UBD Offers Assistance In Scientific Research
By Sobrina Rosli

Bandar Seri Begawan - Universiti Brunei Darussalam is opening its doors wider to government offices and private companies in need of assistance in scientific research.

It's a mutually beneficial service the university is offering. Dr Diana P P Cheong, Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Research and Development at UBD, said the service equipped clients with empirical research needed in making decisions, while enriching the university's research output.

Conducting research studies for clients would also increase the university's chances of improving its standing in international scorecharts of universities, Dr Diana explained.

"The expertise we have here are underutilised," she said, adding that "we call upon government and private sectors to come forward" and tap the .Postgraduate Studies and Research Department's expertise.

"We have 300 academics here," Dr Diana said. Most of them are PhD holders.

The department has six local PhD holders for every four foreign research experts.

There are eight faculties under the Postgraduate Studies and Research with three specialised centres of research: Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre,

Institute of Policy Studies and Centre for Islamic Banking, and Finance and Management.

The department hopes to obtain additional funding and infrastructural support for research from other government and private institutions. By promoting its expertise, the university also hopes to increase effective utilisation, commercialisation and awareness of the university's research and research capacity.

Moreover, this will contribute the development of a research culture that will make UBD-acquire a more solid reputation as a centre of excellence for research.

The department covers basic research which pushes the frontiers of knowledge and applied research that provides data for decision making or to solve identified problems. Its research capabilities include social impact research, needs analysis, cost benefit research and evaluation research.

"A typical medium scale project will cost between $20,000 and $80,000," she said.

Its research studies are funded by university, research grants - with each project limited to a funding of less than $50,000 - and through consultancy fees for those commissioned by interested government or private sector clients.

"We would like the government and private sector (groups) to be aware that all important policy decisions require sound academic research, and this is, what our experts here are able to offer," she said.

The Narcotics Bureau and the Anti-Corruption Bureau have tapped the research services of the university. "Results for academic researches like these could be turned into benchmarks for important issues," she said.

The efforts to promote services are part of a goal to retain local relevance while placing greater significance on meeting world standards.

The university's' present vision is 'A First Class International University, A Distinctive National Identity".  -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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