Dr Gibbons On Bermuda College Annual Report

Mr. Speaker,
This morning I am pleased to lay the 2013/2014 Annual Report for the Bermuda College as required by the Bermuda College Act, 1974.

While this is an important exercise in accountability, it is also an opportunity to share with Honourable Members the continued progress that Bermuda College is making.

Despite the difficult economic circumstances that the College, Government, other quangos, and the wider public are currently working under.

Under the Bermuda College Act, its Board of Governors provides general management and administrative leadership to the College. The President and staff of the Bermuda College are responsible for bringing the goals, direction and approved policies of the Board into action. These undertakings are reflected in the annual report and will be supported by the audited financial statements, which will be tabled at a later date.

The annual report makes it clear that the Bermuda College is a premier institution that takes seriously its responsibility for developing and growing our citizens, from all backgrounds and across all age groups. In this regard, it should be noted that the doors of Bermuda College are open to students as young as 16 years old who qualify for its senior school dual enrolment programme.

Mr. Speaker,
Bermuda College is extremely proud of its accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and is preparing for the re-accreditation process in March of 2015. The College has approximately 1200 students; 856 of whom are registered in credit courses.

The College offers a wide array of academic, technical and professional courses in applied science and technology, business administration and hospitality, liberal arts and professional and career education.

The Report notes that, “Bermuda College embraces the community college philosophy and is dedicated to offering the highest standards of academic and professional excellence, based not as much on one’s background entering, but on what one has been able to achieve upon graduation.”

Here I quote directly from the annual report to emphasize that Bermuda College is also about first, second and sometimes third chances for learning, training and retraining for Bermudians. It provides pathways for both traditional and non-traditional students to access post-secondary education early, and at any point in life.

It gives people the opportunity to grow professionally, and the efforts of the Bermuda College are coordinated and consistent with the Government’s efforts to grow the economy through the development of the workforce.

Mr. Speaker,
During the 2013-2014 academic year, Bermuda College continued to develop its strategic plan to strengthen pathways of success for its students using a two-pronged approach. Internally, processes were developed to objectively analyse the College’s institutional effectiveness, and externally, several partnerships were strategically pursued and established.

To ensure that students received optimal exposure to academic and professional development opportunities.

Mr. Speaker,

A number of achievements reflect the performance of Bermuda College, including:

• The adoption of key performance indicators [KPIs] adapted from the American Association of Community College’s Voluntary Framework of Accountability. Baseline data has begun to be collected to reflect how well Bermuda College is helping students progress; whether the College is effectively serving developmental and college preparatory education needs; its effectiveness in meeting workforce education needs and the outcomes of its students;
• The opening of the Brian Burland Centre for Research housed in the College Library;
• The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] with the Government Department of Human Resources as the first external provider of education and training services for Government ministries and departments;
• The signing of MOUs with the Hospital for Sick Children [SickKids] in Toronto and Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia to support its Associate in Science in Nursing. Students will be provided overseas clinical observations in two of North America’s most respected medical institutions;
• The opening of Bermuda’s first state-of-the-art simulation laboratory in support of the Associate of Science in Nursing programme;
• Creating or renewing articulation agreements with Georgia State University, Miami University [of Ohio], the University of West Indies, and Mount Saint Vincent University; and
• Working with the National Training Board to assist in developing the local workforce with formal programme instruction in nursing, teacher education [mathematics and special education], CISCO certification, and accounting.

Mr. Speaker,

Looking forward, the Bermuda College continues the steady implementation of its strategic plan. The following actions are key to the further growth of the College and its sustainability.

The College is working towards:

• Completing Phase II of its Recruitment Plan targeting non-traditional students;
• Expanding its community outreach and participation beginning with the launch of 40th anniversary year-long celebrations;
• Completing a review of technical education; and
• Conducting an audit of the Bermuda College’s energy systems to reduce electricity costs.

Mr. Speaker,

Thank you for the opportunity to allow me to showcase some of the achievements of Bermuda College during the 2013/2014 academic year.

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