Persatuan Komputer Brunei Darussalam (PKBD) is a private non-for-profit, community centered organization whose mission to:

“promote the growth and development of knowledge of information technology amongst the general population of Brunei Darussalam. Through our affirmative programs and proactive involvement in the national effort we seek to create a new generation of corporate leaders, academic, students and others who will be IT knowledge and be able to contribute to the national goal of making IT one of the major engines for economic growth”.

PKBD’S Board
Advisor : Mr. Mohammed Mahathir Abdullah,
Chairman : Ms. Hairati Dato Paduka Haji Muhammad,
Secretary cum Treasurer : Ms. Helena Mohd Mahathir,
Members : Mr. Darren McCarthy, Mr. Peter Foo Chuan Ping

BITEX® 2003 Exhibition
BITEX® 2003 was launched on 16 August 2002 by the signing ceremonies between PKBD and its official contractor, GL Extra and the official venue, Orchid Garden Hotel.

With the theme ‘Empowering people with Knowledge through Education to enable them to maximize their leverage’, the exhibition that took place between 27 February to 3 March 2003 at the Indoor Stadium, Berakas, was officiated by the Deputy Minister of Education, Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Hj Suyoi bin Hj Othman. In his speech, he highlighted his Ministry’s role in e-Education with its vision in transforming Brunei Darussalam to a more knowledgeable, thoughtful, multi skilled, competitive and smart nation.

As previous years, with support from various agencies, PKBD was able to feature the lucky draw competition for members of public who visited the 5 days exhibition. Last year, the lucky winners walked away with the grand prizes of return air ticket to Kuching, 1 set of Dell desktop computer and free E-Speed connection.


BURSARY AWARDS
The 2003 bursary awards for students who excelled in their GCE O level in Computer Studies were presented to the recipients by the Deputy Minister of Education at the launch of BITEX® 2003 Exhibition on 27 February 2003. The recipients are Dyg Harnizah Binti Amzah, Sekolah Menengah RIPAS; Lim Pey Han, Maktab Sains Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan and Veerappan Sundar, St. George’s School.

Meanwhile ITB Award for Best Progressive Student in HND Computer Studies went to Tan Hsu Huei @ Muhammad Johnny Aqil Abdullah Tan and it was handed to the student by the Minister of Education, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Abd Aziz B Begawan Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Seri Paduka Awg Hj Umar during the ITB convocation dinner which took place at Jerudong Park Polo Club on 29 May 2003.


ASIA PACIFIC INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AWARDS (APICTA)
In collaboration with Ministry of Communications, Brunei sent a delegation to APICTA 2003, which took place in Bangkok, Thailand from 6th to 10th December 2003 at Impact Convention Centre, Muong Thong Thani, Hall 9. Three student projects that had won in their own category from INFORAMA 2003 organised by Ministry of Education were submitted. They are:

1. Sekolah Tinggi Perempuan Raja Isteri (S.T.P.R.I.)
Project : Once Upon A Time in Brunei
Category : Best IT Innovation Student Projects Award
Delegate : Dyg Asma Zakiah b Hj Ariffin

2. Sekolah Tinggi Perempuan Raja Isteri (S.T.P.R.I)
Project : Mainan Si Manis
Category : Best IT Innovation Entertainment Applications Award
Delegate : Awg Suhaili b Hj Mohd Yusof

3. Maktab Kejuruteraan Jefri Bolkiah (MKJB)
Project : Brunei Tourister MX
Category : Best IT Innovation Tourism Award
Delegate : Awg Effendi B Mohd Jefri

Brunei won a Special Mention Award for the student project entitled Once Upon A Time in Brunei and Dyg Asma Zakiah received the award from the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr Suwit Khunkitti at the APICTA 2003 Gala dinner held at Imperial Queen’s Park hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.

EDUCATION
• Accreditation Agent for ICDL. Another milestone in PKBD’s history was the appointment of PKBD as Accreditation Agent for ICDL for Borneo region. The signing ceremony between PKBD and ICDL Asia Pacific ltd. took place on Saturday 2 August 2003 at Muhibbah Function Room, Royal Brunei Recreation Club, Berakas.

• IT Forum – Overseas and local IT experts presented their papers at the one-day forum on Saturday 30 August 2003 at Sukma Indera Hall, ASEAN EC Management Centre. The papers presented were:

• Enhancing development of Human Capital through Innovative E-Learning Program
  Speaker : Mr Andrew Ng, CEO, Greater China Consult PTE. LTD.
  Synopsis: Human Capital is the key driver in a country’s quest for long sustainable economy development. The development of human development is a key strategic challenge for most developing countries. E Learning is a useful tool for mass deployment of training and development programs nationwide and could be harnessed to achieve such strategic objective. The benefits and challenges in deploying E learning are discussed in detail with two online case studies highlighting implementation of E learning at undergraduate and graduate level.

• Senior Government Executives' use of the Internet: Bruneian Evidence
  Speaker: Dr Afzal Seyal, Senior Lecturer, ITB
  Synopsis: In gearing up the task of e-Government, the governments of the various economies are investing heavily in IT. The success of e-Government program therefore depends upon the IT literacy and skills of senior government executives, especially in the use of the Internet. This study focuses on one hundred senior government executives of the ten different ministries of Brunei Darussalam. Results showed that 70% of the senior executives have positive attitude about the Internet. 50% of these senior executives are in fact using the Internet and 66% of them are underutilizing the Technology by just sending and receiving emails.
   
• Maximizing your ROI Utilizing Cutting Edge Technology
  Speaker : Ms Aneta Edwards, Consultant, Share Market Institute
  Synopsis: The Stock market provides a great opportunity to make money but it also has great risk if you don’t know what you are doing. The presentation highlighted
  - How you can improve your chances through harnessing knowledge, information & technology.
  - How the latest leading edge trading tools can help you make more effective investment decisions
  - The importance of having a solid proven trading system to maximize your returns.
  - Crucial risk management strategies to protect your money.
  - Trading Psychology
  - How you can make money in both rising and falling market
   
• IT Change Management
  Speaker: Dr Yong Chee Tuan, Senior Lecturer, UBD
   

• Launch of Educational Programs – PKBD launched 2 educational programs; ICDL and Minot State University MSc in Management on Saturday 6 December 2003 at Documentation room, ASEAN EC Management Centre. ICDL measures people’s competence in their computer skills. The Minot State University MSc in Management is a programme designed to provide individuals with the theoretical and practical knowledge in making managerial decisions

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