His Majesty urges UTB academics, researchers to realise skilled workforce aspiration.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), urged UTB to increase its efforts to ensure the programmes offered match job market needs, adding that accreditation from international bodies will add value and attract employers to recruit UTB graduates.
The monarch also called on UTB academic staff as well as local researchers to take advantage of the facilities and other resources provided in realising the mission of producing skilled locals for various industries.
The monarch was referring to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Lab, Sand Screen Lab as well as publications by the university in his titah during the 11th UTB Convocation Ceremony on Thursday.
The Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Lab, gifted by Shell Deepwater and Exploration, began operations at UTB with the aim of using machine learning and algorithm to solve complex issues such as road safety, agricultural science, green technology as well as water and energy resources.
The Sand Screen Lab, a collaborative research with renowned universities in Australia and the United Kingdom and fully-funded by Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd, has the potential to be a reference centre to study crude oil quality in the region.
His Majesty said UTB has matured in its 15 years of establishment and it is proven by the university’s publication of research papers.
The monarch urged the university to use benchmarks other than Quacquarelli Symonds for best practices, adding that UTB is making preparations to enter Times Higher Education World University Rankings that prioritise research paper publications.
His Majesty also brought up patents for commercialisation during the titah at the convocation ceremony and noted that the university has identified several prototypes undergoing evaluation process for intellectual property rights.
The monarch expressed hope that this will create an innovative ecosystem that drives economic development in the Sultanate.
The monarch was pleased that international accreditation bodies have recognised UTB programmes such as civil engineering, mechanical engineering and computing.
His Majesty also congratulated the university for its School of Business receiving accreditations from the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) recently.
The monarch also welcomed the new Master’s degree programme in cybersecurity, which is the result of cooperation between the university and the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA), that also offers scholarship to ASEAN students.
