Seven students and five alumni, who completed the Sultan’s Scholars Development Programme (SSDP) of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, received certificates during a ceremony at a hotel in Gadong yesterday.
Attorney General Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Nor Hashimah binti Haji Mohammed Taib, who is the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Board of Directors member and the Sultan’s Scholar Scholarship Scheme Steering Committee of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah member, handed over the certificates.
This year, the SSDP comprised two components – the Brunei Darussalam phase and Singapore phase.
The Brunei phase was conducted from August 7-9, which involved briefing and information sessions by government agencies and non-governmental organisations on the duties and roles of the agencies as well as challenges.
The participants also visited Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and carried out community activities with the Children’s Cancer Foundation (YASKA).
The Singapore phase has been implemented in collaboration with the Singaporean High Commission in Brunei Darussalam and the Civil Service College in Singapore from August 12-16.
The programme aimed to expose participants to Singapore’s three main elements, namely policymaking, leadership and communication, and sustainable development, through dialogue, courses, workshops, visits and community activities.
Participants also joined a networking lunch with the senior management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended by Deputy Secretary (Southeast Asia and ASEAN) Foo Chi Hsia, officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service Commission scholars.
Assistant CEO (International) of Civil Service College, Singapore Roger Tan presented certificates of participation at the programme’s closing ceremony in Singapore on August 15.
The participants also carried out community and volunteering activities at the Singapore Cheshire Home.
The Sultan’s Scholar aims to produce excellent leaders, contribute to the social and economic development of the country, and mould the next generation of leadership with interests in religion, ruler and nation.
Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah organised the SSDP to equip Sultan’s Scholar graduates with knowledge and experience to meet national and global challenges in a positive, resilient and viable manner. The programme began in 2015 and was scheduled during the summer holidays abroad. Deputy Minister (Civil Service Governance) at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Paduka Mohd Riza bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos, Permanent Secretary (Planning, Land Use and Environment) at the Ministry of Development Dr Nor Imtihan binti Haji Abdul Razak, as Acting Managing Director of Yayasan; Deputy High Commissioner and Chargé d’Affaires of the Singaporean High Commission in Brunei Darussalam Shaun Philip Grosse, the Sultan’s Scholar Scholarship Scheme Steering Committee members, the Sultan’s Scholar Scholarship Scheme Working Committee members and senior officials of Yayasan were present. – Azlan Othman
