ITB students to study local consumption patterns

ITB students to study local consumption patterns

BRUNEI-MUARA

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

MORE than 100 first year students of the Business and Management Department of the Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB) are currently conducting research on consumer consumption patterns as part of their coursework in three districts in the country.

The research which began from December 22, 2008 until January 27, 2009 was the second time conducted by the department concerned.

The students are divided into 21 groups covering 15 mukimin the Brunei-Muara District; four in the Belait District and two mukim in the Tutong District.

Speaking to The Brunei Times the Business and Management Department's lecturer, Zawawi, said that by undertaking the research for the students' case study report, would enable them to learn how business economic theories work in the real world such as the theory of demand and supply.

He added that by conducting on the ground case study, the students would also be able to analyse consumers' consumption patterns.

According to him despite a modest total target of 6,000 respondents spread across the three districts, the survey would provide them with a fair reflection of the population's consumption patterns.

The research is also aimed to identify eight main items which dominates consumer expenditure, accumulate information on buying pattern influences, income and saving range of the people in the country.

"Demand base policy will be produced by these students which based on the data they received from the public. Thus, this policy is design to stimulate or restrict the demand which depends on what the relevant authorities want for the country's economic growth," he added.

According to the lecturer, the significance of the case study report is that the information obtained on consumer consumption patterns could be used as reference for other established researchers in the country to be used in their reports.

Zawawi expressed hope that members of the public would give their full cooperation to these ITB students in their enquiries about consumer consumption patterns because the outcome of the research would have an impact on their grades for their course work.

He added that the public would be able to recognise the students who are doing the research from their ITB identification cards. (NLR1)

The Brunei Times