Bandar Seri Begawan - Universiti Brunei Darussalam will expand its curriculum to include Occupational Health and Medicine not only for diploma and undergraduate levels but also postgraduate level. For the first time in August this year, the Master in Public Health programme will be offered.

This was highlighted by Dr Anita Binurul Zahrina binti Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Seri Setia Hj Awang Abdul Aziz, Dean of the PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul „Institute of Health Services in her speech during the signing ceremony of agreement for the sponsorship of chair in occupational health between BSP and UBD that took place yesterday at the Institute of Medicine, UBD.

She added, "We at UBD are certainly not neglectful in recognising the importance of the field of Occupational Health and Medicine, both in terms of its mounting relevance as well as towards achieving for UBD the position of becoming an international centre for academic excellence."

"We are pleased to say that UBD will extend its curriculum to include Occupational Health and Medicine not only for diploma and undergraduate levels but also in the postgraduate level. The Master in Public Health programme will be offered for the first time in August this year," she said.

She added, "This strategy is part of our effort at UBD to continuously be responsive and pertinent to the society where everybody is a stakeholder in UBD's future. Furthermore, we will also initiate more research programmes in Occupational Health and Medicine and in parallel seek to cultivate young researchers through our Master by research and PhD programmes. In addition, clinical work pertaining to occupational medicine will soon be set up with the establishment of our proposed University Health Centre."
The Dean of the PAP Rashidah Sa'adatul Institute of Health Services also highlighted, "While the programmes and curricular expansions that I have mentioned thus far may seem swift and ambitious, they are like any other human endeavours constrained always by the boundaries of human capability and the limitations of available resources.

Expertise in the field of Occupational Health and Medicine in UBD is inadequate and the appointment of, experts in this field is clearly fundamental for the implementation of this important initiative."

She added, "The role of an expert or professor in the field is crucial not only for teaching, but also for conducting clinical research and development work. It is important for all stakeholders to appreciate that the achievement of academic excellence and its corollary of national, social and economic advancement stem from an active and positive participation from all parties."

In particular, Dr Anita Binurul Zahrina said, "Active participation between academia and corporate industry is crucial. I am therefore pleased to say that UBD has once again taken another step towards strengthening the collaborative bonds between academia and corporate industry.

"We are proud to have the Brunei Shell Petroleum Company as our partner in developing and promoting Occupational Health and Medicine in UBD," she added.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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