Over 200 Brunei students sign agreement with Hengyi

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network): A group of 207 students from academic programmes in local universities and institutions signed a conditional offer of employment with Hengyi Industries Sdn Bhd on Wednesday (June 15) at the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition 2022 (Brunei MYCE 2022).

The Acting Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Khairuddin Abdul Hamid was the guest of honour. Also present was Ambassador of China to Brunei Darussalam Yu Hong.

During the signing ceremony, representatives signed the agreement on behalf of the 176 students from Politeknik Brunei (PB) and 31 students from Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE).

Permanent Secretary of the Department of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Azhar Yahya said over the last few years, the Manpower Localisation Taskforce, the Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC), Department of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Education, PB, IBTE, Damai Holdings and Hengyi Industries, worked closely to develop programmes to meet the manpower and skill needs of the company.

“In March 2021, Hengyi Industries issued conditional offer of employment to the first batch of Politeknik Brunei students in these programmes,” said the permanent secretary, adding that 207 students will now join those ranks.

The acting minister witnesses the signing ceremony of the conditional offer of employment from Hengyi to the students

He said under the agreement, the students will be offered employment at Hengyi Industries upon completion of their academic programmes.

The permanent secretary said the programmes and continous collaboration among key stakeholders are important in ensuring sufficient supply of local talent in supporting industry needs, particularly the downstream oil and gas sector, which is fast expanding.

The joint collaborative programmes are an initiative by Hengyi Industries to create a platform where the youths of Brunei Darussalam have the opportunity to grow and develop their skills.

The three-year full-time programmes, require students to undergo two years of studies at the respective institutions and a year of industrial based learning at Pulau Muara Besar.