| Lyna Mohamad |
MARKING another milestone in setting the pace for ICT education in the country, Telekom Brunei Berhad (TelBru) officially inked another Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), one of the country’s leading institutions of higher learning, in a series of agreements that are setting the foundation for Brunei’s ICT development.
In attendance as the guest of honour was Vice-Chancellor of UTB, Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman along with UTB’s principal officers and staff, and TelBru’s senior management.
Yesterday’s signing took place at the university’s Lecture Theatre 2 where it witnessed the formalisation of the TelBru-UTB partnership that will establish several forms of collaboration over a five-year period.
Signing on behalf of TelBru was its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Kay and was witnessed by TelBru’s Head of Resourcing Dayangku Surayani binti Pengiran Haji Tajuddin.
UTB was represented by its Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Dr Hajah Noor Maya binti Haji Mohd Salleh and was witnessed by UTB’s Director of Industry Liaison Office, Jennifer Voon Nyuk Hiong.
Exchange of documents while Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB)’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman (centre) looks on. – LYNA MOHAMAD
Prior to the signing, Dr Hajah Noor Maya in her speech noted that the MoU will serve as a general framework for the establishment of cooperation between UTB and TelBru including the development and delivery of related telecommunications engineering and ICT academic programmes.
The cooperation is also expected to “further promote cooperation in exchange of staff in their related expertise, and student attachment, joint proposal, supervision and assessment of student projects, development and delivery of industry-based technical programmes in Telecommunications Engineering and lCT industries, and sharing of information and educational materials”.
She also acknowledged the initiative by Dr Minh San Dao from the UTB School of Business for his pro-activeness to initiate the engagement with TelBru.
CEO David Kay meanwhile in his speech expressed confidence in the tremendous benefits both parties stand to gain from this partnership, adding that the partnership can stimulate academic environment by enriching teaching and learning at the university.
The sharing of technical expertise, resources and direct interaction with the experts within TelBru meanwhile can offer undergraduates real-world working environment giving them a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the industry.
While UTB can offer its innovation and discovery-driven culture, TelBru can share its market and customer-driven environment that they are accustomed to on a daily basis, said the CEO.
“We believe educating our young people is a shared responsibility. That’s why industry and academic partnership like this is so important to us. It offers a platform for the sharing of ideas and experiences for the betterment of our respective institutions,” he added.
He added that strategic partnerships can lead to the generation of new ideas and new knowledge and as a potential employer for UTB’s graduates; this partnership will enable UTB’s programme and content to be attuned to the needs of this constantly evolving industry.
One inaugural research project that is being initiated between TelBru and UTB is in the areas of Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart applications, specifically using LoRa/IoT technologies.
The MoU also offers sponsorship opportunities to qualified candidates for enrolment into the programme and under this MoU, TelBru will undertake several responsibilities that include making available its resources, expertise and facilities for the academic programme.
TelBru will also provide on-the-job training and provide assistance and support for selected students’ final year projects as coordinated by the university. Similar to several of TelBru’s other sponsorship programmes of the same calibre, it offers sponsorship opportunities to UTB students that aims to introduce to the public that TelBru is an employer of choice within the private sector while inculcating trust among the general Bruneian community.
Foresighted to harness local expertise and specialists in technical areas of ICT, students under TelBru sponsorship will be well positioned to inherit some of the company’s responsibilities currently shouldered by expatriates within the next three to five years in a move that encourages local leaders to take the helm of Brunei’s pertinent industries.
TelBru, through the providing of support to the country’s younger generation, aims to facilitate the development of human capital as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme that is in line with Brunei Vision 2035.
This initiative will also work towards developing talent in the telecommunications industry by immersing such students in real-life working environments and readying them for employment as well as providing them with the opportunity to put theory into practice.
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