Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) had achieved a major landmark for the first time in 2017, where it broke into the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, attaining a creditable 349th rank.

With over 26,000 universities, QS has placed UBD among the top 1.3 per cent of universities worldwide.

UBD is one of only 13 universities from Southeast Asia to be ranked in the top 400 in the world.

Quarcquarelli Symonds (QS) is a first university ranking agency in the world that is recognised by The International Ranking Expert Group (IREG).

It is a breakthrough achievenment for the 32 years old university, which made headlines the first year it participated in the QS Asia university rankings in 2014. UBD became one of the fast growing university in 2015 where it jumped to 57th position from 118 in the region where the year before, UBD was unranked in the leading university rankings exercises. This achievement has made UBD into the more prestigious QS World Rankings for the very first time.

The QS World Rankings compares to the leading universities around the world. Based on six performance indicator, the ranking assesses university performance across four areas – research, teaching, employability and internationalization. It is regarded as one of the most influential and trusted university rankings in the world. Among the indicators, UBD performed particularly well in international faculty, coming in at 47th in the world, faculty-student ratio, at 69th in the world and international students, ranked at 210.

QS World University Rankings has stated that there is a strong correlation between international investment in education and performance in the international rankings. UBD’s development is only possible through the strong support of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Mahrum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Government, the statement said.

Being on of the top institutions in the world was emphasised by His Majesty, the Chancellor of UBD, in his titah at the university’s 26th Convocation Ceremony in 2014, whereby His Majesty advised UBD that it is important to compete rather than being a spectator.

UBD developed an innovative and broad based GenNEXT curriculum, with an emphasis on producing adaptable and entrepreneurial future ready graduates with a passion for lifelong learning.

Recently, UBD opened the Centre for Lifelong Learning, offering a degree in Digital Economy and introducing more pathways for higher education for mature students and the community.

While the rankings attest to its growing international reputation, UBD remains fully committed to its primary mission of producing higly educated and industry relavent students with the necessary skills and expertise for the nation’s future workforce and supporting Brunei Vision 2035.

Research activities in UBD have risen exponentially; the research publications in international peer reviewed journals rose almost tenfold and citation index rose fivefold between 2006 and 2016. UBD faculties and research institutes have focused on key areas of research relavent to Brunei Darussalam- Energy Studies, Biodivesity and the Environment, Islamic Studies, including Islamic Governance and Asian Studies. For the first time, UBD is now ranked as a high research intensive university by QS.

“Many Congratulations to UBD on the result of their dedication and hardwork. Alhamdulillah, entering the QS World Univeristy Rankings for the first time is a tremendous achievement for UBD and Brunei,” Said Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, Minister of Education and Chair of UBD Council.

UBD also actively growing its collaborations with agencies, prestigious institutions and industries, both within Brunei Darussalam and abroad, to grow its teaching capabilities, publication output and research. The rising of international reputation of UBD to its partnership with top peers universities in the world.

For example, UBD’s Master in Public Policy and Management is conduted in collaboration with Duke Univeristy, Georgetown University, University of Markland and University of California, Bekerley. Similarly, UBD’s Islamic Studies initiative has collaborative research with Oxford Univeristy, Kyoto Univerisity and the Interantional Institute of Islamic Thought.

“Alhamdulillah, the combined efforts and dedication of all our staffs – adacdemic and administrative – as well as our students, have been instrumental in achieving this. I wish to acknowledge all the people whoe have been part of UBD’s journey over the past 32 years since its establishment” said Datin Dr Hjh Anita Binurul binti POKLWDSS Haji Awang Abdul Aziz, the Vice Chancellor of UBD.

She added, “UBD will continue to strive to become a world class university and fulfil its primary mission of producing higly educated and well trained students with the necessary skills for the workforce and nation building”.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by UBD

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