His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, consented to attend the 18th Convocation Ceremony 2009 of Institute of Technology Brunei (ITB) yesterday at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.

On arrival, HRH was greeted by Acting Minister of Education Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman and ITB Vice Chancellor Dr Awang Haji Omar bin Haji Khalid.

The ceremony began with a recital of the Quran, followed by a welcoming speech from Dr Awang Haji Omar, during which he said of all the past convocations held by ITB, yesterday's event was the most historic, as it was the first convocation held after being upgraded to university status.

He also said many students from Intake 22 have already been employed, while many others have received offers for further studies at higher institutions.

The vice chancellor also spoke of the new "Discovery Year", during which students will be given the opportunity to take on industrial training programmes, either in the country or overseas, in the fourth year of their local degree programme.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince congratulated the graduates for achieving their Higher National Diplomas, while praising the lecturers for guiding and educating them.

HRH went on to stress on the importance of new programmes, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, adding that as a new university, "ITB must devote even more effort towards achieving excellence, and make itself capable of competing with other learning institutions in the region".

The Crown Prince also consented to present the diploma to 270 graduates, 33 of whom majored in communications and computer systems engineering, seven in electrical power and building services engineering, 47 in civil engineering, 12 in construction engineering and management, 34 in mechanical engineering, 19 in accounting, 11 in banking, 39 in management, 40 in computing, and 28 in information systems.

Best Students awards were also presented to Sopiah binti Haji Md Daud (business & finance), Noraliza binti Mohammad (electronic and communication engineering), Muhammad Azraie bin Haji Amit (computing and information engineering), Amirah Ruyaieda binti Haji Abdul Majid (computing and information systems), Siti Zunlainah binti Awang Abdul Razak (civil engineering), and Dayangku Aimi Rabiatuladawiah binti Pengiran Mohidin and Mohamad Adi Tamimi bin Haji Mohammad Talip (extra activities).

Companies from the private sector also presented awards to the students: Sopiah binti Haji Md Daud with BDTVEC's Best Student Award (HND), Rahman Ahmad bin Haji Ismail with Excellence in Business Studies, Dayangku Nur Hakimah binti Pengiran Haji Osman with HSBC's Excellence in Business Studies, Sopiah binti Haji Md Daud with KPMG's Best Accounting Student Award, Nursyamimi binti Haji Mat Daud with Baiduri Bank's Best Management Student Award, Nurul Wahyuni binti Haji Kassim with BAG Networks' Best Student in Computing, Amirah Ruyeida binti Haji Abdul Majid with BAG Networks' Best Student in Information Systems, Siti Mawarnee binti Haji Bakir with DST Communications' Most Progressive Student, Yanti binti Puasa with DST Communications' Most Innovative Student, Saidin bin Mohd Salleh with Microsoft (B) Sdn Bhd's Microsoft Award, Siti Zunlainah binti Awang Abdul Razak with PUJA's Best Student for HND in Construction Engineering Management and JBU-DLS's Best Student in Quantities and Estimation, Siti Fatimah binti Haji Abu Bakar with Hanafi Konsaltan's Best Student in Project Management, Noraliza binti Mohammad with BLNG's Excellence in Electrical and Communication Systems Engineering, Nadia binti Haji Othman with Anati Trading's Best Student in Electrical Power and Building Services Engineering, Ho Chang Jie with Folec Communications' Best Student in Project, Muhammad Azraie bin Haji Amit with BSP's Excellence in Mechanical Engineering Studies, Sharyaszim bin Sufian with Syarikat Kejuruteraan Sistematik's Excellence in Mechanical Engineering Studies, Mohd Tamimi bin Mohd Talip with Goldmyne Hardware's Best Model Student, Nur Aainaa binti Mahmud with Petrokon Utama;s Most Progressive Student, Mardiah binti Haji Bachee with Total E&P Borneo BV's Most Consistent Student, and Mohd Luqman with IQRA's Best Student in Religious Activities. - Borneo Bulletin (17th May 2009)