DEVELOP PRIVATE SECTOR FOR QUALITY EDUCATION (BT)

IN LIGHT of the benefits the expansion of private education can bring to governments, the overall objective of governments must be to create an enabling environment for private sector growth, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abdul Wahab.

Speaking at the second convocation of the International Graduate Studies (IGS) College on March 9, the deputy minister said that the expansion of private education can bring many benefits to governments, including reducing the government's financial burden as it "encourages more innovation and relevance and increased efficiency in delivery".

While the country's revenue continues to allow educational funding to be provided even in the tertiary level, there could be a time in the future when such a provision is no longer sustainable, said the deputy minister.

"We need to broaden it by making long-term plans and developing the capacity of the private sector to deliver quality education," said Dato Hj Hamdillah.

"This will require support and positive policy environment to allow the private sector to grow and be able to 'take over' partly some of the educational costs through some form of public-private partnership arrangements," said the deputy minister.

He added that the opportunity to do so may be now at the time of the SPN21 (New Education System of the 21st Century) implementation.

In achieving this, Dato Hj Hamdillah said: "Regulation of private education must seek to ensure high quality delivery, while at the same time encouraging investment."

Some 55 students received their Pre-National Diploma (PND) and National Diploma (ND) certificates in their respective courses during the convocation, handed by the deputy minister.

"We are now seeing a rise in the number of students undertaking several courses in the college. Active participation in Brunei's drive to diversify its economy is vital. Private involvement helps increase the level of financial resources committed to the education sector such as the private financing of infrastructure."

In conclusion to his speech, the deputy minister congratulated the students on their achievements.

In her speech, IGS principal Pg Hjh Fatimah PSJ PHA Momin, chairman of the IGS Board of Directors, said that the college is gearing itself towards new challenges, requirements and national expectations in higher education.

Senior government officials and members of the IGS Board of Directors were also present at the graduating ceremony.

Graduate of ND Muhammad Zulhilmi Hj Zaidin said that he has future plans for the private sector. "I want make full use of my skills and knowledge with computer studies to contribute in the development of Brunei's Information Communication Technology (ICT)."

Another ND graduate, Ak Umarali Pg Hj Md Ariffin said that he wishes to work for government agencies so that he can one day pursue web designing. "We live in the era of ICT, everyone uses the Internet to read and write information, I want to be responsible for creating websites," said the ND graduate.

The Brunei Times

IGS HOLDS SPORTS DAY FOR STUDENTS (BT)

by Bahrum Ali

INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDIES (IGS) college yesterday organised first Sports Day for the students, five years after its inception.

Speaking to the Brunei Times, Atique Ur Rehman, IGS college lecturer and marketing officer, said that, this activity was aimed at relaxing the students who have a very hectic learning schedule in the college.

"College offers various type of courses namely; Pre-National Diploma, National Diploma and the programmes offered here are accredited by Brunei Darussalam Accreditation Council, Ministry of Education (MOE)," he said.

This activity would also foster the relationship among students, he said.

They were divided in four teams namely; Blue, Green, Red and Yellow.

"This activity would also help students in their study as physical fitness is key to mental fitness and alertness," said Atique.

Mahorhafizah Md Zaini, IGS student, was of the view that the activity was a good effort by the college as emphasis should not be placed on learning activity alone as the importance of keeping the body and mind healthy can not be ignored.

"This is the first time ever in my life participating this kind of athletic event and I found that it was not that tiring at all as all the accumulated stress in my head has gone out," said the 23-year-old student.

Another IGS student, Izzah Nazurah Hj Abd Rahman, from business management course, said that she felt proud to be one of the pioneer to participate in this first Sport Day event by the college.

She said that it was not about the winning, it was all about the effort of participating.

"We will never improve ourself if we never dare to try and take the challenge," said Izzah.

As an overall result, the first place was won by the Green team, followed by Red team. The Blue team bagged the third place. Present as the guest of honour to present the prizes were the college principal, Pg Hjh Fatimah Pg Setia Jaya Pg Abdul Momin.

Atique said the event will be conducted annually at the college.

The Brunei Times

MIXING BUSINESS WITH ADVENTURE (BT)

IT was a perfect example of mixing business with pleasure or we can say adventure when more than 100 students from schools all over the sultanate had their physical, mental and endurance capabilities tested recently during the International Graduate Studies (IGS) College "Explore Venture" tournament, which ended on December 2.

The four-day tournament, which started on November 30, is part of a project organised by the college students who are taking National Diploma in Business and Finance 07/02 as their final year project.

Held at four different locations around the Brunei-Muara District, the aim of the event is not only to expose the participants to various locations, but also to test their physical, mental and endurance capabilities, said Ismail Shifaz, the college's Business and Finance lecturer as well as the coordinator of the event during the event's closing ceremony.

Most of the participants are from different schools around the sultanate aged between 17 and 25. Each team consisted of four people, which could be a mixture of different students from different schools.

During the first day of the event held at the Yayasan shopping complex in the capital, participants were required to solve a clue in each station in order to pursue to the next station in the "Amazing Race" competition. No teams were eliminated that day.

On the second day of the competition at the Berakas Sports Complex, the participants' physical fitness was tested through sporting activities such as athletics, football, netball and many other track and field events. In the end, 12 teams were eliminated for not passing this segment of the competition.

The third day's event was similar to the "Amazing Race" competition which was held in the Gadong area. The most challenging part of the event was when the participants had to collect one dollar worth of coins which had been put in an iced coolbox.

Abd Hakim, 16, from the Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College, said that it was the most difficult task for them as they had to find the coin with freezing hands.

The last day's event was conducted at IGS College and around the Kiulap area where more challenging games were organised for the participants.

In the overall result of the whole tournament, Team Ela Vita won with $500 cash prize and certificates. Team Noobs followed into second place, followed by Team Purple Nurple in third place.

During his speech, Ismail Shifaz lauded the students efforts in efficiently organising the event, stating that "they deserve all the credits for all the hard work they put into making the event a success".

He praised the students who have conducted the event brilliantly as they worked so hard despite time constraint. The students managed to get their team well-coordinated and managed to get the event well-organised.

According to student Izzah Har, 20, one of the organisers, the organising committee made preparations since July last year and this task had given them a big challenge to prove themselves to the college.

She added that studying in the college is not only giving them a chance to study in a classroom but they have also been given the opportunity to perform their subjects in a practical sense outside the classroom so as to orient them in a business environment.

Zulfadhli, 21, a student who was in charge of the event, said that the purpose of the college is to help Bruneian students further their studies at a cheaper fee as opposed to studying overseas.

He added that by learning from experienced lecturers from other countries, the students at the college have the opportunity to receive the same standard of education as other international colleges.

Present to hand over the certificates and prizes was the chairperson of the IGS College Board of Directors, Pg Hjh Fatimah Pg Setia Jaya Pg Hj Abdul Momin, who was also the guest of honour for the closing ceremony.

The Brunei Times

IGS STUDENTS VISIT ICENTRE (BB)

by Hj Ahmed Shaheeb

Students and lecturers from Business and Finance Department of International Graduate Studies (IGS) College recently visited the iCentre in Anggerek Desa.

The purpose of the visit was to study the incubation centre and the support provided by the iCentre to incubatees.

Upon arrival, Ms Ardiwi Ahmad, Marketing and Public Relations Executive at iCentre, briefed the students about the operations and various facilities available at the centre followed by a short tour of the centre where they visited some of the incubatees including Mimit e-Technologies and Ranoadidas.

Haji Rushdee, the Managing Director of Mimit e-Technologies, in his brief presentation highlighted the main products of the company and the support they received from iCentre.

The International Studies Graduate (IGS) College is the first private college in Brunei that offers Brunei Darussalam Technical and Vocational Education Council (BDTVEC) qualifications including Pre-National Diploma (PND) and National Diploma (ND) in Business and Finance and Computer Studies, Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computing and in Business with majors in Business Management, Accounting and Marketing.

All the programmes are offered on full-time and part-time basis and are accredited by the Brunei Darussalam National Accreditation Council (BDNAC) Ministry of Education.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

IGS COLLEGE TO ORGANISE COOL EXPLORE VENTURE (BB)

by Hj Ahmed Shaheeb

National Diploma Business students from IGS College are organising an adventure - a challenge game called 'Explore Venture' as part of an ongoing entrepreneur project.

It will be held from Nov 30 to Dec 3 this year and the games will take place in four different locations over a period of four consecutive days. It is going to include activities, such as looking and searching for clues, as well as other challenges.

The first day will be held at Yayasan in BSB, followed by the second day at Berakas Sports Complex and the third around the Gadong area, while IGS College campus as well as its surrounding areas would be the venue for the fourth day's activities.

The event's aim is to test the participants' physical's endurance, while some challenges have also been set to assess their mental prowess during its course. According to one of the facilitators, Izzah HAR, preparations had begun as early as last year.

Selected venues like Yayasan will provide a picturesque setting amid the challenges that would follow the format of popular reality TV game show 'Amazing Race' while also promoting the beloved capital.

She added that the programme should prove to be a lot of fun, as many teams from government and private schools have already signed up. The registration is still open to all students between the ages of 15 and 25, while application forms are available at IGS College in Kiulap.

Each team comprises four participants and the first place winner will get a cash prize of $500 and other prizes offered also include a JPMC gym voucher. For further enquiries, call Izzah HAR at 8999747 or Zulfadli at 8891058.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

IGS COLLEGE STUDENTS VISIT ORCHID GARDEN HOTEL (BB)

by Amin Hosni

Some 20 students and two teachers from the IGS College's Cooking and Hospitality Club made an educational visit yesterday to Orchid Garden Hotel. They were welcomed by OGH's Director of Operations Mohd Iswandi Maaruf.

According to the Programme Coordinator for IGS College, Hatta Fauzi, the trip was an extra-curricular activity aimed at exposing the students to the hospitality and tourism sectors.

"This will definitely benefit them, especially those in the Business and Finance Faculty, as they got to see the running of actual management. I also hope that the trip has opened up their minds and increase their interest in studying", he said.

The visit was the first for IGS College and the students would later have to write up a report on what they observed.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

ATTACHMENT AT RBTS (RBTS)

Ak Umarali (on the computer), Abd Azim (left) and Mohamad Zulhilmi in the RBTS server room. - Amin Hosni

Three students on a six-month job attachment at the Royal Brunei Technical Services said they created its web site in a week's time

Ak Umarali bin Pg Hj Md Ariffin, 21, Mohamad Zulhilmi bin Hj Apong, 24 and Abd Azim bin Hj Ahmad, 21, are specialising in designing web sites at IGS College where they are doing their pre-national diploma and national diploma in Information Technology.

"We worked in a group and did separate tasking like design and ideas. The web site we had to do came from the CEO of RBTS' ideas. It was very challenging. We did the BRIDEX web site in a week and we are happy to get involved.

"We were put into IT in the second month of our attachment. It wasn't really difficult because we've had experience in making websites during our previous assignments at IGS College.

"Working was a different experience from studying, but it is a good experience, said Ak Umarali. "During our studies at IGS, we designed our own websites, but at RBTS, we designed the web site according to what the CEO wanted. Our ideas were different from theirs, so in the beginning we made many mistakes."

"All three of us shared the same idea. In this day and age, IT plays an important role in the daily life we live in," said Mohamad Zulhilmi.

- www.rbts.com.bn