ASEMinternscomingtoBruneiDarussalam
ASEMWorkPlacementPilotprogramme
Brunei Darussalam is taking part in the ASEM Work Placement Pilot Programme (WPPP).
BruneiDarussalamMinistryofEducationsupportsthisprogrammewithcooperationoftwo
unviersities: Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB). For
the academic period of 2016-2017, UBD will be the main host university in Brunei
Darussalam.
ASEMWorkPlacementcontactsinBruneiDarussalam:
1.CoordinatingAgency:
HigherEducationDivision
MinistryofEducation
BandarSeriBegawanBB3510
BruneiDarussalam
[email protected]
+hp.tel(673)8718906
+office.(+673)2381224
+fax.(+673)2380880
Howtoapply?
ApplicationfortheASEMWorkPlacementPilotprogrammeisonlypossibleviatheUBN
contactinyourcountry.TheUBNcontactcaninformyouof
-participatinghighereducationinstitutes
-ASEMselectioncriteria
-timescheduleforapplication
-internshipduration:2to6months;tobeagreedtobythestudent’shomeinstitution.The
finaldurationisdecidedtoinconsultationwiththehostcompany.InBruneiDarussalam,
manyorganisationsprefertoengageinternsforlongerperiods,of4to12months.
Theacademicresponsibilityfortheinternshipremainsinthehomeinstitution.
SelectedapplicantswillbeputforwardtotheUBNcontactpersonofthepartnercountries
forfurtherselection.
HowtofindaninternshipinBrunei?
Findinganappropriateinternationalinternshipisquiteachallenge.IntheASEMWPPP,the
UBNcontactinBruneiDarussalamactivelysupportsthesearchforasuitableinternship,
usingexistingnetworks.Interestedstudentsareencouragedalsotosearchforinternshipby
themselves;thequalityoftheproposedinternshipwillbescreenedbythelocalUBN,andby
theresponsibleUBNinyourhomeinstitution.
Trainingagreement
ASEMinternshipsareframedinaformaltrainingagreementdescribingthetasks,schedule,
expected outcomes (competences), how the intern will be monitored and by whom, start
andenddate.Thetrainingagreementissignedbythehostcompany,aswellasthetrainee
and a third party. The latter can be an educational institution, or other (sending
organization)alliedtotheASEMWPPP.
HowtoprepareforanASEMinternshiptoBruneiDarussalam
Thorough internship preparation has a clear positive impact on a successful traineeship
experience. So do not underestimate the importance of this preparatory phase. The
preparationinvolvessomepaperworkandpracticalarrangements;nonethelessimportant
arecultural-andlanguagepreparation.
BEFOREdeparture
1. Administrativepreparation
• Visaregulations
MostinternsfromEuropewillneedastudentvisaforBruneiDarussalam.Ourhost
university,UniversitiBruneiDarussalam,willbeabletoassistingainingVisaforthe
successfulparticipant.
• Workpermit?(inprogress)
Normallystudentsdoinganinternshipintheframeworkoftheirstudydonotneedawork
permitinBruneiDarussalam.
2. Financialmatters
• CostoflivinginBruneiDarussalam
LivingstandardsaremoderatelyhighinBruneiDarussalam.Itisrecommendedtomakesure
that you have the necessary financial means for your stay in Brunei Darussalam, before
leavingyourhomecountry.Averagepersonallivingexpensesareabout450Europermonth
(approx.BruneiDollar700),including(verygoodcampus)accommodationandmeals.Local
transport tends to be high, and can be an additional 200 Euro per month (approx. Brunei
Dollar 310). Nonetheless, how much money you actually spend will, of course, depend on
yourpersonalneeds,yourlifestyleandspendinghabits.
• Paymentbyhostorganisation
BruneiDarussalaminternshipsintheframeworkofeducationarenormallyunpaid.However,
theremaybeafewhostcompaniesthatgivestipendsorbenefitsinkindtohelptocoverthe
interns’expenses.
• Grants
Unfortunately there are no grants available from Universiti Brunei Darussalam, nor the
BruneiDarussalamMinistryofEducationforincomingASEMinterns.
3. Accommodation
It is a challenge to find accommodation for individuals in the country, so the campus
accomodationmaybeeasier.Itishoweverofverygoodquality.Onceyouhavedecidedto
do your internship in Brunei Darussalam, we will connect you with the host university to
assistinfindingasuitableandreasonableaccommodationforyou.
4. Insurances
Itisimportanttotakecareofyourinsurancepoliciesbeforeleavingyourcountry.Thereare
noobligatoryinsurancesforstudents,butitisadvisableso.
• TravelandHealthinsurance
You are advised to have a travel and health insurances during your stay in Brunei
Darussalam. It may assist you with unexpected medical costs. Please check with your
homeland medical insurance company if it covers your traineeship period in Brunei
Darussalam.
5. Languagepreparation
LanguageskillsareimportantselectioncriteriafortheASEMinternship.Theremaybe
EnglishlanguageproficiencytestbythepotentialhostorganisationviaSkypebeforegiving
finalconsentfortheinternship.
Nodoubtthatexercisingthelanguageskillsyouneedduringyourinternshipwillhavean
immediatereturnoninvestment,bybettercommunicationandintegrationinandaround
yourworkplace.
TheofficiallanguageinBruneiDarussalamisMalay.However,Englishasasecondlanguage
iswidelyspoken,andisThemediumofinstructioninuniversitiesandmanyorganisations.
6. Culturalpreparation
BeforetravelingtoBruneiDarussalam,trytolearnasmuchaspossibleaboutitbeforehand;
traveltoitvirtuallyviainternet.
Try to meet people who have experience in your destination. Prepare yourself for leaving
your familiar culture and environment to live in a new and different culture. Cultural
preparationwillhelpyoutointegrateandhelpyoutoavoidaculturalshock.
http://www.bruneitourism.travel/
http://www.bruneitourism.travel/essentialinfo.php
OnceyouareselectedforinternshipinBruneiDarussalam,youwillhaveanopportunityto
participate a one week (minimum) of Cultural Immersion Programme provided by
UniversitiBruneiDarussalam.ThiswillbeacompulsorypartofyourASEMWPPPinBrunei.
DURINGyourinternship
Arrivaladministration
Thehostuniversitywillassistinensuringyourfirstweekinthecountrybeascomfortable,
beforeembarkingyouintoyourinternshipprogramme.Theculturalimmersionprogramme
will provide you with some familiar procedures, and the Dos and Don'ts. Please ensure to
bringallrelevantdocumentspriortoarrival.
Moneyandbanking
The Brunei Darussalam currency is the Brunei Dollar ($). It is pegged with the Singapore
Dollar,sovisitorstothecountrycanuseeithertheBruneiDollarorSingaporeDollar.There
arecurrentlynoVATortaxesinBrunei.Youmayhoweverwishtogivetips,butitisVERY
unusualtodoso.
Youwillneedmoneythemomentyouarrive.YoucanbringacertainamountofEuroor
foreigncurrencyintoBrunei-butremembertocheckyourowncountry'sforeignexchange
regulations.ThereisaCurrencyexchangeofficeopenedattheairport,butothercurrency
exchangeofficesareavailablearoundtown.Youwillneedcashtobuytelephonecardsor
paytaxisuponarriving.However,usuallythehostuniversitywillassistinpickingyouupat
theairportwhenyourfirstarrive
Wheretoturnincaseofproblemsduringyourinternship?
• Theinternationalofficeofthehostuniversityisyourpointofcallforemergenciesin
thecountry.Weadviceyoutostayintouchwiththem,andadheretotheirSOPs.
• Incaseofillnessordentalproblems,pleaseseekhelpwithyourlocalsupervisor
assignedtoyoubythehostuniversityandhostorganisation.InBruneiDarussalam,it
iscommontoseealocalhealthclinicpriorsendingtoyouthehospital.Youcan
choosetogototheprivateorpublichealthclinic.Thefeeislessforthepublichealth
clinic.Incaseofsevereacutemedicalproblemsoremergencies,youturn
immediatelytotheemergencyserviceatthehospital.EmergencyAmbulance:991
• ForeignmissionsinBruneiDarusalam(BelgiumandGermany):
http://mofat.gov.bn/Pages/dfm_Belgium.aspx
http://mofat.gov.bn/Pages/dfm_Germany.aspx
• IncaseofotherproblemscontacttheASEMcontactperson(UBN)inyourcountry,
and/orhostcountry(asstatedearlier).
AttheENDofyourinternship(in progress)
• Evaluation
• Finalreport(andpresentation)
• Departurechecklist