Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) is the national university of Brunei and is internationally recognised for its high-quality education and research. Established in 1985, UBD is a comprehensive research-intensive university that offers a wide range of academic programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
In order to facilitate high-impact research contributions, UBD provides capacity-building opportunities within and outside the country. Close collaborations with experts from internationally renowned institutions, government, private sectors, various industries and agencies have resulted in active student and staff mobility, robust technology transfer, expansion of professional research and education networks as well as synergistic partnerships with collaborators all over the world.
The university continues to rise up the recent Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, which placed UBD within the 301-350 band. This is the highest placement for UBD to date compared to when it first entered THE rankings in 2019.
UBD has also strengthened its position as one of the best ASEAN universities, ranking third in the region behind National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University. UBD ensures that it stays ahead of strong competition with its growing strength in teaching and research. Out of the five pillars used by THE, UBD demonstrated improvements in Teaching, Research and Industry Income compared to the previous year.
International Outlook was the highest ranked pillar, placing UBD 163rd in the world. For both International Outlook and Citations, UBD outperformed 75 per cent of all 1,799 institutions ranked by THE. This fortifies the university’s status as an internationally recognised institution excelling in teaching and research. UBD was also ranked worldwide in specific disciplines: 201-250 for both Engineering and Technology as well as Social Sciences, and 401-500 in Physical Sciences.
The university’s latest Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) is 1.43, the highest since 2019. This shows that UBD’s publications currently have 43 per cent more impact than the global average. The increase in citations shows the credibility of UBD researchers as well as the importance and reach of their studies worldwide. UBD’s rise up the ranks is a reflection of the university’s ongoing efforts to improve its teaching and research, producing future-proof graduates relevant to the industry and academics who make significant impact in their respective areas of research and teaching.
Established in 2007, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) has seven faculties: Faculty of Usuluddin; Faculty of Syariah and Law; Faculty of Arabic Language; Faculty of Islamic Economics and Finance; Faculty of Islamic Development Management; Faculty of Islamic Technology; and Faculty of Agriculture.
Each faculty offers various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes ranging from Usuluddin, Syariah, Islamic Law, Arabic Language, Islamic History, Islamic Finance to Business Management programmes. In addition to its core programmes, UNISSA 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 courses include Al-Quran, Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB), 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 at any of UNISSA’s partner universities in the Middle East, United Kingdom (UK), 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 to gain work experience and insights into the day-to-day operations at selected organisations.
UNISSA recently made its first appearance in the World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI) ranking led by the Institute for Policy and Strategy on National Competitiveness (IPSNC). Overall, UNISSA secured a spot in the Top 201-300 position in the ranking system, while the entrepreneurship project course offered by its Faculty of Islamic Economics and Finance (FEKIm) ranked in the Top 51-100 of the entrepreneurial spirit category.
Construction for a new UNISSA campus began in 2022. With the construction of the new campus, it is hoped that the university will become a genuine Islamic university providing a landmark for Islamic teachings development, and become a hub for Islamic higher learning in the region.
Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) is an Engineering and Technology University in Brunei Darussalam that specialises in Engineering, Business, Computing, Applied Sciences and Mathematics, Design, and Communication. UTB was initially established as a higher learning institution offering Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in Engineering, Business and Computing before it was upgraded to a university.
UTB maintains its position at Top 150 in the 2022 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (QSWUR) by subject. According to the 2022 QSWUR by Subject report, UTB’s Petroleum Engineering subject remained at the Top 101-150. UTB maintains its position as the leading university in the Sultanate for Petroleum Engineering.
The 2022 QSWUR by Subject was established through a variable approach in which the weightage of different subjects was ascertained by four metric factors, namely the university’s academic reputation survey, employer reputation, citations per paper published over the last five years, as well as the H-index which measures the productivity and citation impact of academic publications.
UTB ranked highest in its citations and has improved its scores in other measured indicators from its performance the previous year. With the continuous rise in global rankings among higher education institutions, and an increasingly well-respected reputation, UTB resumes its pursuit of academic excellence to prosper in the same league as other prestigious universities worldwide. UTB is currently rated 5-Plus Star by QS.
At present, UTB stands at the 340th position in the QSWUR 2023 and is currently 85th in Asia, 16th in Southeast Asia and 5th in Engineering and Technology in Southeast Asia. In the QS Top 50 under 50 Young University Rankings category, UTB achieved 40th place. In the Asia University Rankings 2023, UTB was ranked number 136.
UTB is the only local university to receive a five-star ranking from the QS Stars rating, putting it on par with other prestigious universities worldwide. UTB is also the first university in the country to have successfully acquired the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certification by Bureau Veritas in 2019.
The university recently introduced five new degree programmes for the 2023/2024 academic year: BSc (Honours) in Food Science and Human Nutrition; MSc in Food Science and Technology; BSc (Honours) in Digital Media (Major in Digital Content Design or Major in Game Development); MSc in Cybersecurity; and Masters in Architecture.
The expansion of the university’s offerings is aimed at giving students a more diverse academic experience, as well as more opportunities for industry placements and research. The new programmes are also aligned with the goals of Brunei Vision 2035, creating graduates that are industry-ready and equipped with 21st Century skills to help shape a sustainable future for Brunei.
With these new exciting changes and the broadening of degree programmes at UTB this year, the university is confident in providing its graduates with a diverse academic experience that will inevitably support the nation’s aspiration.
UTB students will graduate with a solid academic foundation and the handson experience that will set them apart from the rest in the field and shape them to be citizens with intellectual courage.
The university is also committed to improving its industrial research outreach and developing new capabilities and resources critical to the sustainable development of engineering and technology in line with Brunei Vision 2035. UTB strives to become a university that enriches knowledge and solves contemporary issues that focus on energy, sustainable built environment, agri-food, digital and creativity, society and enterprise, and wellness. In 2018, the Centre for Research in Agri-Food Science and Technology (CrAFT) was established to support the nation’s aspiration to diversify its economy by strengthening the agri-food industry using science and technology.
With its high-quality education, handson approach, and industry-based programmes, UTB has produced graduates who are readily accepted by top universities around the world and highly valued by employers in the country and abroad.
UTB’s vision is to become a global university impacting society and its mission is to nurture socially responsible talents that are deeply rooted in Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) values and committed to building a global and entrepreneurial society in pursuit of innovation and industry-relevant capabilities, towards the fulfilment of Brunei Vision 2035.
The establishment of Politeknik Brunei was consented 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 in a titah delivered during the Teacher’s Day celebration in 2008 to accelerate the country’s human resources development, emphasised by the National Development Plan (RKN) and Brunei Vision 2035.
Politeknik Brunei began in 2012 with a vision to be a reputable polytechnic producing innovative, skilful and marketable graduates, and a mission to equip students with sustainable skills through holistic and quality education in a supportive teaching and learning environment.
Politeknik Brunei is divided into the School of Business, School of Health Sciences, School of Information and Communication Technology, School of Science and Engineering, and Department of General Studies. In support of the institution’s vision on nurturing innovation, Politeknik Brunei is also an Institutional Member of the Oracle Academy.
Politeknik Brunei remains keen and unequivocal in developing ICT talents of young Bruneians (particularly those who are passionate about ICT or technology in general), since the Oracle Academy advances computer science education globally to drive and boost knowledge, innovation, skills development, and diversity in technological fields by offering both educators and students computer science education resources.
Politeknik Brunei celebrated its 10th anniversary in December 2022 which saw a ceremony that launched the revamped Politeknik Brunei website as well as an awards ceremony for those who have contributed to the development of Politeknik Brunei since its inception.
The Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) is a vocational education and training institution in Brunei Darussalam. It was established in 1991 as the Brunei Technical Education Department and was later rebranded as the IBTE in 2014, merging the Department of Technical Education and seven technical and vocational schools nationwide.
IBTE’s vision is ‘A dynamic technical education institution embracing lifelong learning’, while its mission is ‘Nurturing learners to be highly competent and socially responsible towards building a dynamic economy’, and consists of three strategic goals – quality teaching and learning; sustainable corporate governance; and effective strategic collaboration with stakeholders.
IBTE offers a range of programmes at the certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma levels in fields such as engineering, information and communication technology, business, and health sciences. These programmes are designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue successful careers in their chosen fields. Many of the programmes are accredited by international organisations and are recognised by employers around the world.
The schools of IBTE are categorised into IBTE Central and IBTE Satellite. IBTE Central has four campuses under its wings, namely IBTE Sultan Saiful Rijal Campus, IBTE Nakhoda Ragam Campus, IBTE Mechanical Campus and IBTE Business Campus.
Meanwhile, IBTE Satellite has three campuses, namely IBTE Jefri Bolkiah Campus, IBTE Sultan Bolkiah Campus and IBTE Agro-Technology Campus. These campuses conduct various programmes from energy and engineering to agriculture and business.
In addition to its academic programmes, IBTE also provides a range of support services for students, including career counselling, language classes, and access to job placement services. IBTE is also actively involved in research and development in its areas of expertise, and works closely with industry partners to ensure that its programmes are relevant and upto- date.
Established in 2002, Kolej International Graduate Studies (KIGS) 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 (HND) programmes.
KIGS is the first college to offer diplomas from the Brunei Darussalam Technical and Vocational Education Council (BDTVEC) by developing their own courses. Undergraduate programmes are also available. The college caters to mature students, providing part-time options for professional development among working adults to advance their careers.
The college is set to introduce a new IBTE programme – HNTec in Construction and Draughting (Dual TVET) – this October. The TVET scheme programme will be a new addition to the IBTE programmes introduced by the college in 2021 namely HNTec in Business and Finance, NTec in Business and Administration, HNTec in Information Technology (IT), HNTec in Computer Networking and NTec in IT.
Cosmopolitan College of Commerce and Technology (CCCT) is a private higher education institution in the country and offers business and technology courses across different levels as well as pre-national diploma courses of BDTVEC.
Established in 2004, the college takes pride in its approach to education. With a strong line-up of industry-oriented lecturers who can adapt to a modern and structured method, the college provides a wellrounded learning experience through consultative coaching and workshops providing students an opportunity to explore new skills and boosting their employability.
The college specialises in BTEC programmes, providing learners with a wide range of practical, careerbased options to create a rich, broad curriculum to engage and motivate learners. BTEC offers the flexibility to learn through real-life scenarios promoting the learning by doing concept. These programmes equip graduates with the right mixture of technical and soft skills to prepare them for the job market.
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