175 graduate from Laksamana College

A total of 175 students graduated at the Laksamana College of Business 2009/2010 Session yesterday, an increase from about 130 students last year.

Yesterday's ceremony also saw the presentation of four Outstanding Achievement Awards for 2010.

One of the award recipients, 18-year-old Alice Chaw obtained 12 Grade A's in "Professional Pathway in Business". "I feel that this college has been great because the teachers were really good. I am very proud of myself for getting these grades, and I would like to tell students to always do their best."

After completing her Advanced Diploma, she is planning to pursue her higher education in the United Kingdom. "I want to do a degree and Masters in business, as it is crucial for developing my own business in the future. I plan to become a businesswoman, or at least be a manager because it has always been my dream."

Another Outstanding Achievement awardee Mohd Amsyar Alidin, 24, who obtained 10 Grade A's in his "Degree Pathway in Business" said: "I feel overwhelmed because I did not really expect it. But because I did work very hard, I deserve it."

Before joining LCB, Mohd Amsyar was studying at Universiti Brunei Darussalam. "However, I decided to take a year off to think about what I should do. So when LCB came along, I thought I should make amends of what I did wrong. So now I am back on track." Currently, he is awaiting approval for a government scholarship to the UK.

He explained the importance of having business education institutions such as LCB in the country, as it was a platform for students to "market themselves".

"In a way, as Brunei is a developing country, we are trying to attract foreign direct investments. So by having these kind of institutions in Brunei, it will enable us to market ourselves well," he said.

Nigerian student Edwina Okpe, 40, a Higher National Diploma in Business Management graduate said she chose to study in Brunei because she plans to set up her business.

"Age has nothing to do with studies, because age is just a number. I would advise students with the opportunity, to use it and achieve whatever goal they have in life," she said. — Rachel Thien

The Brunei Times