NNSL (Jan 13/97) - Rebecca Blechert is living a dream she's had for 10 years.

The former territorial government worker will be one of the first Northerners to get a bachelor of business administration degree at Aurora College thanks to an agreement reached last year between the college and the University of Athabasca.

"Had I been able to receive it here in the North, I would of tried to get it back then (10 years ago)," she said.

And recent agreements with the University of Lethbridge and 31 other schools across Canada will allow even more Northern students to work toward their business degrees in the NWT.

The agreement with the University of Lethbridge will allow students enroled in the management studies program to complete the first two years of their degree in the North and the second half down south.

"The College is extending its network of partners in education, this time right across the country," said Anne Marie Dawe, manager of corporate programs at Aurora College Yellowknife campus.

"Our students will now receive transfer credit for our two-year management studies diploma, leaving them with two years at Lethbridge to get their degree," she added.

Inuvik artist Patricia Stacey, also a first-year business student at Aurora College, said she wouldn't have gone back to school if she had to move down south.

"This is something I've always wanted to do," she said. "My husband works here and I have four children. It would be impossible to move -- too big of a move to just get up and go."

Stacey plans to use her degree to manage her own affairs.

"My husband did the paperwork," she said "I want a better understanding of how a business works."

"Agreements like these are milestones on our way to becoming a university college," said Danny Yakeleya, chair of Aurora College board of directors.

"We will be building further bridges between the college and universities as we work toward our goal of someday granting our own degrees."

A similar program is available for the teacher's education program.

These programs are available for students in Inuvik, Fort Smith and Yellowknife.