Nassau, Bahamas - The University of The Bahamas will reflect the same level of excellence in academics and scholarship that has marked The College of The Bahamas' 39-year evolution, according to the leadership of the College Council and the recently appointed University Transition Secretariat (UTS).

The College is on the verge of a highly anticipated transition to university, which Prime Minister Perry Christie vowed will happen by 2015. The UTS will help to make that happen by envisioning the character and roadmap for that change.

In his first public discussion about the future of The College - an Independence institution created by an Act of Parliament in 1974 - College Council Chair, Mr. Alfred Sears disclosed recently on the ZNS radio talk show Immediate Response that several colleges and institutes will likely make up the university. These will include a College of Agriculture, Marine Science and Technology in Andros; College of Marine Studies in Grand Bahama; College of Visual, Performing, Literary and Recording Arts and an Institute of Oral History.

In addition to two campuses in New Providence - at Oakes Field and Grosvenor Close - The College has a campus in Grand Bahama serving the northern Bahamas and centres in Andros, San Salvador and Exuma. College preparatory courses are also offered online.

The Secretariat will be looking at locations throughout the archipelago. To serve the developing needs of the country you have to focus on all ages for continuing, lifelong learning…," said Mr. Sears.

On the matter of funding, we will have to utilise not only public funding but private funding. We have some of the highest net worth individuals in the world living in our country and all of us as Bahamians have to play a role in the funding of the institution and of course multi-lateral sources of funding…and some areas of the economy have those sources of revenue dedicated to education," he added.

Significant foundations have been laid for The College's progression. Faculty and students are involved in comprehensive, broad based research on myriad national issues; new master and baccalaureate degree programmes are being added and existing programmes are serving national needs in the public and private sector and over the past three years more than half of the Commencement Class has comprised baccalaureate degree earners. The College is a member of the International Association of Universities (IAU) and continues to solidify new international partnerships. The University of The Bahamas was envisioned as far back as 1976 during the institution's official opening ceremony.

According to team leader of the University Transition Secretariat Professor Olivia Saunders, the issue of access to tertiary education is pivotal.
In the development of the vision and the roadmap for the transition, the UTS will consider the Strategic Plan of 2009-2019; the Final Report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Governance of June 2007; the Task Force on Academic Quality Assurance Committee of September 2007, other reports and documents and review best practices of regional and international tertiary institutions.

We have the mandate to investigate the whole idea of access because the need to expand is obvious. I don't know exactly what our conclusions would be but there are other ways to consider access to the institution in terms of entry requirements beyond BGCSEs. How do we get to persons in terms of accelerated adult education programming? If you are an adult you have certain levels of experiences to bring so maybe that could be one of the ways to acquire credits through your work experience," she said.

The UTS is inviting broad based collaborations from College constituents and will eventually solicit contributions from external stakeholders and the public.

There is no question that we can get there. I believe in my colleagues at The College of The Bahamas and I believe that the vast majority of us want to have a world class University of The Bahamas and I believe that they will do whatever they can to assist in this regard," she said. "These are very exciting times and the College community is buzzing with this thrust that is now upon us. The university we design is going to be one designed by Bahamians so that Bahamians can share their genius with the world."