Closing Ceremony Of Sociology And Anthropology Conference
By Izam S. Ya'akub

Bandar Seri Begawan - Dato Paduka Dr. Hj Ismail bin Hj Duraman, Vice Chancellor of Universiti of Brunei Darussalam (UBD) yesterday mooted its Sociology & Anthropology Unit, Faculty of Art & Social Sciences be upgraded in status as a department.

He spoke as the guest of honour at the closing ceremony of an international conference on sociology and anthropology.

Such a move would provide students with the desire to learn more about the subjects which fall under the broad but specific field, he said.

UBD, despite being young and a relatively small university, can distinguish itself in a selected number of areas in which it is in a strategic position to achieve excellence, he said.

Due to the location and environment, the university is able to excel in the field of petroleum geo-science because of the mineral resources the nation is blessed with, biology and social anthropology owing to the rich heritage and enormous cultural diversity of this island, which has attracted professional and lay anthropologists from around the globe.

UBD is well placed to become a centre of anthropological research and teaching in Borneo, he said. "Last year it introduced a new undergraduate programme in sociology and anthropology with an emphasis on Southeast Asia in general, and Borneo in particular.

This year it appointed its first professor of Anthropology, Professor Anthony Walker. The University also has the Academy of Brunei Studies that specialises in multi disciplinary research and teaching relating to Brunei Society and culture as well as the Borneo and Brunei Collections in the University Library, which constitutes important resources for researchers."

The conference, hosted by the UBD Sociology and Anthropology Unit, was held to review the situation of sociological and anthropological research and teachings at local institutions in Borneo.

In two days, speakers who work and/ or are from different parts of Borneo, delivered issues, which held many common grounds despite the range of differences in respect to geographical and economical circumstances. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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