OUR ALUMNI

Years in PTEM: 2020-2021

Subjects in PTEM: History, Business Studies, Accounting, AS English General Paper

Course studied: BSc Hons - Business Management ( Entrepreneurship)

Institution: Lancaster University, United Kingdom

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future?

My interest in business management has always motivated me. The ability to analyze, understand, and convince people, as well as the desire to lead, are all important keys to success.

My plan is to start my own business with the knowledge I will gain soon. I want to face the reality of the business world and help Brunei Darussalam achieve the third aim of Wawasan 2035, which is to make our economy more dynamic and sustainable.

What do you like about your course and university?

My course allows me to be myself and express my own creativity in all aspects of business, because it all depends on the entrepreneur. They decide how to lead, manage, and make their own decisions at any time and in any way they desire.

Despite the challenges I will face in learning this course, as we all know that starting a business can lead to failure, this will teach me to be more resilient, competent, and ready to rise and strike. That is entrepreneurship. It not only helps you to be a more skilled entrepreneur, but it also helps you to grow as a person.

My university has been awarded the highest possible score in the UK government's Teaching Excellence Framework, which is based on high-quality teaching, excellent teaching facilities, and more. This will enable me to have the best quality of education and help me to stick to my life motto: "Always reach for opportunities to learn from the best to be the best."

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

A-levels can be hard, but it is not impossible to succeed. Always remember how you got into PTEM. You are here because you deserve it. You were chosen because you have the academic skills to take A-levels. Prove it to your parents and to yourself that you are capable.

I admit that I have also struggled during my time in PTEM, but remember that you will find success in all of your failures. You will find a way to carry on. I promise you that.

Always reach out to your teachers if you don't understand something. Don't be shy to ask for help. Your teachers are always ready to help you, no matter what the circumstances are. I am speaking from experience. I am so grateful for my teachers in PTEM. Thank you, teachers!

Most importantly, take care of your mental health. Take a break if you need to. Recharge your brain by spending time with loved ones or doing things you enjoy. This will help you study more effectively. Never overwork yourself, and always remember to study smart, not hard.

Finally, do not take your PS time for granted. Use that time to study, practice, and make use of the free internet to look at past year papers. Good luck!

Years in PTEM: 2020-2021

Subjects in PTEM: History, Sociology, Economics, A Level English Language

Course studied: Business Management (Entrepreneurship) BSc (Hons)

Institution: University of Surrey, United Kingdom

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future?

By my second year in PTEM, I decided that I wanted to study a course related to business, economics, or finance. When the MOE Scholarship course list came out, I decided to study Business Management. This course is versatile, as anyone who studies it can find a job in government sectors or corporations, and can either go into industry or academia. This appealed to me.

For my future plans, I hope to graduate with excellent grades and continue my postgraduate studies. I am currently under the MOE Skim Pendidik Scholarship, which binds me to the government to work as an educator. I hope to earn higher academic qualifications so that I can establish my career as a lecturer in higher education.

What do you like about your course and university?

The thing that appeals to me most about my course is that I am studying business management while also specializing in entrepreneurship. This allows me to gain deeper insights into managing an organization while also studying innovation and entrepreneurial culture.

I chose the University of Surrey because it is highly ranked in the world and in the UK, especially in terms of employability. The course structure is also good, as they have set modules so that we don't have to waste time on unrelated modules to our course. Additionally, the facilities are modern and amazing. The location is just outside of London, so I have easy access to city life without having to actually commit to it.

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

To the current students of PTEM,

When things are tough and you're feeling unmotivated, remember why you're here in the first place. It's important to recognize your priorities and put in the effort to achieve them. Don't let those two years in PTEM go to waste. We can't buy back the time we spend, so use it wisely.

Years in PTEM: 2018-2019

Subjects in PTEM: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, AS English General Paper

Course studied: MEng Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Institution: University of Manchester, United Kingdom

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future?

I believe in the future of electricity and the potential it holds not only as source of energy, but also as a connection between people. I think it is a good idea to have an understanding in electricity and develop skills that are suited for the bright future of electricity.

I wish to continue learning the wonders of electricity, and to contribute to Brunei's future in the electrical world.

What do you like about your course and university?

I love that my course teaches me the right skills for me to continue my dream and passion. Furthermore, my university allows me to meet and talk to more of people with the same passion and dreams that I have, this really has helped me to understand more clearly what are my goals and priorities in my daily life. 

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

Don't be discouraged by anything, whatever it may be, as everyone has the potential to be achieve great heights, it is only a matter on how badly you want it. Moreover, since you've already started this journey, I suggest doing the best you can, to not look back and to continue moving forwards in your revision. STOP second-guessing and go for it!

Years in PTEM: 2018-2019

Subjects in PTEM: History, Literature in English, Psychology, English General Paper

Course studied: Law

Institution: University of Leicester, United Kingdom

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future?

One of the reasons why I decided to choose law for my degree was when I did my A Level Literature in English coursework. I wrote an essay on George Orwell’s “1984” dystopian novel where the main character went against the totalitarian government by attempting to express his individuality, which is a crime. Reading the book made me realise how important law is to ensure peace and order of a society. Recently, I completed my Legal Internship at Attorney’s General Chambers (AGC) under the Criminal Justice Division and from that experience, I hope to work as a prosecutor in the future to help Brunei in maintaining and enforcing the law and to help the innocent find justice. 

What do you like about your course and university?

What I like about my course is how challenging it is. All of the modules make you critically think when answering either problem or essay questions. 

My university is known for its diversity. I am able to meet so many students from different backgrounds and cultures. Leicester is also recognised as one of the UK’s most affordable cities for students!  

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

Enjoy your sixth form life while you can but never forget your studies! What I would say that worked for me are great time management and make sure you understand all of the topics you study. One obstacle that I experienced was how heavy the content of my subjects were as all of them were essay based subjects. There were so many readings I had to do from reading history articles or textbooks, reading novels and plays for literature and memorising case studies for psychology. But few months before my A level exams, I made sure I read and understand every topic by dividing my time each day for different subjects. Never hesitate to ask help from your tutors when you don’t understand! Always make sure you get enough sleep and don’t be too hard on yourself. The way I motivate myself is I will think of how happy I will be, how proud my parents will be, how joyful my tutors will be, when I get amazing results. You can do it and all the best! 

Years in PTEM: 2018-2019

Subjects in PTEM: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology

Course studied: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Institution: Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future?

I love Chemistry and I am keen to further my knowledge and understanding of the chemical processes especially in the pharmaceutical industry. 

 What do you like about your course and university?

It is one of the few courses that integrates all chemistry, physics and life sciences with engineering concepts. I could work anywhere from manufacturing life-saving medicines to the oil and gas industry. NTU provides plenty of exposure and wonderful opportunities to their students and make certain that\they are well equipped before stepping into the real world. 

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

Just follow your interest, explore all the options, let there be no regrets and excuses, Carpe Diem. 

Years in PTEM: 2017-2018

Subjects in PTEM: Mathematics, Psychology, History

Course studied: Bachelor of Speech & Language Pathology

Institution: University of Canterbury, New Zealand

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future? 

I decided on BSLP because I wanted opportunities that I wouldn't be able to get back at home. I wanted something new and unique that would keep me going throughout the years, even when I'm working as a Speech and Language Therapist. As this sector of health science is still considered to be relatively new, I hope that I would be able to raise awareness and contribute to it significantly later on. 

What do you like about your course and university?

My university's diversity is amazing to me. I got to meet so many different people from a variety of cultural and age backgrounds. Their facilities and services are pretty complete too which means it's convenient if I ever needed anything. My course tutors are very sweet people and they're always more than happy to get back to you whenever you reach out to them. 

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

There were many moments throughout my days in PTEM when I had questioned whether all the struggles I was going through would be worth it and honestly speaking, the answer is indefinite until you reach the end. If you're already half way through a marathon, a little rain won't hurt you. Rather, it would only be a waste to turn back so I hope that you'll keep going even if the wind blows too hard on a particular day. At this point, I can confidently tell you that I'm glad I continued to walk forward because all those stormy days mean nothing to me now from where I'm standing in life. 

Years in PTEM: 2017-2018

Subjects in PTEM: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology

Course studied: Bachelor of Podiatry

Institution: University of Newcastle, Australia

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future?

I was taught in GP class that Brunei is one of many countries which has high percentage of obesity especially in children. This will cause problem to the ankle which supports the body weight. While diabetes is third death leading disease in Brunei and having that in my family's genetic disorder encourage me more to learn Podiatry. On the other hand, one of my sisters has condition called genu valgum or commonly called 'knocked knees' that leads her to have gait (walking) problem. In the personal perspective, I love to play sports especially netball and I have seen people who sprain their ankle and have athlete's foot. I would really like to help my family, friends and people who have foot-related diseases. Also, in my opinion, some people would not want to go to hospitals or clinics to address their illness because of language barriers as they find it difficult to communicate with foreign physicians. 

 What do you like about your course and university?

The course is only three years ansld for each semester, there are 13 weeks of studying. What I like about my course is having clinical placement during my study years. In my campus in Ourimbah, the place is very green, quiet and welcoming. Furthermore, the campus is 10 minutes walk to train station and it will take 1.5 hours to go to both Sydney and Newcastle City. The staffs are also friendly, understanding and very helpful. 

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

I am just relaying one of my parents' advices that is: 'It is you who will shape your own future. Gain knowledge today, and you, yourself and the others will be benefited tomorrow. No one to be blamed but yourself for your difficulty later.' 

Sixth form maybe the toughest years of our study, but you don't have to cut down activities that you enjoy to do as they are the stress-reliever. 'Don't study hard, but study smart' is a phrase that I have always used. Study hard will take most of your time and will only benefit you for short-term whereas study smart is long-term and will balance out your time to study and doing things you like to do. 

Years in PTEM: 2017-2018

Subjects in PTEM: History, Sociology, Geography

Course studied: Law

Institution: University of Cardiff, United Kingdom

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future? 

What motivated me to take the course was because of my attachment at the Attorney General's Chambers, where I was able to see the prosecutors in action. Another thing that motivated me was the skills I have gained from doing my subjects in A-levels. They were suitable for taking law as a course. For my future plans, i'll be bonded and working for Brunei Shell Petroleum for 8 years as a legal officer. 

What do you like about your course and university? 

What I like about my course is the concept of problem solving & debate. Each module has its own problem questions or debates we have to do and I think they're quite fun. 

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

Try to balance your academia, social skills and experience. When you have all three, you'll be unstoppable. 

Years in PTEM: 2017-2018

Subjects in PTEM: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry

Course studied: Mechanical Engineering

Institution: Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB)

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future? 

It is mostly my favourite subjects, Maths and Physics. My future plan is to be a mechanical engineer. 

What do you like about your course and university?

What I like about course is that it is mostly related to calculations and observing things that I was curious about. My university also has lots of events run by MPP UTB. Joining events help us in our future career especially when we get to improve our communication skills. 

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

Nothing is impossible! Make the impossible possible :) Time management is very important. Make efforts to reach your goals, money doesn't fall from trees. To overcome difficulties... it is hard to study and learn, but keep going... miracles can happen❤️ God will always have plans for you 😊and once you overcome it, any difficulties in the future will be nothing to you :)  

Years in PTEM: 2016-2017

Subjects in PTEM: Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology 

Course studied: MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery)

Institution: Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future? 

Becoming a doctor has always been my life long dream. Having the ability to help people and make a difference in the world has always inspired me. In the future I plan to further specialize and pursue a career as an Obstetrician-Gynecologist 

What do you like about your course and university?

Studying Medicine at ZJU is definitely a very interesting experience because not only do we learn what every other medical students worldwide learn, in addition our course incorporates several other courses that help broaden our knowledge such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, etc. I really enjoy my course because at the same time, I get to learn a new language (Mandarin), also one of the leading languages worldwide nowadays. Zhejiang University provides International Students worldwide with quality education, being ranked 107th best University Worldwide as of 2020. 

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

A-levels was never easy, being someone who loved doing extra-curricular activities and was constantly involved in school events etc. there were times that I found it quite difficult to balance my studies and my my extra curricular activities. My grades weren’t always as great as I wished they were, I didn’t always have the time I wished I had to study through the content thoroughly before an exam etc. During my first year at PTEM, I sat for AS in November, at that time not having covered much of the syllabus required, I decided to give it a shot. I wasn’t prepared, not the least- or not as much as I wished I was! Time passed, our results came out and I was devastated. I felt like I had let down my parents and most importantly I was so so disappointed in myself, however the constant support I received from my family, friend and most importantly my teachers really helped lift me up & motivate me to do better in the coming May- June exams. I worked the hardest I’ve ever worked, continuous studying for 2-3 months, and one of the biggest things that kept me going was self-motivation. Constantly reminding myself that, only you can help yourself, and Alhamdulillah, months worth of hard work paid off. The May- June results were out and I had done extremely well. I know many of us, after sitting for AS the first time around tend to give up hope because we don’t do as well as we had hoped, but from my experience, My main advice is, don’t be too hard on yourself. I know I was, it’s okay to feel that way but what’s important is that you shouldn’t ever let that be the end of your effort. Work harder everyday, not for anyone else but for yourself. 

Years in PTEM: 2015-2016 

Subjects in PTEM: Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Food Studies, Thinking Skills, General Paper (AS)

Course studied: BHSc Medicine + Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD)

Institution: Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) , Brunei & Australian National University, Australia

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future?

Medicine is arguably one of the toughest degrees but I do believe that helping people is a noble act; to alleviate their pain and see smiles on their faces do encourage me to take this course. My plan in the future is to be a reliable and trustworthy doctor as well as to improve necessary skills needed. 

 What do you like about your course and university?

My course in particular is really interesting as it increases my knowledge, which is not only limited to “how the body works”, but it also taught me how to communicate effectively and to understand people better. University life might be tough for some people, including myself. Along the way I have met a lot of people from different backgrounds and taught me to see situations with a silver lining and it opened my heart to be a better, and caring person. 

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

I must say, the A level syllabus is quite a handful, and for me taking 5 subjects requires plenty of hard-work, dedication, discipline, a lot of sacrifices and soo much books to carry everyday haha. It was very hard for me to juggle my studies, social life and sleep altogether, however I was able to tackle this problem by effectively planning my day because I believe that good time management is the key to success. Though there might be hiccups along the way, I'll try to endure it the best that I can with the help of my friends and family by supporting me with words of encouragement. My mom always quote a famous Chinese proverb which says, the longest journey starts with a single step, and one day you will look up from your feet and realise that you are already at your destination and don't ever give up on your dreams and know that it's ok not to get everything perfect. That should not make it ok not to better yourself so just do your best and one day all of your hard work will pay off. 

Years in PTEM: 2015-2016

Subjects in PTEM: Psychology, History, Economics

Course studied: BA Political Economy

Institution: University of Birmingham, United Kingdom 

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future? 

My curiosity about the global arena fueled my motivation to study politics. I was keen to understand how international relations are formed and the hidden agendas behind each political entity. In the future, I plan on employing the knowledge I attained from this course into practice. Specifically, I aspire to work under Brunei’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where I can contribute to Brunei’s development by utilizing my political ideas 

What do you like about your course and university?

“Open mindedness” is the key feature i like most about my course and university. It encourages me to think outside the box and be creative when solving issues. This feature also helped me communicate well with other students in my university because of the positive environment it creates. 

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

Never expect opportunities to come knocking so easily, instead you have to build your own door with consistency and hard work. For instance, my biggest obstacle was when my scholarship application to enter university was rejected despite achieving “Top 10 in the World for A Levels Psychology” in 2017. Instead of giving up, I took a risk and applied for a student loan. I created this new pathway because my genuine passion for politics motivated me to keep striving for success. After 3 years of determination, I have successfully achieved a first class honors in my degree and now I am given the opportunity to convert my loan into a scholarship. So to the fellow students of PTEM, please don’t depend on luck and don’t give up. Instead, be brave and take control of your life. You’ll be surprised with how far you can go. 

Years in PTEM: 2013-2014

Subjects in PTEM: Mathematics, Biology, Food Studies

Course studied: Business Administration 

Institution: Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) , Brunei

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future?

What motivated me in taking the course is because I found the course to be very interesting and how knowledge-enhancing the course can be at which I believes it not only requires a lot of determination but also requires effort on the side of the learner. By taking this course, I may acquire knowledge and development of specific skills that are important in business world. My plan for the future is to be someone that can helps in providing job opportunities for our local youth and also to share business-related knowledge with them. 

 What do you like about your course and university?

What I like about my course is that most of the modules teach me critical thinking and problem solving skills that range from weighing marketing mishaps to even balancing a budget. It basically made my mind to be sharp and enable me to deal tough situations quickly and solve the problems smoothly. 

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

Never give up! For me, even though my results during ‘A’ level were not outstanding, it gave me the opportunity to further my studies at Laksamana College of Business and take the HND in Hospitality Management. I managed to receive an overall Distinction for my results. From there, it opens up many doors of opportunities for me; I managed to gain work opportunities, open up my very own online baking business and even received offers to continue my studies from both international and local universities. What I’m trying to say is that, when one door closes another one opens; so students should never give up, quit complaining, be proactive and always try your best to achieve better results. Remember, when you made any decisions, Allah will always have a better plan for you so just live your life to the fullest and be grateful with what you have! 

Years in PTEM: 2012-2013

Subjects in PTEM: Psychology, Bahasa Melayu, Syariah

Course studied: Islamic Education (PhD)

Institution: Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College (KUPU SB), Brunei 

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future? 

The longer the journey of study, the more we gain knowledge. The more knowledge we gain, the more we want to discover about ourselves and our world. I want to seek the seeds of dunia to plant deeds for akhirah (hereafter). I am planning to become a lecturer in Islamic Education some day. 

What do you like about your course and university?

Islamic Education is not just about the syllabus we studied in religious schools. The course is unique, informative and beneficial for both worlds. 

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

As a student who was undoubtedly active during 2 years of study in PTEM, I likewise urge all students to take parts in all activities handled by PTEM (nationally) and outside PTEM (internationally). Though the main con is time management, remember that managing time between studies, families, business and co-curriculum is a reflection of what you will also face later in your life when you juggle between family life and work. Leaving all those means you plan to fail and fail to plan. If you learn how to manage them, it means that you have opened a bright, new future ahead of you. So, always grab the chances that are presented to you. Effort matters as much as results. 

Years in PTEM: 2011-2012

Subjects in PTEM: Psychology, Geography, Applied ICT

Course studied: BA (Hons) Politics Philosophy Economics (PPE)

Institution: University of Essex, United Kingdom 

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future? 

To take a multi-dimensional approach and better understanding of the world as I specialise in International Relations and advocacy for youth participation on both national and global level. Professionally since 2017, I am currently working for Darussalam Enterprise (DARe) with the International Research & Cooperation (IRC), CEO's office in the last four years. Prior to that, I worked on Biz Brunei (in DARe as well) as my first project due to my experience as a reporter with The Brunei Times after sixth form. From 2014 also worked briefly with a social enterprise ASEAN Young Professionals Network (now known as ASEANITE) that was housed in London, UK at the time. 

What do you like about your course and university?

Being in the UK was not possible without the privilege of earning a scholarship from Government. Academically, I was a passionate student in presenting a paper on scientific methodology during a Department of Government, UoE conference in 2014 while exploring different avenues to participate in difficult conversations in the midst of Brexit. In my overall degree, I covered areas of philosophy, political science, and economics, including political theory and political behaviour, macro-and microeconomics, and major philosophical approaches, in one of the most prestigious Department of Government in Europe while possessing world-leading research and excellence in economics and philosophy. This has influenced my thought process in both career and grassroot work. 

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

Graduating out of PTEM was not without high expectations to continue performing in the years ahead even at one instance I recall being partially blind on one eye due to cataract during my entire final year at my university. However, overtime I learnt to embrace myself and the things I loved to study and the pursuit of passion, especially with a course like BA (Hons) PPE. In a period of great difficulty also came with the greatest blessings and highlights of my life winning recognitions; that has motivated to build my career and serve youth work as well as the wider community on what it means to be a PTEM alumni - it is with the reminder on the impact you give that brings about the smallest changes of progress that defines the future. 

Years in PTEM: 2009-2010

Subjects in PTEM: Mathematics, Biology, Geography

Course studied: PhD in Computer and Information Systems

Institution: Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), Brunei

What motivated you to take the course? What are your plans for the future?

I am highly interested in seeing how educators could innovate through the use of technology and computers. My PhD research area involves exploring the efficacy of four disruptive technologies namely social media, mobile technology, analytical technologies, and cloud computing in fostering students' learning performance in the hope for a better learning outcome eventually. Several studies have proven that mobile devices are the only technology that has equal usage for both genders, and these devices are already considered a necessity in our daily life. Due to these reasons, I am highly motivated to make full use of this trend and try to make make the current education become more engaging and most importantly, making it ubiquitous so learning can happen anywhere at any time - imagine a type of learning where the sky is the limit. I am aiming to be one of the lecturers in a local university (preferably UTB) after I complete my study, In Sha Allah. 

 What do you like about your course and university?

One thing for sure, the course allows me to innovate and become a creator rather than a product user. UTB has been really supportive in innovation, so this is why I love university. 

What words of encouragement do you have for current students of PTEM? E.g. What was one obstacle you overcame / what helped you keep going? 

I have seen failure more than you could ever imagine. There was one time when I felt like I was walking in a very long and dark cave. I couldn't see any light at all. People would bombard you with harsh words when you fail, but just remember, failure isn't the end, it is a new beginning for a new chapter of your life. Take every criticism as a constructive motivation, not the other way around. Allah created failure so we could learn from our mistakes. I always hold on to the faith that "with every hardship, there is a relief" (Qur'an, 94:6), and the thought of making my parents proud to keep me motivated in learning more. To the current and prospective students of PTEM, just hold on to the principle of "work smart and stay humble", In Sha Allah you will see a new perspective of life. Balance your study with your leisure time. Your action now shapes your future. Most importantly, never stop praying to Allah. All the best!