Bandar Seri Begawan - Three students from Yala Islamic University in the troubled southern part of Thailand will get to experience a new culture and study in Universiti Brunei Darussalam for one sponsored semester this year following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Universiti Brunei Darussalam and Yala Islamic University yesterday.

Held at Yala Islamic University in Thailand, the MoU was first of its kind inked between Universiti Brunei Darussalam and a university in southern part of Thailand.

On behalf of UBD, Director of Language Centre, Dr Yabit Alas signed on the dotted line and representing Yala Islamic University was Dr Ismail Luftee Chapakia, its Rector.

On hand to witness the auspicious signing were Mr Nattapong Sirichana, Vice Governor of Yala Province, and Air Force Marshall, Madam Nittaya Imanotai, a Royal Thai Air Force expert. "The three exchange students from Yala Islamic University to UBD will mark the first formal cooperation between both universities.

UBD will waive the tuition, exam and academic fee as well as for the accommodation. Senior Lecturer of Language Centre, Datin Hjh Rosnah Hj Ramly, said, "Beside the student exchange, the other three fields of collaboration include staff exchange or attachment programme, joint research programme and joint training programme through conferences or seminars."

Dr Yabit Alas also spoke about the interest of sending UBD students to schools in southern part of Thailand to conduct community work to help raise the quality of English and Malay language, as well as IT skills during the Discovery Year of the Generation Next degrees, where community work is one of the options that students can take. And Yala Islamic University will provide assistance in this endeavour.

Meanwhile, Yala Islamic University has suggested that UBD become the joint partner in organising the first International Conference of Islamic Education in Southeast Asia. However, the suggestion was turned down on the basis that UBD doesn't have the expertise in Islamic Studies since the university doesn't have the course.

Datin Hajah Rosnah then said that UBD would refer the plan of co-hosting the conference to UNISSA or Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College. On the exchange of staff, Yala Islamic University said that their lecturers would need to visit UBD to look at the related courses.

Madam Waesong Deleng, Minister of Royal Thai Embassy in Brunei, the person that has make tremendous efforts to make sure that the cooperation came through, congratulated both universities for forging new ties.

Also at the ceremony was Director of Academy of Brunei Studies Dr Siti Norkhalbi Hj Wahsalfelah.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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