An executive programme in inspiring change for educational leaders will be held over the next two days at Sheraton Utama Hotel in the capital.
Over 20 representatives from higher educational institutions in the nation, such as UNISSA, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Institute Technology Brunei (ITB) and others, are attending the three-day workshop.

During the official launching of the programme yesterday morning, Hj Mohd Daud bin Hj Mahmud, Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education cum guest of honour, in his keynote address said: "By 2035, we wish to see Brunei Darussalam recognised everywhere for the accomplishment of its well-educated and highly-skilled people as measured by the highest international standards quality of life that is among the top 10 nations in the world, and a dynamic, sustainable economy with income per capita within the top 10 countries in the world."

He said the Ministry of Education has a vision of 'Quality Education towards a developed, peaceful and prosperous nation' and one of the key initiatives of its Strategic Plan is the New Education System of the 21st century (SPN 21).

SPN21 promises key changes in the educational structure, curriculum and assessment, as well as the vocational and technical education system, which is in line with the Ministry of Education's mission to provide holistic education to maximise the potential of all students, he added.

"The landscape of higher education in Brunei is also changing with the upgrading of ITB as the third university and the development of a polytechnic in the near future," said Hj Mohd Daud

"We hope to achieve a 30 per cent net enrollment rate in higher education by 2018 from the current 13 per cent.

"The successful implementation of these reforms in education will require everybody to be on board the change train and this will be the biggest challenge for the ministry," he further added.

The permanent secretary also sees the need to have leaders at all levels in the ministry in the successful implementation of the reform agenda.

"We need leaders who are able to internalise the changes, able to develop and carry out their action plans and build up their teams. This will require leaders who have the skills, knowledge, vision and the energy to go the distance.

"The urgency in Brunei is to plan for life after oil and to move out of our comfort zone for our future prosperity," he concluded.

Also present during the official launching of the programme was the Vice Chancellor of UBD Dr Hj Zulkarnain bin Hj Hanafi.

Organised by UBD, the programme is facilitated by Professor Richard J Badham from Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Australia.

On the programme, he said: "It is about changes and aspirations of what we want to do and how you actually get people to do it. Motivation is needed to inspire people to make changes.

"Through this programme, we find out what people actually want to change and what would make them change. This programme also encourages people to get motivated thinking about changes," he said.

Source: brunei-online.com/bb/tue/oct28h19.htm