BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

INSTITUTE Teknologi Brunei (ITB) announced their first ‘Staff Excellence Awards’ for its academic and non-academic staff yesterday.

Dr Hjh Noor Maya Hj Md Salleh, principal lecturer at ITB School of Business, was awarded the ‘Teaching Excellence Award’ while the ‘Research Excellence Award for Senior Career Academic’ went to Dr Hj Afzaal Seyal, senior lecturer from the School of Computing and Informatics.

Dk Siti Ariana Pg Hj Yusof, assistant registrar at the Quality Assurance Unit, was named the recipient for the ‘Administrative Excellence Award for Management & Professional (Division I &II)’.

The ‘Administrative Excellence Award for Administrative Support Staff (Division III, IV and V)’ went to Majdiah Hj Md Yusof, a clerk at the Registrar’s Office.

The ‘Administrative Excellence Award for Technician (Division III, IV and V)’ went to Pg Siti Awa Pg Hj Mahmud, chief technical assistant, Estate Office.

Minister of Education Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Awang Abu Bakar Hj Apong presented the prizes to the recipients.

The recipients received a plaque, certificate of recognition and a cash prize of $1,000.

Dr Hjh Noor Maya, told The Brunei Times that she was very proud at what she had achieved.

She will be starting her 20th year with ITB this year.

“This is the benchmark, I cannot stop just yet. I have to improve and close any gaps in my teaching, in my contribution to ITB. The key to this success, I believe, is sincerity,” said Dr Hjh Noor Maya.

Throughout the years, Dr Hjh Noor Maya had been entrusted to teach different modules not only within the School of Business, but also in Engineering Management as well as Computing.

The trust and support I received from the management, staff and the administration have been very helpful, she added.

Fellow award winner Dr Hj Afzaal said he has been with ITB for 25 years.

He said research activities at ITB started in 1995 and the process continues today.

“We have done research on education, leadership, Information System and Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Our works have been published. We also attended conferences and seminars. Alhamdulilah, it has been a good day that our efforts and endeavours have been acknowledged,” he said, adding that he will now focus on providing mentorship to their young staff.

Prior to the announcement and presentation of the awards, ITB Vice Chancellor Associate Professor Dr Hjh Zohrah Hj Sulaiman touched on the increasing challenges in the roles of higher education institutions during her speech.

“They are not only viewed as knowledge hubs that are able to service the nation’s growing demand for human resources, but also have a great responsibility in ensuring that the graduates produced are of highest quality. The graduates are the product of excellent teachers, researchers and the university’s conducive environment for learning,” she said.

She elaborated that the Staff Excellence Award 2015 was to reward both academic and non-academic staff of ITB who strive for excellence.

“It marks yet another milestone of ITB’s journey towards reaching its vision... To be amongst the best 10 universities for engineering and technology in Southeast Asia by 2018. The event will send a strong message to all our staff that we appreciate and recognise excellence at all levels in ITB,” she said.

The Brunei Times