THE FAR Eastern University has partnered with Jerudong Park Medical Center to establish the first nursing private school in Brunei, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

The DFA said the partnership will establish the JPMC-College of Health Sciences, which will be the first health care learning institution of its kind in Brunei Darussalam.

Under the collaboration, JPMC-CHS will offer basic nursing programs beginning October 2022 as part of its foundation program, with the intent of expanding into other fields of the health sciences.

The campus will be located along Jalan Ong Sum Ping in Bandar Seri Begawan, and is expected to be fully operational by January 2023.

FEU, meanwhile, will support the manpower requirements of the JPMC-CHS and will deploy instructors and lecturers each semester to Brunei based on the schedule of courses.

The joint venture agreement was signed by FEU’s President Michael Alba and Chief Finance Officer Juan Miguel Montinola, Minister of Health Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Md Isham Bin Haji Jaafar, and Minister of Finance and Economy II Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Mohd. Amin Liew Bin Abdullah last July 14.

The Minister of Health is the chairman of the Board of Directors of JPMC while Darussalam Assets is a private limited company under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Marian Jocelyn Tirol-Ignacio witnessed the signing ceremony.