Overwhelming response to JPKE scholarship schemes

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, January 27, 2012

SCHOLARSHIPS on offer by the Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE) have received "overwhelming responses" from applicants since their introduction to the public last year, Acting Director General of JPKE said.

The department currently opened up two new scholarship schemes: Technical & Vocation Education Scholarship (BPTV) in Local Private Institutions, and Human Capacity Building Scheme in the Private Sector (PSTS), following His Majesty's titah on his 65th birthday.

In an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday, Dr Hjh May Fa'ezah Hj Ahmad Ariffin (pic) said the department has received "a lot" of applications for the scholarships, which were meant to build human resources in the private sector in Brunei.

According to her, the first batch of BPTV has over 900 successful applicants, and have begun their studies in private institutions in Brunei. The applications of the second batch were closed just recently, on December 31 last year, she said.

Applications for the first batch of the PSTS, which was also closed on December 31, are currently undergoing eligibility screenings by the relevant committee of the scholarship scheme. Like the BPTV, the PSTS also received great responses from the public.

"At the moment, JPKE is assessing each of the applications, and then they will be presented to the committee to be approved," she said. The committee, she added, comprised of members from different departments and ministries.

Dr Hjh May Fa'ezah said that the scholarship schemes aimed to provide assistance to the public to increase their knowledge and upgrade their capacity to boost the human resource in Brunei. The objective is to build human capacity in the private sector without any biased preferences for the government sector, she said.

"Unlike previously, there was a perception that only those working in the government sector are able to further their studies, but now the message is strong and clear, the government of His Majesty is really keen...to develop the capacity of our human resource (regardless of which sector)."

Both scholarships were introduced under the Human Resource Development Fund under JPKE, which is currently at $250 million for the National Development Plan 2007-2012.

"It is our hope for those who are given the scholarship (to) appreciate it. As you know, money doesn't grow on trees," she said.

Despite the PSTS being "bond-free", scholars must return to the country work in the private sector, she said.

"Our hope is for people to come back to Brunei and work in the private sector again. He or she is an employee, so hopefully when he or she comes back, they become the tauke (boss)." Low Leng May

-The Brunei Times

Skim Biasiswa Pendidikan Teknikal dan Vokasional (BPTV) di institusi pengajian swasta dalam negeri di bawah dana sumber manusia

SKIM BIASISWA PENDIDIKAN  TEKNIKAL DAN VOKASIONAL (BPTV)  DI INSTITUSI PENGAJIAN SWASTA DALAM NEGERI
DIBAWAH DANA SUMBER MANUSIA

  

   1. OBJEKTIF

1.1.  Memberi peluang kepada anak-anak Brunei yang terdiri dari lepasan sekolah di peringkat ‘O’ dan ‘A’ level untuk meneruskan pengajian mereka ke peringkat yang lebih tinggi bagi menyahut Wawasan Brunei 2035;        1.2.  Memberikan bantuan kewangan bagi penuntut yang berkelayakan akan tetapi tidak berupaya untuk melanjutkan pengajian di institusi-institusi swasta disebabkan tiada berkemampuan untuk membiayai yuran pengajian; 1.3.  Membantu dalam mengurangkan jumlah pencari kerja tempatan yang mempunyai kelulusan rendah serta dapat mengurangkan jumlah pengangguran di Negara ini; dan 1.4.  Membantu pihak swasta dalam memperkembangkan institusi pendidikan di sektor swasta yang mana akan menyumbang kepada pertumbuhan ekonomi Negara secara menyeluruh.

   2. SASARAN KUMPULAN

Penuntut-penuntut yang tamat sekolah di peringkat ‘O’ dan ‘A’ level yang memenuhi syarat kemasukan bagi mengikuti kursus-kursus yang berkenaan sahaja.

   3. PERINGKAT PENDIDIKAN

3.1 Dibukakan kepada semua jenis kursus yang dianugerahkan dan/atau diiktiraf oleh Majlis Kebangsaan Pengiktirafan Kelulusan (MKPK) dan/atau Brunei Darussalam Technical and Vocational Education Council (BDTVEC) iaitu dari peringkat: Ø     Higher National Diploma (HND) atau sebandingnya; Ø     Higher National Certificate  (HNC) atau sebandingnya; Ø     National Diploma (ND) atau sebandingnya; dan Ø     Pre National Diploma (PND) atau sebandingnya. 3.2. Tempoh Pengajian tertakluk kepada peringkat pengajian kursus yang dipelajari secara sepenuh masa dan di dalam negeri.

   4. KEMUDAHAN

4.1.  Pihak Kerajaan akan membiayai kos pengajian sepenuhnya bagi kursus-kursus yang dianugerahkan oleh BDTVEC dan badan antarabangsa dan juga menyediakan elaun perjalanan sebanyak BND 45 sebulan bagiRakyat Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam. 4.2.  Pihak Kerajaan tidak akan membayar kos pengajian sepenuhnya bagiPenduduk Tetap Negara Brunei Darussalam. Penuntut hanya dikehendaki membayar yuran pendaftaran/kemasukkan dan kos pengajian mengikut peringkat seperti berikut dan pihak Kerajaan akan membiayai selebihnya.

Peringkat Pendidikan	Kadar Sebulan	Kadar Semester
HND atau sebandingnya	BND 300	BND 1,800
HNC atau sebandingnya	BND 250	BND 1,500
ND atau sebandingnya	BND 200	BND 1,200
PND atau sebandingnya	BND 200	BND 1,200

Download BPTV application form

Download BPTV Guide Book for students

His Majesty awards scholarships to 1,104

A student getting her scholarship agreement from an officer from JPKE. Picture: BT/Hana Roslan

HANA ROSLAN
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, September 11, 2011

HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam through the Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE) under the Prime Minister's Office yesterday awarded scholarships to 1,104 recipients to continue their education at local private institutions as part of the September 2011 intake.

The scholarship, known as the "Technical & Vocation Education Scholarship (BPTV) in Local Private Institutions" scheme was introduced under the Human Resource Development Fund under JPKE.

This new scheme will provide school leavers with 'O' and 'A' level qualifications , particularly eligible students who were not given an opportunity to study in government technical and vocational institutions.

About 392 students have been awarded a High National Diploma (HND) or equivalent, 49 awarded with a Higher National Certificate (HNC) and 242 have been awarded National Diploma (ND) or equivalent.

Finally, the level with the most entries is the Pre-National Diploma (PND) or equivalent with 421 students.

"Our research has shown that a large amount of people who obtained three 'O' levels and below are applying for PND courses. That's a big group of the unemployed who have no qualifications at all and you can see this group in the unemployment list," said the Acting Director Human Resource Development Lim Hong Huat in an interview.

They have nowhere to go, he continued, and could not compete for places in institutions such as SultanSaiful Rijal Technical College (MTSSR).

"This is an opportunity for them to do their PND and this course only requires four 'O' Level passes," he said.

Five local institutions namely Cosmopolitan College of Commerce and Technology (CCCT), KemudaInstitute, Kolej International Graduate Studies (IGS), Laksamana College of Business and MicronetInternational College (MIC) have been chosen by JPKE to house the new intakes.

Lim said that majority of the courses offered in the institutions were limited to mainly business and computing, but JPKE has held talks with most private institutions in the country to diversify their courses.

"We keep telling Brunei institutions to not just look at the Brunei market but the international market as well. So this(scheme) will kickstart their revenue to invest and attract people outside because Brunei is a really good place to study," said Lim.

Currently, the steering committee for the scheme which consists of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Development, Brunei Economic Development Board and JPKE are "sitting down" on the type of courses JPKE wants for national development.

"We at JPKE are looking after the national economic planning so we know what type of skills we require. The committee for this issue will, in a month or two, decide on what type of courses for the next intake," he said.

At the moment, JPKE can only approve five institutions because many of the other private schools do not meet the department's criteria.

"Our criteria is that all schools must offer a level from PND up to an HND equivalent. Most of the schools offer short courses but we want a full-time course because we don't want these 'O' level or 'A' level students loitering about," he said, adding that the schools also need to be registered with MoE.

However, JPKE is not limiting only five schools and the acting director said that they were looking out for more schools that can meet their criteria.

Additionally, he also said that they were looking into inviting overseas institutions from Australia and the United Kingdom as possible school choices for the scholarship scheme.

"We are going to have a meeting with the British and Australian High Commissioner so we will see what can happen by looking at the possibility of joining us. We will leave it up to them," he said.

Asked about the budget for the current scholarship scheme, Lim said he does not know the exact figure but stated he "does not know the number, but a lot of money is being allocated into it".

However, he estimated that in the next National Development Plan (RKN), $100 million or more might be allocated for this scheme depending on the capacity.

This would be the very first intake of students to be under this new scheme, and the next would be in March 2012, which will be for a very small group.

"The next big intake will be in September next year and this will be an ongoing project. We have been instructed to implement this project, so this is a pilot and if it is successful, then the MoE can continue giving out this scholarship scheme instead," he said.

The event took place at the Fire and Rescue Department multi-purpose hall, where students received their scholarship offers from JPKE. 

-The Brunei Times

Scholarship schemes offered for 'A' Level studies overseas and in-country

Scholarship (Brunei Administrative Services)- Brunei Citizen
- Credit in 'O' Level Bahasa Melayu
- Grade A in 'O' Level English Language
- Grade A in at least 7 'O' Level subjects
- All above requirement must be in ONE sitting

Scholarship (DANA)- Brunei Citizen
- Distinction A2 in 'O' Level Bahasa Melayu and English Language
- At least 8 credit 'O' Levels in ONE sitting
- Dinstinction in best 5 'O' Level subjects, excluding Bahasa Melayu
- Aggregate in best 6 'O' Level subjects must be 8 or less
- Active involvement in extra curricular activities (ECAs)

Scholarship (Ministry of Education)
- Brunei Citizen
- Credit C5 in 'O' Level Bahasa Melayu
- Credit B4 in 'O' Level English Language
- At least 8 credit 'O' Levels in ONE sitting
- Dinstinction in best 5 'O' Level subjects, excluding Bahasa Melayu
- Aggregate in best 6 'O' Level subjects must be 12 or less
(Bonded Career: Education Officer)



Scholarship (Ministry of Education - Study at JIS)
- Brunei Citizen
- Credit C6 in 'O' Level Bahasa Melayu
- Credit B4 in 'O' Level English Language
- At least 8 credit 'O' Levels in ONE sitting
- Aggregate in best 6 'O' Level subjects must be 15 or less
- To become Education Officer specialised in Music & Technology, Media Studies, Food Technology, Product & Design etc

Higher Education (Government)

Technical & Engineering Colleges

Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical College (MTSSR) and Jefri Bolkiah College of Engineering (MKJB) are post-secondary institutions which equip secondary school leavers and working adults with technical skills and knowledge to meet the manpower needs of various industrial sectors. These institutions have well-established links with the private sector. They provide full time institutional training programmes which also incorporate apprenticeship programmes and work attachment in relevant industries.

More information on the colleges can be found at:
http://www.mtssr.edu.bn
http://www.mkjb.edu.bn

Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah College of Nursing

As a tertiary nursing and Midwifery educational institution, the college offers the Pre-Registration Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery which includes conversion programmes and Advanced Diploma in Nursing for registered nurses. Entrants will need to comply with a minimum requirement of 5 relevant ‘O’ level subjects.

Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB)

The institute was set up to ensure a broad-based training for youths inclined towards practice-oriented studies at Higher National Diploma (HND)  level.  Geared towards people with ‘A’ level and Ordinary National Diploma (OND) qualifications, ITB also caters for in-service training and offers courses in Business & Finance, Computing & Information Systems, Communication and Computer Systems, and Electrical Power and Building Services Engineering.

More information on ITB can be found at: http://www.itb.edu.bn

 Universiti Brunei Darussalam(UBD)

Being the only university in the Sultanate, UBD’s roots date back to 1985. From a modest beginning, it has now grown to offer disciplines like the sciences, business, economics and policy studies, engineering, medicine and social sciences. The Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE) is a faculty within UBD which offers initial teacher training as well as in-service teacher training programmes.

More information on UBD can be found at: http://www.ubd.edu.bn 

Scholarships offered by His Majesty's Government and Brunei Shell Petroleum (Bachelor Degrees)

Categories and Minimum Tariff Points

• Dentistry (300)
• Business Management / Finance (260)
• Science, Engineering and Technology (260)
• Social Sciences and Arts (260)
• Education - Special Skim (260)

Agricultural & related subjects
Applied and Pure Sciences
Architecture, Building and Planning
Business and Administrative studies
Computer & Mathematical Sciences
Creative Arts and Designs
Engineering & Technology
Health & Medicine
Humanities
Law and Legal Studies
Social Studies and Communications
Travel, Tourism and Hospitality
Education - Special Scheme

Scholarships offered by Human Resources (DANA)

First (Bachelor) Degree courses

• Law
• Islamic Law
• Islamic Theology
• Engineering
• Arabic Lanuage and Islamic Civilisation
• Counselling and Motivation
• Finance
• Petroleum
• Geology
• Medicine
• Psychology
• Education
• ICT
• Economics

Scholarship requirements

UCAS Tariff Points:

A*=140; A=120; B=100; C=80; D=60; E=40 

Ministry of Education (MoE) - Degree- Brunei Citizen 
- 5 ‘O’ Levels including Bahasa Melayu 
- ‘O’ Level English Language or IELTS 6.0 
- 260 to 300 UCAS tariff points in 3 ‘A’ Levels 
- Top 50 UK universities 
- 4 and 5 star rated Australian universities 
- Click here for courses offered 

Ministry of Education (MoE) - HND 

- Brunei Citizen 
- 5 ‘O’ Levels including Bahasa Melayu 
- ‘O’ Level English Language or IELTS 6.0 
- 160 UCAS tariff points in 2 ‘A’ Levels 

Human Resources (DANA)- Brunei Citizen 
- 6 ‘O’ Levels incl. Bahasa Melayu, Maths, 2 Sciences 
- ‘O’ Level English Language or IELTS 6.0 
- 340 (AAB) - 360 (AAA) UCAS tariff points in 3 ‘A’ Levels 
- Top 20 UK universities or 
- Top 10 Australian universities 
- Click here for courses offered

Brunei Administrative Service (BAS)- Brunei Citizen 
- Credit in Bahasa Melayu ‘O’ Level 
- Grade A in English Language ‘O’ Level 
- Minimum AAB+a or AAA+b in ‘A’ Levels 

Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) 
- Brunei Citizen 
- 5 ‘O’ Levels incl. Bahasa Melayu, English, Maths 
- BBB in 3 ‘A’ Levels (incl. Maths, Physics) 


Brune Shell Tankers (BST) 
- Male Brunei Citizen (17 - 25 years old) 
- 120 UCAS points or Grade C in 'A' Level numerate subjects (e.g. Maths, Physics, Accounting) 
- C in 'O' Level Maths, English, Physics or Combined Science and any other English medium subject 
- IELTS with band score of 6.0
Ministry of Defence (MinDef)- Brunei Citizen 
- AAA in ‘A” Levels 

Yayasan Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah 
(Skim Sultan's Scholar)- Brunei Citizen 
- Grade A in Bahasa Melayu ‘O’ Level 
- ‘O’ Level English Language 
- AAA in ‘A’ Levels 


University of Otago, New Zealand (Health Sciences)- Brunei Citizen 
- ‘O’ Level Malay Language 
- Grade B in ‘O’ Level English Language 
- BBB (MoE) or AAA (DANA) in 3 ‘A’ Levels 


ASEAN Scholarships (Singapore)- ASEAN Citizens and Permanent Residents 
- Excellent ‘A’ Level results (Click here) 


Japanese Government 

- Brunei Citizen 
- Completed 12 years of schooling 
- Willing to learn Japanese language (Click here) 

Minimum Academic Qualifications

1.1 For ‘A’ Level Scheme :

       1.1.1 Special Scheme ‘A’ Level – MOE Scholarship

• Malay Language at least Credit C5 at BGCE Ordinary Level November 2008
• English Language at least Credit B4 at GCE Ordinary Level November 2008
• At least Distinction in 5 (five) relevant subjects
• Credit in 8 (eight) subjects BCGCE Ordinary Level November 2008 in one sitting with an aggregate not more than 12 within the best of 6 subjects

       1.1.2 Special Scheme ‘A’ Level – DANA Scholarship

• Malay Language at least Credit C5 at BGCE Ordinary Level November 2008
• English Language at least Credit B4 at GCE Ordinary Level November 2008
• At least Distinction in 5 (five) relevant subjects
• Credit in 8 (eight) subjects BCGCE Ordinary Level November 2008 in one sitting with an aggregate not more than 10 within the best of 6 subjects

       1.1.3 Special Scheme ‘A’ Level – BAS Scholarship

• Malay Language at least Credit C6 at BGCE Ordinary Level November 2008
• Distinction 7 (seven) subjects BGCE Ordinary Level November 2008 in one sitting with Grade A includes English Language

1.2 For Diploma Courses :

       1.2.1 Diploma - MOE Scholarship

• 1 (one) subject Advanced Level in related to the course being applied
• Credit in 6 (six) subjects GCE Ordinary Level including Malay Language, English Language, Mathematics and two Sciences subject

1.3 For Higher Diploma Courses :

       1.3.1 Higher DIploma MOE Scholarship

• The best of 2 (two) subject Advanced Level in one sitting related to the course being applied with UCAS Tariff Points 140

or


• National Diploma in related to the course being applied with Grade Point Average (GPA) 2.00 or better

1.4 For First Degree Courses :

       1.4.1 First Degree MOE Scholarship

• The best of 3 (three) subjects Advanced Level in one sitting related to the course being applied stated below :
  
  UCAS Tariff Points : A = 120 , B = 100 , C = 80 , D = 60 , E = 40
  
  

  	Minimum Points
  Dentistry	300
  Management, Business and Finance	260
  Sciences, Engineering and Technology	260
  Social Sciences and Arts	240
  English Language / English Literature	220
  Physical Education	240


or


• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) with minimum grade 35 points

or


• Diploma in Nursing qualification with overall mark 75% (Merit)

or


• National Diploma in related field with minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) 2.50

or


• For private studying overseas must minimum Second Class Upper Honours (2:1) or Grade Point Average (Credit) at the end of their academic session

or

       1.4.2 First Degree - DANA Scholarship

• The best of 3 (three) subjects Advanced Level with grade AAA for Medicine and AAB for other courses in one sitting related to the course being applied
• Obtaining a place of study at the top institution, for United Kingdom ‘Top 20 The Times Good University Guide 2008’ and Australia ‘Top 10’

       1.4.3 First Degree - BAS Scholarship

• The best of 3 (three) subjects Advanced Level with grade AAA + a or AAA + b or AAB + a or AAA in one sitting related to the course being applied

2.5 For Post Graduate (Master) and Professional Courses :

       2.5.1 Post Graduate (Master) and Professional – MOE Scholarship

• Honours Degree minimum Second Class Upper (2:1) from Universities not included in the ranking ‘United Kingdom Top 50 The Times Good University Guide 2008’

or


• Honours Degree minimum Second Class Upper (2:1) from University Brunei Darussalam [UBD] and University Islam Sultan Sharif Ali [UNISSA]

or


• Honours Degree Second Class Lower (2:2) from Universities ‘United Kingdom ‘Top 50 The Times Good University Guide 2008’