UBD Welcomes 9 Filipino Scholars

Bandar Seri Begawan - Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) conducted an orientation for nine Filipino scholars from Mindanao attending a one-year Certificate in Teaching Arabic as a Second Language/School Administration Programme at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education on January 25.

The event was attended by UBD Vice Chancellor, Dato Paduka Dr Haji Ismail bin Haji Duraman and Philippine Ambassador to Brunei, Mrs Virginia H Benavidez.

Dr Hj Junaidi bin Hj Abd Rahman, Dean of the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education, delivered the welcoming remarks during the programme.

He congratulated the Filipino scholars for being selected to the programme.

He stressed the importance of the scholarship as Brunei's contribution to the Philippine government's human resources development and peace efforts in Mindanao.

He also expressed hope that all nine scholars would be able to complete the programme successfully.

In response, Ambassador Benavidez thanked the Brunei government for making it possible for a second batch of scholars from the Philippines to attend a programme that would ultimately benefit peace and development efforts in Mindanao. She cited the interest of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in this programme as being part of her administration's overall roadmap in achieving lasting peace in southern Philippines and as a concrete step towards attaining a genuinely caring and sharing community in the region.

Various briefings on examination, student affairs and the UBD Library followed, after which the participants were able to enjoy an informal sharing session with the chief guests.

Vice Chancellor Dato Dr Haji Ismail told them to feel at home and take advantage of the benefits offered by the scholarship, adding that they would eventually become Brunei's ambassadors of goodwill in their respective provinces back home.

The participants were in high spirits and very enthusiastic about the whole experience.

They conveyed their appreciation and gratitude to the Philippine and Brunei governments for making their scholarship possible and promised to do their best in completing the course.

This is the second intake of Filipino Muslim scholars at UBD. The first batch completed their course in 2005. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with