Microsoft eyes increase in intake for government academy programme

MICROSOFT expects to increase the number of intakes for the Microsoft Academy programme next year in a bid to build a skilled workforce and establish a sustainable Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ecosystem in Brunei.

Ruwan Dissanayake (pic), a service delivery manager at Microsoft (B), said the company is looking to take in three E-Governmnet National Centre (EGNC) officers and three more from other ministries for the 'Microsoft Academy for Government' programme next year.

Currently, three E-Governmnet National Centre (EGNC) officers are enrolled in the programme. Within three years, Microsoft intends to recruit a maximum of six to nine officers per intake for the year-long programme.

The Microsoft Academy programme, launched on June 2, 2011, aims to increase the IT technical depth and breadth in the Brunei government over a three-year period.

The programme is developed as part of the Microsoft Premier Support Agreement between E-Government National Centre and Microsoft (B), which includes in-depth technical training and international exposure for the EGNC technical staff at the Microsoft Shanghai Support Centre.

Graduates of the programme will then share their new knowledge and skills to their colleagues through knowledge sharing sessions and peer-to-peer mentorship sessions.

Three EGNC officers became the first batch to graduate from this programme yesterday at the Rizqun International Hotel. The graduates received their certificates from Hj Azhar Hj Ahmad, the deputy permanent secretary (IT and E-Government) at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Brunei Times