The Brunei contingent returned home brimming with pride after participating in the second Belt and Road International Skills Competition (BRICS24) held last month in Chongqing, China.
Three students from the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) stood out by winning several medals, with Mohammad Adiman bin Sezeli from the IBTE School of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) securing a prestigious gold medal.
Leading the triumphant team was Education Officer and International and Industry Linkages Officer Muhammad Safwan Nazmi bin Zulkofli.
Reflecting on the experience, Muhammad Safwan shared the competition provided a fantastic platform that enabled participating youth to showcase their talents on a “world-standard level”.
“Our young competitors demonstrated exceptional skills and dedication, proving they can hold their own among the best technical competitors globally,” he said.
The team leader also highlighted how the competition presented networking opportunities, paving the way for both team experts and competitors to connect with their global counterparts while learning to adapt to specific competition standards during pre-competition training.
“This exchange of knowledge and experience is invaluable, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement, underlining the BRISC24 theme of ‘Skills Cooperation, Joint Development’,” he added.
As a team leader, attending several conferences and keynote speeches opened up fresh perspectives for Muhammad Safwan.
He was introduced to the latest technical and vocational practices from different nations, which he added were immensely beneficial to be incorporated into the practices and ideas within IBTE and its industry partners, as well as their curriculum and programmes.
The potential for future collaborations and leveraging these international competitions for the nation’s development in technical and vocational education is immense, continued Muhammad Safwan, adding that the experience opened up new opportunities for collaboration and growth with established international industry leaders.
“It reinforced our commitment to nurturing the talents of our youth and equipping them with the skills needed to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape. It also highlighted that skills cooperation and joint development are possible, even beyond language barriers, across 61 nations and nearly 600 skilled professionals, in the pursuit of technical excellence.”
The Brunei delegation competed in three skill areas out of the 18 skills competitions following the theme of the competition.
Gold medallist Mohammad Adiman competed in the Internet Marketing Skills category, Mohd Amirul Azim bin Mohd Manan competed in the Coffee Making Skills category and another participated in the Best Newcomer category.
Gold medallist Mohammad Adiman from IBTE School of ICT shared the competition experience was great, though he mostly felt anxious before and during the event since it was his first time participating in a skill competition on international stage.
He explained the competition comprised three modules: live-streaming marketing, digital marketing promotion and scheme planning.
Each module required different preparation methods. Competitors were given three hours to finish a script for the live-streaming marketing module, followed by a 10-minute simulated live-streaming session.
“Since this module carries the most weight, I took it more seriously than the others. Before the competition, I researched live-streaming marketing and watched how people live-stream to gather inspiration. I also practiced writing scripts and prepared for potential questions and answers,” he said.
Although being among the other seven international competitors was exhilarating, Mohammad Adiman did not expect to win gold, as most of the other competitors were more knowledgeable in this skill area than he was.
“I didn’t have much interest in this field at first since I was enrolled in the Information Technology programme, and the Internet marketing skill competition is more suited for students in business programmes.
“However, I was chosen and encouraged by multiple instructors to join this competition.
After learning what Internet marketing is all about, I developed some interest in this field, recognising it as an important skill in this digital era,” he added.
Along with his supervising team expert in coffee making skills, Muhammad Fadhil Abu Bakar bin Haji Mohd Manan, who won a bronze medal, shared he had an exhilarating and unforgettable experience throughout the competition.
“I went through months of rigorous training and dedication in preparation for this competition, so it’s been tough. I worked closely with my mentor, Fadhil, who taught and honed my skills and knowledge in coffee making.” Competing with many international participants was a humbling and inspiring experience for him. He found it fascinating to see different approaches and techniques from around the world and enjoyed meeting new people, exchanging ideas with competitors from diverse backgrounds.
“The most challenging part of the competition was maintaining composure under pressure, though I managed quite nicely. My interest in this field stems from a deep passion for the subject and a desire to challenge myself,” said the IBTE School of Hospitality and Tourism student.
Meanwhile, for Muhammad Dinie Daim bin Suhainin, who won the Best Newcomer Award, found China and the Sultanate to be vastly different in terms of their surroundings and development. However, he was excited about the opportunity to visit the country for the competition.
Before and during the competition, he felt anxious knowing he would face highly skilled international competitors from around the globe. Nevertheless, he remained focused throughout the event, eager to compete and measure himself against them.
Under the guidance, support, and motivation from his team expert, Mohamad Arizan bin Ahmad, Muhammad Dinie managed to overcome his anxiety and feelings of inferiority as a rookie among more experienced international competitors.
When he was announced the winner of the ‘Best Newcomer Award’, it came as a surprise but left him feeling grateful and happy. As an IBTE School of Aviation student, Muhammad Dinie has a growing interest in Electronics and Communication Engineering. His participation in the competition further enriched his skills and knowledge in the field. He realised the high demand for his current course at companies like Unified National Network Sdn Bhd and Datastream Digital Sdn Bhd.
“I hope to pursue further studies to a higher level after graduating from IBTE, aiming to enrol in the same course programme at a Polytechnic,” he added optimistically.
The BRICS24 serves as a platform to promote skills exchange and cooperation among Belt and Road partner countries. The first competition was held in Chongqing in May 2019. – Lyna Mohammad
