BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

PRIVATE education institutions in Brunei Darussalam are urged to compete and collaborate with each other to produce quality graduates, said the Acting Minister of the Ministry of Education.

"Compete and collaborate in a healthy way to produce quality graduates in support of the nation's need for capacity building," he said during a graduation ceremony held for students from Laksamana College of Business School who completed their course yesterday afternoon at Rizqun International Hotel.

The minister also suggested that colleges like Laksamana explore the possibility of link-ups with local universities in Brunei such as Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB) and the Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College (KUPUSB).

"This could help reduce costs for students and parent while at the same time increase our human capital exponentially," he said. He also shared his experience in attending the graduation ceremony in 2006, and added that compared to 71 students in that year, a total of 108 students would be receiving their certificates.

"This is a good indicator of the improvement and development of this college and its increasing popularity among the people in this country," he said.

More than 100 students graduated with courses in Bachelor of Arts Common Year One(1), University Foundation Course,Cambridge International Diploma in Business, Kensington College of Business(KCB) Higher Diploma in Business Management and KCB Advanced Diploma, Diploma and Certificate in Business Management.

Ian Pirie, the principal also gave a brief welcoming speech which concluded with a video of the new third floor extension of the college which will house new learning facilities.

Also attending the ceremony was Director of LCB Pehin Orang Kaya Ratna Setia Dato Setia Hj Abdul Hapidz Pehin Orang Kaya Laksamana Hj Abdul Razak and the British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Robert Fenn.

After the ceremony, The Brunei Times interviewed the recent graduates from LCB on their plans.

"My next step is to continue my studies overseas at the University of Essex on a private scholarship," said Muhammad Rabani Hj Roslan, the best student for the foundation course in 2008.

He said that he will be taking accounting and finance, and said that he felt "great" when he found out his results and although he hasn't made any long-term plans, he will be focused on getting his degree.

"However, if my degree results are excellent during my undergraduate course, then I might consider applying for scholarship with the government,"he said.

A foreign student from Indonesia by the name of Yuda Prayoga who graduated with a diploma, says that he intends to finish the rest of the year and continue with his degree in either in the KCB or Northumbria University.

Recommended to study in LCB by his uncle who used to work in Brunei LNG, he said that studying in Brunei was a good experience because it was not hectic making it a good student environment.

The Brunei Times