Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) provides education in sciences, business, economics, policy studies, engineering, medicine and social sciences. Lectures are held in Malay and English. In a relatively short period, UBD has advanced and expanded in academics and infrastructure, producing influential leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals.
The university introduced GenNEXT programme in 2009, allowing students to tailor their studies according to their learning styles. UBD’s pioneering Discovery Year programme allows students to study abroad through its partnership with universities and institutions across six continents. UBD’s research activities are supported by the government in funding and infrastructure.
More graduate students and collaborators come to UBD to conduct research. With the increased joint academic programmes, research collaborations and networks, UBD’s active partnerships with institutions worldwide have refined UBD’s teaching and research output at the university. UBD continues to be one of the leading higher education institutions in Brunei.
Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) was established on January 1, 2007 by the consent and announcement made by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Chancellor of UNISSA. The university was founded as a centre of scholarly excellence to sustain and support the country in upholding Islam, as stated in the Constitution of Negara Brunei Darussalam.
UNISSA comprises five faculties and four academic centres: Faculty of Usuluddin, Faculty of Shariah and Law, Faculty of Arabic Language, Faculty of Islamic Economics and Finance, Faculty of Islamic Development Management; as well as Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Languages, Halalan Thayyiban Research Centre, Mazhab Shafi‘e Research Centre, and Centre for Postgraduate Studies.
Each faculty offers various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes ranging from Usuluddin, Shariah, Islamic Law, Arabic Language, Islamic History, Islamic Finance to Business Management programmes. The university is also proud to highlight one of the many new programmes offered in 2018 / 2019 academic year such as Bachelor of Halal Science which aims to meet the growing demand for Halal specialists in Brunei.
In addition to its core programmes, UNISSA also offers additional courses to provide students with a competitive edge so they will thrive in any environment while portraying the virtues of a devout Muslim. Some of these courses include Al-Qur’an, Melayu Islam Beraja, Islamic Virtues, and Entrepreneurship.
Students of bachelor’s degree programmes who have obtained CGPA 3.50 and above throughout the first two years of study are given an opportunity to study abroad for a year at any of UNISSA’s partner universities in the Middle East, United Kingdom, Morocco or Malaysia. The study abroad programme aims to provide experience studying overseas under different education systems, ways of life, and cultures.
Alternatively, students in their third year undergo industrial training for nine weeks. The Industrial Training course is conducted to provide undergraduate students with work experience of day-to-day operations at selected organisations so that they understand the practical-work processes and gain valuable insights into the aspirations, needs and views of the organisation they are attached at.
The attachment usually commences after Second Semester Final Examination period. However, for Bachelor of Science in Islamic Finance and Bachelor of Business Management programmes, the duration of attachment is 22 weeks.
As of August 2018, UNISSA has recorded a 10 per cent increase in student enrolment. To accommodate the growing number of students, His Majesty The Sultan has consented for the allocation of a site at Mukim Labu in the Temburong District, together with the construction of the university’s permanent campus under the 11th National Development Plan. In his Titah delivered at UNISSA’s 8th Hafl Al-Takharruj (Convocation Ceremony), the monarch also expressed hope that the campus would further boost UNISSA’s reputation as a hub for higher Islamic education in the region.
As of January 2019, UNISSA has 1,093 undergraduate and 169 postgraduate students, of which 10 per cent are international students from Asia, Middle East, and Africa. There are 91 academic staff, of which 30 are expatriates. The university has produced 1,271 graduates since its first convocation in November 2011. With the increase in student enrolment, UNISSA is becoming the choice for local and international students to further their higher education in Islamic studies.
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 Product Design, exploring design fundamentals, innovation, material sciences, manufacturing processes and technopreneurship. A new research centre – CrAFT, Centre for Research in Agrifood Science & Technology was also established in that year which aimed to support the nation’s aspiration to diversify its economy by strengthening the Agrifood industry using science and technology.
To date, UTB has produced over 5,000 BDTVEC HND graduates, 300 HND Level Five graduates, 1,000 undergraduates and over 70 Master’s degree graduates from academic programmes offered by the Faculty of Engineering, School of Computing and Informatics, and School of Business. UTB strives to become a university that contributes to enrichment of knowledge and solving contemporary issues with research focussed on Energy, Sustainable Built Environment, Agrifood, Digital and Creativity, Society and Enterprise, and Wellness.
UTB’s mission is to nurture socially-responsible talents that are deeply-rooted in MIB values and committed to building a global and entrepreneurial society in pursuit of innovation and industry- relevant capabilities. Towards this, the university places importance in providing Quality Education and developing Independent Learners – two of the Strategic Focus Areas in its five-year Strategic Plan. An important initiative is to ensure that its academic programmes are accredited by the respective professional bodies. Professional accreditation is an indicator that the programmes meet the high standards set by the professions and also able to equip graduates with the right aptitude and solid foundation in the discipline. As of 2018, UTB has acquired professional accreditation in its Civil Engineering, Computing and Accounting programmes.
In moving forward, UTB has developed its new five-year Strategic Plan 2019-2023, focussing on four strategic areas: Quality Education, Independent Learners, Translational Research and Quadruple Helix Engagement. Successful implementation of initiatives under these focus areas within the five-year period will see the university improving its global prominence while making a strong impact and contribution to the country’s human resource, industrial and enterprising capabilities.
Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College (KUPU SB) offers training programmes in religious teaching in Brunei at the certificate, diploma, degree, and postgraduate levels, with a goal to shape a knowledgeable, pious, and devout society and nation according to the teachings of Ahli Sunnah Wal jama’ah and Syafi’e Sect, Islam and Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB).
The college has three main faculties: Education, Syariah and Usuluddin. There are five centres: Centre of Core Knowledge, Language Centre, Postgraduate Studies Centre and Research, Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah Understanding Studies Centre and Fiqh al-Usrah Centre.
At Diploma level, KUPU SB offers Higher National Diploma in Religious Teaching and Diploma in specialised courses. A bachelor’s degree is available in general religious teaching with a minor in: al-Quran and al-Sunnah studies, Islamic philosophy and thought, Islamic finance, early childhood education, Islamic guidance and counselling, Islamic educational multimedia, Islamic social science education, Islamic health education, entrepreneurship in Islamic education, Dakwah and leadership, Fiqh and Usul fiqh, special needs education, Malay language and literature and Malay Islamic Monarchy.
Post-graduate programmes include PhD and masters in religious teaching in Usuluddin, Syariah, Islamic Education, History and Islamic Civilization, Islamic literature, Arabic language, and the study of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah. The Postgraduate Diploma of Religious Teaching is offered to people who have a bachelor’s degree or master’s either in Islamic Religious Studies or from other fields, and wish to pursue a teaching qualification.
Co-curriculum activities are available for students. This includes entrepreneurship, Islamic calligraphy, Islamic medicine, first aid, sewing, MIB Manners, scout team, sports, Talaqqi turath, leadership, public speaking and more.
KUPU SB continues to work towards becoming a renowned religious teaching institution in the Malay Archipelago. In 2018, KUPU SB signed eight memorandums with universities including Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), and Universiti Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI). KUPU SB also participates in international activities with university associations in Asia, Pacific Asia and Islamic countries, including Consortium of Asia-Pacific Education Universities (CAPEU), Association of Southeast Asian Teachers Education Network (AsTEN) and the Asia-Pacific University-Community Engagement Network (APUCEN).
In October 2018, KUPU SB hosted the AsTEN 3rd Expert and the 8th President Meetings attended by education specialists from the ASEAN universities, and organised a regional education talk, ‘21st century education and the 4.0 industrial revolution,’ presented by Vice-Chancellor of Sultan Idris Teachers University, Deputy Rector of Indonesia’s University of Education, President Philippine Normal University, and Dean of Faculty of Education, Kasetsart University, Thailand.
IGS College (IGS) was established in 2002 and started operations in 2004, offering vocational education and training related to business and information technology. The college provides an alternative pre-university education for ‘O’ Level leavers through certificate, diploma, and higher national diploma programmes. IGS was the first to offer diplomas from the Brunei Darussalam Technical and Vocational Education Council (BDTVEC) by developing their own courses. Undergraduate programmes are available.
The college caters to mature students, providing part-time options for professional development among working adults to advance their careers. Since its establishment, IGS has yielded more than 160 graduates from different programmes, now working in various public and private sectors.
Established in 2004, Cosmopolitan College of Commerce and Technology (CCCT) is a private higher education institution, offering courses in business and technology across different levels. In 2009, the college introduced pre-national diploma courses of BDTVEC. The college reached a new milestone when it launched Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) UK programmes in 2016.
CCCT takes pride in its approach to education. With a strong line up of industry-oriented lecturers who can adapt to modern and structured methods, the college provides a well-rounded learning experience through consultative coaching and workshops, giving students an opportunity to explore new skills and boosting their employability.
Institute Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) was set up in 2014 as a post-secondary institution providing technical and vocational education. It was created by merging the Department of Technical Education and seven technical and vocational schools nationwide.
Under IBTE, the seven schools are categorised into two: IBTE Central and IBTE Satellite. IBTE Central has four campuses: IBTE Sultan Saiful Rijal Campus, IBTE Nakhoda Ragam Campus, IBTE Mechanical Campus and IBTE Business Campus. Meanwhile, IBTE Satellite has three campuses: IBTE Jefri Bolkiah Campus, IBTE Sultan Bolkiah Campus and IBTE Agro-Technology Campus. IBTE’s campuses run various programmes, from energy and engineering to agriculture and business.
Laksamana College of Business (LCB) was established in 2003 in partnership with the Kensington College of Business (KCB) in London, UK and Abdul Razak Holdings, Brunei Darussalam. They are the first institution in Brunei to be honoured with the prestigious ASIC global accreditation. The award is an acknowledgement of LCB’s fine education locally and internationally.
With the launch of the Pearson BTEC (UK) Diploma, HNC and HND computing programmes; LCB strives to establish itself as a premier UK education provider in IT and computing in Brunei. For students looking to enter the growing hospitality industry, LCB offers the Pearson BTEC in Hospitality Management.
LCB embarked on a new journey in 2015, providing full-fledged degree courses awarded by the University of Chester, UK. The degree courses at LCB include the BSc (Hons) Computer Science, BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance, BA (Hons) Business Management and BA (Hons) Marketing. These courses are available as full-time and part-time.
In 2018, LCB-UoC-KCB Synergy Alliance was introduced. On top of offering UK degrees, LCB gives students the opportunity to experience UK first-hand. As a major regional partner of University of Chester, LCB students may visit the University of Chester and Kensington College of Business in London and experience the globally influential centre of finance and culture. This programme provides a perfect environment and new paradigm for students to acquire greater international education and experience to succeed in a global environment.
LCB continues to provide initiatives to future leaders with its development of the Incuvation Centre in January 2019. The centre primarily focusses on mentoring, incubation, and advisory support to aspiring entrepreneurs and early stage start-ups across four verticals: ICT, Eco-tourism, Business and Social impact. This allows incubatees to share knowledge, experiences and resources to support
Brunei Vision 2035. The Incuvation Centre is designed to create awareness on what it takes to become an entrepreneur, the importance of choosing the right business model, developing their knowledge and entrepreneurial skills, managing finances as well as to provide them with a platform to build their networks.
The college also introduced its Culinary School in 2019. Designed to provide an authentic and professional culinary environment, the school has a traditional classroom with an interactive white board, fast Wi-Fi and ergonomically positioned seating. Students work on their practical skills in a spacious well-lit environment. The chef station has an overhead mirror and provides a view of every dimension.
Students also experience an industrial styled commercial kitchen. In the dining area, guests enjoy their food in a comfortable and modern space with a direct view of LCB students at work through a Perspex wall. This open design provides a two-way interface between students and diners.
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