Unissa's student council starts leadership course

NEWLY-appointed student leaders of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (Unissa) yesterday began a three-day leadership course that will see to their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual growth as prime examples to their peers.

Present to officiate the course was the Deputy Minister of Education, Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad Pg Hj Abd Rahman, who is also the Rector of Unissa.

Unissa's Dean of Student Affairs, Pg Hj Saiful Bahrin Pg Hj Kula, said that the leadership course was organised to give the members of the Unissa's student representative council (MPP) exposure to relevant aspects of leadership, management and administration in order to enable them to perform their duties better, systematically and effectively.

Candidates were nominated in October 2007 and elections were held before the examinations started in November.

Six male and four female undergraduates have been elected to serve in the current council. On their first day, the group sat through working papers by lecturers and other invited speakers who shared their experience on topics such as image, roles of leaders in institutions of higher education, administration and motivation.

They left for Temburong in the afternoon, where the rest of their course takes place.

For the remaining two days, the group will be staying in the Lukut Intan Rest House and participate in dawn lectures, physical endurance training and also a visit to Kuala Belalong.

They will also be involved in religious activities such as mass prayers, reading of the Surah Yassin and tahlil at the Mohammad Salleh Mosque in Bangar Town.

President Mohd Zulhilmi Mat Ali said that he was greatly surprised when he was elected to be the first head of the university's MPP and found it to be an extraordinary challenge.

While he was at the Hassanal Bolkiah Arabic Secondary School for Boys, he had similar but smal-ler roles, such as leading the Usuluddin committee and being in charge of the hostel.

"There is so much to learn especially when it comes to communicating with the public," said the 20-year-old undergraduate.

The president found his MPP colleagues to be a mature and open minded group when it came to discussing ideas.

With regards to the MPP's future plans, Mohd Zulhilmi said that they will be most-ly involved in conducting religious activities but expressed a deep interest in spreading Islamic dakwah (propagation) to rural areas as well as among one another.

"It's not impossible that we will be working with UBD's MPP and collaborating in activities," he added.

On being confident of his abilities as a leader, Mohd Zulhilmi believes that "Allah SWT would not test a person beyond their capabilities".

Also attending yesterday's event were Unissa's Academic Advisor, Professor Datuk Dr Abdul Monir Yacob, Deputy Rector, Dr Hj Mohd Yusop Hj Awang Damit, and Assistant Deputy Rector, Dr Hjh Masnon Hj Ibrahim.

The Brunei Times