Enterprising students to compete in Manila for best company in the region

FusionBn from PTES, the winner of Junior Achievement (JA) Brunei’s 3rd annual JA Company of the Year competition at the Design & Technology building. Image: Ridhwan Kamarulzaman

A group of enterprising students from the Sengkurong Sixth Form Centre will be representing Brunei in the upcoming Asia Pacific Junior Achievement (JA) competition in Manila early next year.

The students were honoured on Saturday for winning first place at the third Brunei Student Company of the Year Competition (COY) for their project – notebooks and drawing pads featuring local artists’ illustrations on their front covers.

The sketchbooks and notebooks produced by FusionBn from PTES, the winner of Junior Achievement (JA) Brunei’s 3rd annual JA Company of the Year competition at the Design & Technology building. Image: Ridhwan Kamarulzaman

The project, which seeks to promote local artists’ works, won the hearts of judges during the annual competition held at the Design & Technology Building.

Kelvin Tan Jun Wei, president of the winning team FusionBn, said that the project is a platform that combines both the passion for business and the arts together.

“We wanted to develop a product that could sell while at the same time promote the local arts scene,” said the student from the Sengkurong Sixth Form Centre.

The team is slated to compete with students from other countries in the region at the Asia Pacific JA competition in Manila in March 2019.

Hosted by JA Brunei, the competition aims to encourage and prepare young entrepreneurs to succeed in a global economy.

Managing Director of Junior Achievement (JA) Brunei, Louis Tan during JA Brunei’s 3rd annual JA Company of the Year competition at the Design & Technology building on 29/09/18. Image: Ridhwan Kamarulzaman

Louis Tan (pictured), the managing director of JA Brunei said the JA programme is designed to educate students on real-life lessons of entrepreneurship.

“The programme is beneficial to the students as it helps them better understand the level of capability at which their business need to operate,” he added.

This year, the COY competition saw seven teams from five upper secondary schools nationwide taking part.

Participants were required to pitch their business ideas in front of a panel of judges.

Tan described the competition as a learning experience for business-minded students who are keen to learn essential skills that will prepare them for a fast-changing market.

“The goal is to balance the business achievements of each student company as a whole with the personal development of each individual members involved.”

Head of Group Communications Department at Baiduri Bank, Dorothy Newn (L), presenting a trophy to the president of FusionBn from PTES, the winner of Junior Achievement (JA) Brunei’s 3rd annual JA Company of the Year competition at the Design & Technology building. Image: Ridhwan Kamarulzaman

The Bruneian | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN