Bandar Seri Begawan - Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) officially inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mahidol University yesterday, which further strengthens the relations between the two universities, which are also members of Asean University Network (AUN).

The signing took place at ILIA Building in UBD in the presence of Assistant Vice Chancellor (Global Affairs), UBD Dr Hajah Anita Binurul Zahrina binti POKLWDSS Haji Awang Abdul Aziz, who witnessed the signing.

Also present to witness the signing was the Charge d' Affaires of the Royal Thai Embassy to Brunei Darussalam Ms Siriporn Thaitrong.

Signatory for UBD was Permanent Secretary of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education and UBD Vice-Chancellor Dato Paduka Dr Hj Zulkarnain bin Hj Hanafi. Mahidol University was represented by its president, Professor Rajata Rajatanavin.

The Permanent Secretary noted that the placing of its two students as part of their study abroad programme via AUN scheme is one of the activities that UBD students can embark on during their discovery year. He pointed out what the university conducts is part of the journey of change, which they have instigated in the last four years.

"We are moving away from what was fundamentally a teaching university to a new era at UBD as an international university of both teaching and research excellence.

"The university is very fortunate to have the strong support of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam's government in providing funds and infrastructure so as to advance their research capabilities at the university.

"In this short period of time, we gained much expertise and strength in several strategic niche areas namely biodiversity, energy, agrotechnology/food security, Islamic banking, finance and governance and Asian studies."

Other key research areas include global health, sensor technologies, science, technology, society and media and creative industries, he added.

Through the scheme of AUN, UBD is pleased to have sent students to Mahidol University for the student exchange programme last year as well as this year thus yesterday's signing will provide the framework for mutual collaboration, he said.

This mutual collaboration includes education, research and community engagement, with the facilitation of reciprocal exchange of staff and students between UBD and Mahidol University

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin