Politeknik Brunei (PB) students showcased their creativity and business-minded sense during the final year projects (FYP) exhibition at the Convocation Festival and Market Day 2024 which began on Monday, following the launching ceremony.
One interesting project was Emerald Venture, a partnership startup company specialising in producing its own fertiliser using household kitchen waste focusing on a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for farmers and agricultural enthusiasts interested in farming.
Emerald Venture’s product is organic liquid fertiliser.
Maria Dolores Enejosa Leong Ai Ling and Nur Amanda Hamshirah binti Haji Abd Hamid are the project’s two founders.
“This was last year’s incubation project. It took us three months to complete. We joined Shell LiveWIRE Brunei and was nominated for the business award. We began selling our products last year at the local Product Expo 2023. We are also at Pasar Kitani every weekend,” Maria Dolores Enejosa Leong Ai Ling said.
Meanwhile, Nur Amanda Hamshirah said as one member had experience and knowledge in agriculture, it was proposed to the lecturer to produce organic liquid fertiliser. “The benefit of organic liquid fertiliser is that it contributes to the health of the soil by fostering the growth of beneficial microbes compared to other fertiliser,” she said adding that it is also more sustainable.
Maria Dolores Enejosa Leong Ai Ling added the ingredient is mainly rice water and kitchen waste.
On the struggle, she said, “Our products are still young in the market. The younger generation is more acceptable of our products, while others are still are not ready or confident of using our products yet.”
Nur Amanda Hamshirah added sourcing had to be done outside the country for the unique packaging which adds more cost to the product.
Their advice to other students engaged in a project is, “Don’t be scared and try to do something different. Do something that you are passionate about.” Going forward, they hope to expand into a new product line such as organic pesticide.
Other team members who were involved project were Elizabeth Anak Redam, Shafiqah binti Suherdy and Mohammad Wafi Iseendy bin Murni.
Another interesting project was a personalised kids book by the group Littlewise Publishing.
Nur Aqilah binti Alias shared, “The project took us three months to complete. The story line came from our members as well as from other popular story books.
“Our books tell of adventures in the forest and making friends with animals. Alhamdulillah, we received encouraging support and sold around 40 copies since April this year.“
The project, she said, “was inspired by our founder’s nephew diagnosed with autism. The child always wanted to be main character in the story book.
“He was not able to sleep without having someone reading him a story book. By being the main character in our story book, we hope it will further build their creativity and expand their innovativeness, especially by being in the story.”
On the challenges faced in completing the project she said, “Time and budget were important. Each member had to contribute BND100 for the project.”
The members are Muhammad Noorasyraf bin Saharuddin, Nur Aqilah binti Alias, Muhamad Aiman Wajih binti Ramlan, Mohammad Ashri @ Ed bin Zunaidi, Fathin Farhanah binti Hamdani and Nurlaitul Radiah binti Haji Ishak.
Meanwhile a team of students from the School of Petrochemical came up with the thermal power plant technologies project. Muhammad Tawfiq bin Mohd Taib in an interview highlighted that the “project was inspired by Hengyi Industries Sdn Bhd since we were attached under Hengyi Industries. The project took us less than a month to complete.
“Coal as a very cheap source of energy is used to power the plant instead of renewable energy. For example solar panels, take up vast space to produce energy needed for the plant. In addition, we also utilised technology to filter sulphur from smoke.”
He stressed on the importance of team work to complete a project. – James Kon
