Thirty participants embarked on a journey towards becoming better leaders by taking part in the Ministry of Defence’s (MinDef) 18th Executive Development Programme (EDP) for senior government officials on public policy and management.
The programme at the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (SHHBIDSS), Bolkiah Garrison began yesterday and continues until Thursday. Acting Permanent Secretary at the MinDef Pengiran Dr Haji Mohd Esa Al-Islam bin Pengiran Haji Mohd Yunus officiated the opening of the programme.
Pengiran Dr Haji Mohd Esa Al-Islam said the course is the MinDef’s initiative to invest in capacity-building of government officials towards achieving a professional and highly effective work force.
He also highlighted the long-running partnership between the ministry and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) as a testament to the continuous commitment and dedication of both organisations to the success of the EDP.
Senior research fellow at LKYSPP Dr Woo Jun Jie said the two institutions have been maintaining cooperation in areas of professional development and education.
This year’s EDP participants include 15 senior military officers (rank of lieutenant colonel) from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), two officers from the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), seven senior officers from government ministries (Prime Minister’s Office, MinDef, Ministry of Finance and Economy, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Development) and six foreign senior officers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.
The three-month programme is facilitated by SHHBIDSS and conducted by the LKYSPP at the National University of Singapore. In addition to classroom-based learning, the programme will also feature local content, such as presentations and talks from invited speakers and visits to ministries and agencies, in an effort to provide a more in-depth understanding of the Sultanate’s strategic environment.
A total of 417 senior officers have completed the EDP since 2004. – James Kon
