KUPUSB students learn teamwork in leadership course

PARTICIPANTS of the Leadership Induction Course held at the Outward Bound Brunei Darussalam in Temburong came back yesterday with better understanding on the importance of teamwork. The two-day programme was for 34 members of the Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College (KUPUSB) Student Council.

Nordin Hj Mohamad, 21, said that the course had allowed him and his other fellow participants to gain experience that could not be learnt in classrooms but by going through it. "It's kind of like swimming; a teacher can't teach a student how to swim in the classroom with pictures and explain the methods. You have to actually be in the water to experience how it feels and how swimming has to be done" said Nordin.

He also elaborated on how the activities that were held during the course helped them learn the importance of teamwork and that only by working together could they achieve their goal.

"We were literally pushed to our limits during the team building activities such as filling a bucket up with water and carrying it through an obstacle course. None of us had the luxury of quitting because if one of us fell, we all would fail as a team so we had to pull each other up and push on to reach our goal. This challenged our physical as well as mental strength but it was a great experience nonetheless."

When asked if he would like to take the course again, Nordin said he would for he prefered to learn through practical methods such as this and hoped more would be conducted in the future.

Zati Hanani Dato Seri Setia Hj Rajid said that most the activities focused on team building, but in a different environment to give it a challenge.

"There was one point of the course where we were not only able to have fun playing in a river together and get to know each other more, but at the same time we were taught how to swim, float, rescue a drowning victim and survival tips."

Zati Hanani mentioned that they were asked to present their projects concerning their studies during night activities as well as paper work and personal evaluations towards their advisors.

"I had a really good time during the course because I got to experience it with my fellow classmates and feel self-improvement after doing such difficult tasks. I look forward to having another course such as this if possible in the near future."

This was the second time KUPUSB has conducted the course, the previous one was in January last year.

The progamme is designed to train, lead, educate, provide experience and cultivate profound skills in any types of support among the students. It is also aimed at developing leadership capabilities and efficiency in the multiple changing associations of leadership. The Brunei Times