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Dk Dr Nurolaini said participants will also experience nature in Brunei, with extra-curricular activities to be held at the Outward Bound Brunei Darussalam (OBBD) in the Temburong District.

Several recreational visits have also been arranged to famous landmarks in Brunei such as Kampong Ayer, the Royal Regalia Museum and the famous oil and gas district in Seria.

In addition, participants will also experience and learn Brunei culture through homestay programme with foster families organised by the Brunei Japan Friendship Association (BJFA).

Participants will be seven Japanese medical students are currently in Brunei for the 4th International Summer Medical School Programme 2010, an exchange programme organised annually by the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).

The programme is the result of a collaboration between the PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences (IHS) and Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Japan that began in 2006.

The programme was launched yesterday by the Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Mr Hirose Noriki, in a ceremony held at the institute.

In her welcoming speech, the Acting Dean of PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Dk Dr Nurolaini Pg Hj Muhd Kifli said participants of the programme will experience life as a medical student at UBD for a period of five weeks until August 21, 2010.

The Japanese medical students will also be taught by experienced lecturers through lectures, problem-based learning (PBL) sessions, large group sessions as well as tutorials.

Participants will also have a chance to gain knowledge and hands-on experience from clinical placements and clinical and communication skills sessions.

All sessions will be conducted in English, thus giving the opportunity for Japanese students .to enhance their English language proficiency while on the programme.

— Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

via BruDirect

Education officer Mohammad Raymie Hj Othman from Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College left for Japan yesterday after being granted a scholarship under the Asian Youth Fellowship (AYF) Programme from the Embassy of Japan in Brunei.

A seven-month programme is set to introduce Mohammad Raymie to a preparatory course at the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai, which constitutes the learning of the Japanese language and other subjects. In addition, he will sit for an entrance exam for graduate school.

Once he has completed the seven-month course, he will proceed to a Japanese graduate school as “Monbukagakusho” (Japanese Government Scholarship Student). The AYF is a scholarship provided by the Japan Foundation to Asian university graduates who wish to enter a Japanese graduate school.

The AYA has been established within the framework of the Peace and Friendship Initiative started by the Japanese Government in 1995, aimed at nurturing human resources for the regional cooperation and development of the area, as well as to enhance and promote friendship and mutual understanding among Asian countries.

To date, 10 Bruneians have been accepted into the annual programme, which gives priority to students who have not studied the Japanese language.

— Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

via BruDirect

Six form one students from Brunei, three boys and three girls, have been selected to attend the Asian Pacific Children’s Convention (APCC) in Fukuoka.

They leave for Japan on July 16 and return on July 27. The six will be accompanied by two officers or two teachers to monitor the APCC objectives for students to cooperate, learn and respect local customs and cultural life of nations as well as establishing friendship and goodwill among participants from 57 countries.

Yesterday, a recital of the “al-fatihah” and a reading of the “doa selamat” was held at at Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) College, to bless the auspicious occasion, aside from performances from the delegation and a video presentation.

Assistant Director of Secondary Schools (Ministry of Education) Mr Cheong Huat Joo said the APCC is a program organized by the regional committee of Fukuoka since the 1990s.

He said the program began with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, submitting a total of 64 students under age 12 to the Department of Schools. Some 11 MoE officers were involved in the selection process.

Mr Cheong also urged the six students to learn positive attitudes and values that make Japanese society a progressive nation. One of the six chosen, Hajah Dina from SM Lambak Kiri, was spokesman in a warm speech, “My fellow Junior Ambassadors Malek-san, Wazif-san, Vernon-san, Amal-san and Fathen-san, we hope you all feel proud to be part of this great programme the 22nd Asian Pacific Children’s Convention.

We feel honoured to be nominated by our schools and finally selected by the Ministry of Education through an interview and essay-writing.

To prepare ourselves, our chaperones or `sense had planned training schedules for every Friday from 8.30am to 11am and at times on Sundays.”

Dina added that “In the past weeks, we’ve learned about each other through ice-breaking activities, aerobics and games. All of us never danced before… so through this programme, we learned traditional dance which was tough but we survived.

Some of us actually lost weight through the physical training. To their parents, she said, “Don’t worry about us when we are in Japan, “Insya Allah”, we will be fine under the guidance of our chaperones, Radzuan sensei and Norlina sensei.

In Fukuoka, we home-stay with foster parents. We have received information and even got replies and e-mail from our foster parents. We will try our best to learn the Japanese way of life.”

Hajah Dina added that the six will be attending Mirai Village Camp to interact with 218 participants from 57 countries. “We will also promote Brunei as a peaceful and unique country.

We will be on our best behaviour, be friendly, not to criticize others for their beliefs and try new things and as Muslims, we also learned “Jama” & “Qasar” prayers and ‘doa’ for our stay in Japan,” Hajah Dina concluded.

This year’s APCC slogan is: “We are the Bridge: we connect dreams around the world. To learn about each other’s country, religion and culture, through exchange. To promote mutual understanding amongst youths in Asia and the Pacific and to nurture an international perspective in youth and foster a supportive environment.”

— Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

via BruDirect