Scholarship program formed between China and Brunei

World
Europe

03:14

China and Brunei have seen an upsurge in relations. One of their most compelling joint projects has been the Chemical and Process Engineering Scholarship Program, a 2014 venture involving China's Hengyi Group, Zhejiang University and Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

Syahiirah and her 10 compatriots have been studying at Zhejiang University since March. They aspire to be chemical engineers and believe this joint scholarship program can set them on the right path.

Students from Brunei have on-site training in a Chinese chemical plant./ CGTN photo.

From the faculty to the curriculum, Zhejiang University attaches great importance to helping these students. Shen Wenhua, deputy dean of College of Chemical and Biological Engineering of Zhejiang University, told CGTN that they have tailored the systematic chemical courses for these students. They chose professors who can Speak English fluently, and all the textbooks are also in English.

The Brunei students say they are benefiting a lot from the experience, and not just academically. Abdul Hadi Bin Zakaria told CGTN that they are more exposed to cultures here, they get to know China better, they can experience different kinds of food, and they have different adventures in different cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

Students pose for a graduation photo in Zhejiang University, east China. /CGTN photo

As one of the largest foreign companies in the Southeast Asian nation, Hengyi Group is looking to remedy this through the joint scholarship program.

In addition to academic study, these students will visit a chemical plant to gain firsthand experience of a real life operational refinery environment. And after finishing their 18 month study and training in China, they will be offered chemical engineering jobs at Hengyi Group's branch company in Brunei.

A view of a chemical plant. /CGTN photo

Among the 68 students who have taken part in this joint scholarship program since 2014. Ni Defeng, Zhejiang Hengyi Group's CEO told CGTN that he hopes his company can further boost the development of the petrochemical industry in Brunei. But it's more important that they are creating more job opportunities for local people and cultivating more young talent and improving their skills.

Phase Two will see another five batches of students being trained. He Lianzhen, vice president of Zhejiang University told CGTN that they also have created a model, a trilateral model, involving two universities and a private industry, and this already becomes a model of education collaboration between China and Brunei.

Graduated students work in Hengyi Group's branch company in Brunei. /CGTN photo

It's now hoped these talented students from Brunei can play a bigger role in deepening people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries in the years to come.

Universiti Brunei Darussalam renews its joint cooperation with China's Zhejiang University and Hengyi Group in May. / CGTN photo

(Top image: Eleven Brunei students have been sponsored and studying at Zhejiang University since March. /CGTN photo)