Registration for business incubator programme still open

CONSULTATION session might be over as it only runs for a day, however the registration is still open until January 28 for graduates with a Vocational Technical Education and Training (VTET) interested to explore the world of entrepreneurship through the Business Incubator Programme by the Business School.

Entrepreneurship Training Officer II, Pg Hjh Norashikkin Pg Dr Hj Amir Md Yussof told The Brunei Times that those eligible to register can be a graduate with a BDTVEC qualifications from any field of study from any vocational and technical schools in the nations.

"This included those from Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB), Wasan vocational school, Nakhoda Ragam vocational school, Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical College (MTSSR) and such other institutes in the country" she said.

At the consultation yesterday, Pg Hjh Norashikkin said that the response were quite good, and there was also students from the Sultan Bolkiah Vocational School in Seria visiting and attending consultation as well as former graduates of the school, showing interest in registering.

Even on consultation day, there were also some who had registered, not wasting the opportunity.

She added that "most of these students have skills, and this programme would create the awareness and interest in entrepreneurship so more graduates can embark on self employment."

The Business Incubator Programme was formerly under the Department of Technical Institutions, Ministry of Education. Then, after the establishment of the Business School on February 1st, 2005, the programme was then handled by the school until now.

This year would be the third intake for the programme under the school.

The programme comprised of three phases.

The first would runs for two weeks, continued by three months course in the second phase, and completed with a 20 months business start-up in incubators in phase 3.

There are twelve incubator units for rent, in which two units were already occupied by former graduates of the programme. Throughout the programme, participants would be guided by teachers at the school.

"Since 2000, there are already six entrepreneurs graduated from the programme" she said.

Setting up a business is challenging, and one had to develop interest. The training officer believed that the best way to learn entrepreneurship was 'learning by doing'.

The Brunei Times