President in the summer of 2007. “Being the first female president and having studied organisational behaviour I know there is a difference between male leadership and female leadership. I think men and women process things differently. I also know there are going to be challenges being the first female president but I think I am up for the challenge.

“I have worked with many of the individuals on this campus for years in some capacity or the other and I feel that I know the institution and I understand the challenges the Bermuda College is facing. “I think I am respected by those on the campus and I have a lot of respect for those on the campus as well, and I think that plays a lot in the way your handle and deal with people and how they respond to you,” she said.

Dr. Greene is a deeply spiritual person who enjoys boating, reading and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

“I don’t have children of my own, but I have nieces and nephews whom I adore and they and the rest of my family are a significant part of my life,” she said.

Duranda Greene looks forward to the challenge of running the College