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Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2019
Universiti Teknologi Brunei
Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) was formerly
known as Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB). Its
establishment in 1986 was supported by Leeds
Polytechnic, United Kingdom (now known as
Leeds Metropolitan University), showing UTB’s
early aspiration to become a local institution
that strives for international recognition.
From a higher learning institution offering
Higher National Diploma programmes in
Engineering, Business and Computing, ITB was
upgraded to a university in 2008 and was then
changed to Universiti Teknologi Brunei in 2016.
UTB specialises in the area of Engineering,
Business, Computing, Applied Sciences &
Mathematics and Design.
Since the upgrade, the university has seen
tremendous
development
including
the
expansion of its academic programmes portfolio,
establishment of partnerships with industries
and universities, embarking on the process of
programme accreditation by professional bodies,
and intensification of research activities.
Over the years, UTB has signed numerous
Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) with
prestigious organisations in the country and
around the world to collaborate in research,
education and training programmes. This
includes the exchange of undergraduate and
postgraduate students; industrial internships
where the students of the university get industrial
hands-on exposure; exchange of academics; joint
research; conferences; consultancies; seminars
and other projects.
UTB has made its first appearance in the
Quacquarelli Symonds World University
Ranking (QSWUR) at 442, evaluated against
4,763 institutions from 151 countries. UTB is
among the eight new universities in Southeast
Asia making its debut entry in QSWUR 2019. In
Asia, UTB is among the top 200 universities. In
the 2019 edition of QS Asia University Rankings,
UTB ranked at 181, the top 36 per cent among
over 500 institutions across the continent. UTB
is also the only university in the country rated
five star by the QS. With a five-star ranking,
UTB’s strength lies in international faculty
ranked at 18, outbound exchange students at
19, faculty students at 56 and international
students at 74. Under the employer reputation,
UTB ranked at 238 compared to 251 last
years. UTB is increasingly acknowledged by
employers around the world for providing
the best professionals, as shown by the QS
five-star rating on employability. Other than
employability, UTB scored five stars in teaching,
facilities, inclusiveness, social responsibility
and internalisation. Effective instruction,
hands-on approach and industry-based
programmes equip students with fundamental
knowledge, competence and marketable skills –
a guiding principle that has helped UTB produce
graduates highly valued by local employers and
readily accepted by top universities in the UK,
Australia, Canada and around the world.
As of August 2018, UTB began to offer two of
Brunei’s first undergraduate degree programmes
within the newly-established School of Design:
BSc (Hons) in Architecture and BSc (Hons) in