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

IGS COLLEGE LAUNCHES PART-TIME COURSES (BB)

By Huraizah Ahmad

International Graduate Studies College (IGS) Brunei Darussalam on Monday launched its part-time courses in Business Management and Information.

Hj Shahri bin Hj Awg Besar, Principal and CEO of IGS, made the announcement of the new courses during a simple ceremony at the college in Kompleks Setia Kenangan, Kiulap.

Also present at the event were part-time students and lecturers of the college.

During Hj Shahri's address, he explained the main features of the programmes, including Pre-National Diploma (PND), National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computer Studies and Business & Finance.

All these courses are offered in collaboration with the Brunei Darussalam Technical and Vocational Education Council (BDTVEC), Ministry of Education and are accredited by the Brunei Darussalam National Accreditation Council (BDNAC).

The part-time courses also included the internationally recognised London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Diploma in Accounting, Diploma in Marketing and Private Secretary's Diploma.

He further added that the part-time courses are specially designed for working adults who could not fulfill their dream of higher education.

This is an opportunity for them to continue their studies while working.

Registration for the part-time courses will continue until the first week of October.

KIGS is the first private college in Brunei Darussalam that offers BDTVEC programmes in Business and Computer Studies. Its first batch of National Diploma (ND) students graduated in May this year. KIGS graduates have received an enormous response from the job market and most graduates have been offered jobs in various sectors.

Some of them have been accepted by Institute Teknology Brunei (ITB) in its Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes.

For further information about the courses, contact the Kolej IGS during office hours at tel: 2238701 and fax: 2238710.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

CALL FOR MORE TERTIARY TECH SCHOOLS (BT)

by Sobrina Rosli

THIRTEEN students have completed a programme in technical education at International Graduate Studies (IGS) College, a private tertiary level institution that offers academic programmes in information technology, business and finance.

The students received their National Diploma during a ceremony yesterday. Twenty-three others received their Pre-National Diploma.

Some of the graduates commented on the need for Brunei to see more of such educational institutions established in the sultanate.

"There's not enough technical educational institutions in Brunei," Nurul Afizah Zinni, a Best Student awardee, said in an interview with The Brunei Times.

"More should be encouraged to cater to our youth who are interested in technical education."

"Technical educational options in Brunei are still limited. More needs to be encouraged," said another Best Student Award recipient, Siti Nor Saharah Ag Hussein.

"We definitely need more private institutions offering courses in the technical field," said Shahri Awg Besar, CEO and principal of IGS College.

"This is apparent through the encouragement of the Ministry of Education, which has been urging the private sector to set up such institutions."

"We try to accommodate as many to our college," he added. "We are still the first type of private institution offering full time Higher National Diploma courses."

IGS College is the first local private tertiary level institution to be fully accredited by His Majesty's Government through Brunei Darussalam National Accreditation Council.

Presenting the certificates as the guest of honour at the ceremony yesterday was Deputy Minister of Education Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Dr Mohammad Pg Abd Rahman.

"The cooperation between the Ministry of Education with private educational institutions is valuable in developing and strengthening the country's educational standards as a whole," he said.

IGS College has been in collaboration with the Brunei Darussalam Technical and Vocational Education Council (BDTVEC) since its inception in 2004.

IGS College offers scholarships called the Scholarship of Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Setia Jaya Pengiran Haji Abdul Momin bin Pengiran Othman.

School officials yesterday offered their two Best Student awardees the scholarship to continue their studies in the Higher National Diploma level. Best Student awardees are selected by the college's board of directors.

In July this year, BDTVEC Higher National Diploma in such courses as Computing, Business Accounting and Business Management.

The Brunei Times

SEAMEO VOCTECH DELEGATES TOUR IGS COLLEGE (BB)

By Za'im Zaini & Rahmat Hj Abd Rahman

A delegation from SEAMEO VOCTECH representing the 10 SEAMEO member countries visited the International Graduate Studies College (IGS College) on Monday morning, as part of their training course on "Holistic Assessment of Learning Competency in Vocational, Technical and Educational Training (VTET)". The 18-member delegation was led by Dr Wilfredo Her era Libunao, Business and Marketing Manager and Management Specialist at SEAMEO VOCTECH.

The delegation was welcomed on arrival by the Principal and CEO of IGS College, Hj Shahri bin Hj Awg Besar. During his welcoming address, Hj Shahri thanked SEAMEO VOCTECH for selecting IGS College from the private sector to be the benchmark for their study.

The delegates were later briefed by Mr Atique Ur Rehman from IGS College about the college's history, activities and achievements. Mr Ismael Shifaz then gave a presentation on assessment tools, methods and monitoring system by Brunei Darussalam Technical and Vocational Education Council (BDTVEC) which are being applied at the college.

The briefing was also attended by the members of the Board of Directors of IGS College including Chairperson Datin Hjh Misli bte Hj Awang, Pg Hjh Fatiniah bte Pengiran Setia Jaya Pg Hj Abd Momin, Pg Hj Alimin bin Pengiran Setia Jaya Pg Hj Abd Momin and Hj Shahri bin Hj Awg Besar, the Principal and the CEO of IGS College.

The two-week course is aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills of the participants in the assessment ofleaming competencies.

Two institutes of vocational and technical education were selected as benchmarks, namely Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB) from the public sector and IGS College from the private sector. IGS College is the first private college to offer the BDTVEC Pre-National

Diploma and National Diploma in Business & Finance and Computer Studies, all of which are accredited by the Brunei Darussalam National Accreditation Council (BDNAC), Ministry of Education.

Later Dr Wilfredo Herrera Libunao presented a publication by SEAMEO VOCTECH to the Chairperson of IGS College Board of Directors, Datin Hjh Misli bte Hj Awang.

Throughout the course of the programme, participants undertake two different sets of activities - educational and social.

As part of their social activities the participants visited places of interest including the Brunei Art and Handicraft Training Centre and Kampong Ayer, and joined outdoor activities over the weekend at Serasa Beach. Monday's visit to IGS College was part of their educational activities that also includes a visit to ITB. The training programme ends on August 5.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

IGS COLLEGE STUDENTS VISIT ITPSS (ITPSS)

Three batches of second-year National Diploma in Computer Studies students studying at IGS College paid a visit to the Information Technology Protective Security Services Pte Ltd (ITPSS). The objectives of their visit were to enhance their IT knowledge and broaden their experience that relates to the BDTVEC syllabus.

ITPSS is a 100 per cent local-staffed and a pioneer in security research, security-related products and services pertaining to intelligent risk management. ITPSS also assists the Government in making policies related to IT security.

A tour around the facilities was given by ITPSS assistant operating officer Awg Zakaria @ Farouk bin Hj Md Noor.

Awg Zakaria emphasized on the importance of company security and employee satisfaction during the informative tour. According to him, since company security is essential to their business, various security measures are employed at the company complex. Therefore, the visiting students experienced hands on security techniques and first-hand knowledge from
security experts.

The students were also briefed by ITPSS Deputy Chief Operation Officer – Awg Zulkifli Achee and HR Executive – Awg Mordeny @ Abd Rafi Bin Modihi on the background, missions and objectives of the company. He also advised the students on the various types of IT certifications which are very useful for IT Professionals to acquire.

www.itpss.com

IGS COLLEGE REVEALS AMBITIOUS PLANS (BB)

By Huraizah Ahmad

International Graduate Studies (IGS) College at Setia Kenangan Complex in Kiulap aspires to be a centre of excellence for the young generation to acquire knowledge and skills.

Founded by Pengiran Setia Jaya Pengiran Haji Abdul Mumin bin Pengiran Othman.in 2002, it was the first-ever tertiary college to take up the challenge of running the Brunei Darussalam Technical and Vocational Education Council (BDTVEC) programmes with a total of 35 students in its first intake in July 2004.

IGS College, which received its third intake early this year, now has over 53 students pursuing various courses. The IGS College offers two BDTVEC Programmes including Pre-National Diploma (PND) and National Diploma (ND) in Computer Studies as well as Business & Finance.

Subject facilitators including two locals and seven foreigners make up part of the organisational structure of IGS College which is under the leadership of the college's CEO and Principal, Hj Shahri bin Hj Awg Besar.

"We believe that all students deserve should be given a fair chance to develop their educational skills and IGS College is another option that offers BDTVEC courses with minimal entry requirements, said Hj Shahri. Any student with at least 4 `O" Level passes in any subject is eligible to enrol into IGS.

Hj Shahri said there are plans to expand the BDTVEC programmes offered by IGS including Higher National Diploma courses as soon as the students complete their National Diploma courses at the college. Plans to offer a higher level of education including degree courses are also in discussion, he said.

IGS College also offers short courses that can be tailor made according to the needs of any group or organisation. Courses offered include Information Technology subjects such as Certificate in Office Productivity, Multimedia and Graphics Design and Programming,

Meanwhile non-IT subjects include Business Studies, Islamic Banking, Financial Regulation, General Order, Public Relations, Office Procedure, Public Speaking, Role of Receptionist, Leadership Training, Team Building and Nation Building Courses.

In order to maintain a consistent quality of education, moderators from either the United Kingdom or Australia come in once a year to observe the education system at IGS College.

IGS College is equipped with various facilities to provide a comfortable study environment including the six air-conditioned tutorial rooms, three computer labs, ECA room and Lecture Theatre.

These facilities are also available for rent by the public for any events including gatherings, business meetings and conventions.

IGS students also participate in various academic and social activities including occasional educational trips, social outings, arts and culture performances and other student organised activities such as sales events.

The college operates like any other education institution. Students attend classes every day of the week from Sam until 4.30pm except Fridays and Sundays, said one of the college course facilitators.

"On top of that, we have Extra Curricular Activities (ECA) periods every Wednesday afternoons where students can choose from either academic or arts and culture societies."

During these periods, students can mingle with their peers in the ECA room and participate in a variety of activities and discussions to develop their individual skills outside their classrooms.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin