Azlan Othman
The Higher Education Expo 2022 will next month be conducted virtually, as an alternative to face-to-face meets, in compliance with the Ministry of Health guidelines to curb the COVID-19 spread. The expo is scheduled for February 5-11, from 9am to 5pm.
Head of the Higher Education Department at the Ministry of Education (MoE) cum Higher Education Expo 2022 Chairperson Hajah Anis Faudzulani binti Haji Dzulkiflee announced this at a press conference yesterday, adding that this will be the seventh higher education expo organised by the ministry.
The event’s primary focus is to serve as a one stop information centre for higher education, corralling post-secondary educational institutions, private and government higher education institutions, as well as local education agencies under one platform to provide an overview on the landscape of post-secondary education and higher education.
This year’s event aims to create an experience similar to previous higher education expos that provide the public a chance to interact with expo participants over live chat and video conferencing.
Hajah Anis Faudzulani said the expo will promote multiple pathways to higher education and educational opportunities available locally. The expo will serve as a platform to facilitate students keen on furthering their studies, allowing them to interact directly with participating institutions and educational agencies.
Twenty-three higher education institutions, educational services agencies and other relevant government and private agencies will participate in the event.
The expo participants include Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), Politeknik Brunei (PB), Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE), Laksamana College of Business, Kolej International Graduate Studies (KIGS), Cosmopolitan College of Commerce and Technology (CCCT), Micronet International College (MIC), Kemuda Institute, BICPA Accountancy Academy, Mahakarya Institute of the Arts Asia and HAD Tech College.
Hajah Anis Faudzulani said the MoE will share the latest information pertaining to matters that include the Higher Education Centralized Admission System (HECAS), government scholarships, application for the accreditation of courses/qualifications, careers and others.
The MoE will be represented by the Higher Education Department, Department of Scholarship Management, Secretariat of Brunei Darussalam National Accreditation Council, Educators Management Department, Private Institutions Division, Lifelong Learning Centre and the Career Development Unit from Department of Schools.
Also participating in the expo are government agencies from the Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC) Secretariat at the Prime Minister’s Office and Islamic Studies Department, Ministry of Religious Affairs. Meanwhile, private agencies that will take part in the expo include Findlay (B) Sdn Bhd and HRDS Education Services.
A host of activities will be conducted throughout the expo, including a webinar by local educational institutions and associations.
The session will also include application procedures for the HECAS, scholarship offer opportunities, new programmes introduced by higher education institutions and graduates success stories, among others.
The expo is open to the public, particularly secondary and pre-university school leavers with Brunei GCE ‘O’ Level and ‘A’ Level or equivalent, keen on pursuing a higher education towards National Technical Education Certificate (NTec), Higher National Technical Education Certificate (HNTec), Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree and Doctoral Degree, as well as individuals keen on upskilling or reskilling.
