IGS COLLEGE HOLD AUTISM TALK (BT)

by Ubaidillah Masli and Koo Jin Shen

More than 60 students of International Graduate Studies (IGS) College in Kiulap yesterday were given greater insight on autism after the college's second year Business and Finance students invited the president of Smarter Brunei to speak on the disorder.

Speaking to The Brunei Times, IGS Lecturer of Business and Finance Gwendoline William said that yesterday's talk by Malai Hj Abdullah Hj Malai Othman was part of the college's personal development programme, which had a different theme every month.

"This particular month, because it is the fasting month, we (assigned) the theme of spirituality and charity," said William, who added that it hoped to teach her students on the marketing aspect of corporate social responsibility.

"Once the students know about these things, (then) there is an awareness. We have to be more concerned and we have to be more aware. They are different from us, all the autistic kids," she added.

"Maybe all of us will become parents one day. What would you do if one of your kids had autism? Or a relative or your friend?" the lecturer asked, pointing out that the lecture would help the students in the future.

One of five students currently taking the National Diploma Course in Business and Finance and who arranged the lecture, Dk Siti Nasrulfaizah Pg Nora Lim, felt that autism was not well known among her peers.

She and her classmates had asked other students whether they knew about autism and most responded that they did not, Dk Siti Nasrulfaizah went on to explain.

Therefore, the group of Business and Finance students decided to arrange for Malai Hj Abdullah to talk at IGS once more, after already having delivered a previous lecture at the college on time management.

Dk Siti Nasrulfaizah said that she had previous knowledge on autism, but after the talk, she felt that she had learned much more on the disorder. She also hoped the talk would make students aware of their social responsibility.

Another student, Halimatus Saadyah Hj Julaihi shared that they had previously visited Smarter Brunei and the society's centre for adults with autism, Baca.

"They (autistic individuals) are normal, but there is just something a bit more special about them," Halimatus said.

"They can do everything that we can do, just in a different way," said Dk Siti Nasrulfaizah.

A member of the audience told The Brunei Times that the lecture had helped him realise that autism was not actually a disability, as he initially perceived it to be.

"Austistic children, as far as I know, need to be treated special. They can't catch up in many things, so they need to be taught step by step," said Hj Md Saifuddin.

The college hoped to hold the talk again next year.

"We will continue this programme to work with (Smarter Brunei). We are looking into (organising an autism) workshop for a start. We can also help with fundraising for the centre," said William.

Today, the IGS college students will be building on their new-found knowledge on autism by paying a visit to Smarter Brunei Centre in Sengkurong.

The Brunei Times

SMOKING NOT A GOOD HABIT, MINISTER TELLS YOUNGSTERS (BT)

by Fitri Shahminan

NEW graduates and students at the International Graduate Studies College (IGS College) Brunei were reminded not to start the habit of smoking as the Ministry of Health has observed "more new smokers among the youth including students".

The reminder was articulated by Minister of Health Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman in his speech during the third convocation of IGS College last night.

Although no statistics were made available on the percentage of smokers among youth, the minister cited the recent findings from the Integrated Health Screening which disclosed that 14.7 per cent of civil servants were smokers.

"Smoking is a harmful habit that is not easy to give up once we are addicted to tobacco. So we advise students not to start the habit; it is not part of growing up," he said.

Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi added that the general public were aware that smoking is a bad habit.

"Cancer is known to be among the top four chronic diseases that cause death, yet this does not deter people from smoking despite its close link to lung cancer," he added. The minister also said that upon graduation, some of the sutdents from IGS might join the nation's workforce.

He admitted that each new addition to the workforce would bring expectation that they would not only have relevant knowledge and skills, but also "the commitment and fortitude that would bring national development to another level".

"You all have the responsibility to contribute to the nation to the best of your ability and capability. You can no longer say it is not yet the time, because the time is now," he stressed.

In addition, Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi highlighted the need to have a healthy workforce.

Following the recent results from the Integrated Health Screening that showed 59.5 per cent out of 4,958 civil servants were overweight and obese, the minister called for Bruneians to be aware of the lurking danger of obesity.

"Obesity is a common risk factor for many chronic diseases such as heart diseases, cancer, diabetes and stroke," he said. The minister added that every effort must be taken to reduce obesity at an early age, particularly among students to avoid them from growing up into obese adults.

The Brunei Times

73 STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM IGS COLLEGE (BT)

A TOTAL of 73 students from the International Graduate Studies College (IGS College) Brunei are walking proud today after graduating in their respective courses at the third convocation of IGS College last night.

Eight students graduated from the Higher National Diploma in Business and Finance course and 11 from the National Diploma in the same course, while 19 graduated from the National Diploma in Computer Studies and 35 received certificate of Pre-National Diploma in Computer studies.

Best Student Award recipient, Dk Nazalita Nazerah Pg Razali, who graduated from the Higher National Diploma in Business and Finance, was very excited and proud of her personal achievement.

"I didn't expect to grab the award as there was strong competitions in my class," she said. The 22-year-old who plans to pursue her undergraduate studies in the UK, has already received offer letters from Kent University, Aston University and Keele University and is now awaiting for the Ministry of Education to award her with a scholarship.

She also aims to specialise in human resource management to help reduce the unemployment rate in the country.

"We have quite a significant number of unemployed graduates in the country. So I am looking to contribute in that area in the future (help solve the unemployment problem) if I become an expert in human resource management," she said.

Dk Nazalita also shared her idea to come up with solutions for unemployed people who do not possess strong educational background.

In her speech, she thanked the lecturers and the management of IGS College for "helping her to achieve her dream".

She appreciated the teaching methodologies adopted in the class including lectures, group discussion, debates, case studies and class presentations that helped her to develop the skills required in the present dynamic business environment.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Nur Fajrina Hj Ibrahim who graduated from the National Diploma in Computer Studies, acquired the invaluable skill of time management over her three-year course.

"I've never really faced a big challenge during my course, but I had difficulties in managing my (personal) time and balancing it out with my studies," she said, adding that she conducted a lot of group discussions and held study gatherings with her friends to overcome her challenge.

The former Rimba Secondary School student is due to sit for her International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at the end of this month in order to further her studies in Australia.

"I'm very excited and I've been waiting for this moment for a very long time," she said, speaking of her feelings before receiving her graduation award.

Izzah Nazurah Hj Abd Rahman, was another student who also expressed her excitement after having graduated from the National Diploma in Business and Finance.

Starting her three-year course in 2007, the 19-year-old could hardly believe that she reached her present level of education.

She shared that her biggest challenge was during the final project in which she had to deal with both the public and the government sectors through several business projects.

The business-minded graduate shared her ultimate dreams of starting her own company and become a successful local entrepreneur in the future.

Pg Hjh Fatimah PSJ Pg Hj Abd Momin, Chief operating Officer (CEO) of IGS College, congratulated the graduating students in her welcoming address.

She highlighted the various programmes undertaken by the college to align with the Vision 2035 as well as the mission of the Education Ministry, which is to "Provide Holistic Education to Achieve Fullest Potential For All".

The CEO also shared that degree programmes could be available and offered in September upon approval by the Ministry of Education , following a recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Lim Kok Wing University of Creative Technology Malaysia.

On hand to present the awards to the winner was Minister of Health Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman.

The Brunei Times

MUIB GIVES FINANCIAL AID TO STUDENTS (BT)

by Fitri Shahminan

APPLICANTS of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council's tithes fund may get assistance in the form of housing and education, instead of a monthly allowance, as they are treated on a case-to-case basis, an official clarified yesterday.

Muib Acting Secretary Hj Abd Wahab Hj Sapar explained that an applicant's background will be comprehensively studied prior to awarding the assistance.

"An applicant sometimes can sustain their daily living but is unable to afford education or housing costs if he or she wants to further his or her studies and vice versa, so we (Muib) will study and consider the possibility of approving their applicants," he said during a ceremony to award education assistance to a student.

He said that depending on how severe is the situation of an applicant, he or she might even be receiving monthly financial allowances from the zakat (tithes) and other forms of assistance at the same time.

He added that the clarification was important for the public to know as some might have misunderstood the nature of the assistance.

A sum of $4,630 from the zakat (tithes) fund was awarded to Norhashimah Hj Abdul Kadir, a daughter of an underprivileged family to bear the costs of her 2010 Pre-National Diploma course in Computer Studies at International Graduate Studies (IGS) College in Kiulap during the ceremony yesterday.

Hj Abd Wahab also shared that three more students were expected to be handed the aid this month.

The students will be pursuing their studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Laksamana College of Business (LCB) and IGS College.

In his speech, Hj Abd Wahab hoped that the recipients would make full use of the assistance by achieving good results during the period of the course.

"Muib will always, from time to time, be providing assistance to those in dire need of help to sustain proper future development of the people of the nation," he added.

Chief Executive Officer of IGS College Pg Hjh Fatimah Pg Setia Jaya Pg Hj Abd Momin lauded the assistance given by His Majesty's Government through Muib, to ensure that the future of youths in the nation is being taken care of.

The CEO hopes to see more young students awarded with the assistance, if they are unable to continue their studies due to their poor financial situation.

The Brunei Times

SEORANG PENUNTUT IGS TERIMA BANTUAN PENGAJIAN DARI MUIB (PB)

oleh Siti Zuraihah Awang Sulaiman

Majlis Ugama Islam Brunei (MUIB) menerusi Jawatankuasa Mengeluarkan Wang Zakat pagi tadi menyerahkan bantuan kewangan berupa Yuran Pengajian di Kolej Pengajian Siswazah Antarabangsa (IGS) kepada salah seorang penuntut yang sedang mengikuti pengajian Pre-National Diploma dalam Pengajian Komputer (Computer Studies) di kolej berkenaan.

Majlis Penyerahan Bantuan Kewangan Yuran Program Pengajian berjumlah BND4,630 disempurnakan oleh Pemangku Setiausaha MUIB, Awang Haji Abdul Wahab bin Haji Sapar kepada Dayang Norhashimah binti Haji Abdul Kadir, berlangsung di kolej tersebut, di sini.

Juga hadir di majlis tersebut, Pengerusi Kolej IGS, Pengiran Hajah Fatimah binti PSJ Pengiran Haji Abdul Momin dan Ahli-ahli Lembaga Pengerusi IGS serta pegawai-pegawai dari MUIB.

Bantuan yang diambil dari Kumpulan Wang Zakat MUIB itu merupakan sebahagian usaha untuk memberi bantuan pendidikan kepada mereka yang berhak menerima wang zakat selain untuk meningkatkan taraf hidup mereka serta mengambil berat keperluan anak-anak mereka supaya tidak terabai dan tercicir dalam pengajian dan persekolahan.

Ayah beliau, Awang Haji Abdul Kadir bin Mohamed yang turut hadir di majlis tersebut melahirkan ucapan setinggi terima kasih di atas sumbangan bantuan yang dihulurkan kepada keluarganya terutama yuran pengajian anaknya itu.

Sementara itu, Dayang Norhashimah ketika ditemui wakil PELITA BRUNEI turut mengucapkan jutaan penghargaan serta menjunjung kasih kepada pihak Kerajaan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia melalui MUIB kerana dengan bantuan itu beliau dapat melanjutkan pengajian ke peringkat yang lebih tinggi lagi seperti yang dicita-citakannya.

Pelita Brunei

IGS COLLEGE CELEBRATES PROPHET MUHAMMAD'S BDAY (BB)

by Fadhil Yunus

In conjunction with Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) birthday, students, staff members and invited guests gathered at IGS College, Kiulap yesterday to commemorate the celebration.
The Principal of IGS College, Pg Hajah Fatimah binti Pg Setia Jaya Pg Haji Abdul Momin attended the event.

In his capacity as the chairman of the committee, Awg Haji Azahari bin Haji Ahmad delivered s peech to get the event under way.

A heartwarming speech was given Ustaz Haji Awg Badaruddin bin Haji Besar, Religious Education Officer at the Pusat Da'wah Islamiah.

The highlight of the event were 'dzikir' performances and a tahlil recital for the late Pengiran Setia Jaya Pengiran Haji Abdul Momin, Founder of IGS College.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

IGS COLEGE TO OFFER DEGREE COURSES (BT)

by Izam Said Ya'akub

THE International Graduate Studies College (IGS College) Brunei is to offer degree and diploma programmes next year with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lim Kok Wing University, Malaysia.

The MoU was signed during a visit by IGS College Brunei to the Lim Kok Wing University campus in Cyberjaya.

Under the agreement, the two institutions will develop their new range of programmes and provide its expertise in innovative education.

Among the programmes to be offered at the degree level by Lim Kok Wing University to IGS College Brunei include Software Engineering, Multimedia Design, Business Administration, International Business, as well as Business Information Technology.

Lim Kok Wing will also provide its expertise for programmes and staff training in order to implement the new programmes.

The chairperson of board of directors of IGS College Brunei, Pg Hjh Fatimah PSJ Pg Hj Abd Momin, who is also the principal and chief executive officer of IGS College, said that she was impressed with what Lim Kok Wing has offered.

She added that the collaboration with Lim Kok Wing would promote higher education in Brunei as the Brunei Government is focusing on new areas, such as technology in education.

Dato' Dr Jayles Yeoh, Lim Kok Wing's vice-president for international marketing, said that the joint collaboration would ensure Lim Kok Wing's presence in Brunei and reinforce the good relationship between Lim Kok Wing University and the Sultanate.

Lim Kok Wing's collaboration with IGS College Brunei will expand the university's current collegial network of over 177 universities in 77 countries under the University's Global Alliance Programme.

The Brunei Times