TechXPLORE Offers Overseas ICT Work Experience to Local Graduates

Today, a ceremony was held for the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Collaboration Agreement (CA) between Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) and Mindtrex Academy Sdn Bhd for TechXPLORE Digital Apprenticeship Programme, as well as an Award Presentation for Cohort 1 of TechXPLORE.

TechXPLORE Digital Apprenticeship Programme, an initiative by AITI, aims to provide opportunities to experience real ICT work environment overseas for local graduates to enhance their employability and become industry-ready. 

Attending as the guest of honour was Haji Jailani Bin Haji Buntar, Chief Executive of AITI as the Co-lead for the Manpower Steering Committee Working Group for ICT Sector (MISC-WG ICT). Also present were MISC-WG ICT members; AITI's Senior Leadership Team members and senior officers; TechXPLORE Cohort 1 participants as well as parents and guardians of the participants.

The MOU and CA was exchanged between Siti Zaraura Binti Haji Mohammad, Acting Assistant Chief Executive of the Industry Development Group of AITI and Pengiran Mohammad Khairi Bin Pengiran Hj Metussin, Managing Director of Mindtrex Academy, and witnessed by the guest of honour.

This was followed by an award presentation to the first cohort of TechXPLORE Digital Apprenticeship Programme by the guest of honour. Five promising local graduates have been selected as the inaugural cohort of TechXPLORE, based on their potential to excel in their respective ICT fields. They are:

1. Mohamad Adib bin Maimon: A graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computing, majoring in Software Development. He will be assigned as a Fullstack Developer, focusing on internal projects and database management.
2. Nurliyana Khairunisa Binti Zuliskandar: A graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computer Science. She will also work as a Fullstack Developer on internal projects and database management.
3. Md Danial Hakim Bin Haji Abdul Wahab: A graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computer Game Development. He will take on the role of UI/UX and Frontend Engineer, focusing on creating intuitive and user-friendly designs for client projects.
4. Muhammad Wafiy Syahmi Bin Shamsuddin: A graduate of Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computing, majoring in Software Development, assigned as a Junior Development Operations Engineer, working on container orchestration.
5. Nurulhuda Asilah Binti Haji Asli: A graduate with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Islamic Media and Communication Technology. She will take on the role of Digital Marketing, responsible for content calendars development, work on basic Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies, and assist in social media campaigns.

The first cohort began with an onboarding session in September 2024 and will depart for their six-month placement in Bandung, Indonesia, on 27 October 2024. During the apprenticeship, they will work under the supervision and guidance of industry experts, engaging in practical, hands-on projects relevant to their job roles.

Mindtrex Academy has developed tailored job titles, detailed role descriptions, and defined technical competencies for the first cohort of TechXPLORE based on Brunei ICT Industry Competency Framework (BIICF). This framework ensures that the programme aligns with current industry standards and practices, enabling participants to acquire relevant skills and experience to meet the demands of the market.

In supporting Wawasan Brunei 2035, AITI aims to equip Brunei's youth with the skills, knowledge, and global exposure needed for the digital landscape by investing in local ICT graduates through TechXPLORE, which will provide technical, soft skills, and real-world experience, preparing participants to contribute to Brunei’s ICT sector and future growth.

TechXPLORE Cohort 2 will be open in 2025. Local organisations with international offices are welcomed to collaborate with AITI as Programme Partners for TechXPLORE.

For further inquiries on TechXPLORE, please contact AITI at info@aiti.gov.bn or visit AITI’s website at www.aiti.gov.bn.