His Royal Highness Prince (Dr) Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) launched the month-long UBD Convocation Festival 2024 at the university’s library on Monday.
On arrival, His Royal Highness was greeted by Minister of Education Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah Haji Md Salleh, Vice Chancellor of UBD Dr Hazri Haji Kifle, and President of the UBD Student Representative Council Muhammad Zulkhairi Jifli Jainuddin.
Themed “Sustainability” showcases UBD initiatives and research projects aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UBD Sustainability Masterplan. His Royal Highness also officially launched the UBD Sustainability Masterplan.
The plan is a detailed document to help university staff and students incorporate sustainability practices, research, innovation, and initiatives that are in line with the United Nations Sustainability Goals (SDGs) and commits to integrating sustainability across all university activities, from operations and infrastructure to education and research, fostering a culture of sustainability that prepares future leaders to address global challenges.
UBD’s vision through the Sustainability Masterplan is poised to shape a future where environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic vitality converge harmoniously and align with Wawasan Brunei 2035, which aims for a high quality of life and a dynamic, sustainable economy.
The UBD Sustainability Masterplan is guided by its five pillars, which the Pesta Konvo exhibition highlighted. The masterplan itself falls under the pillar “Sustainable Stewardship Through Visionary Governance”, which indicates responsible management, wise and ethical management of resources, ensuring long viability of sustainable management, strategic priorities, interdisciplinary research, and the predication and planning for future challenges and opportunities.
Under the pillar “Driving Innovation Through Sustainability Research”, Dr Faizah Haji Metali led her team in project that consisted of using waste seaweed from the fish aquaculture industry to implement circular economy-based solutions for valorising waste biomass.
The second project by Dr Siti Salwa Abd Khalid and Sarimah Siang meanwhile featured wildlife biodiversity surveys focused on terrestrial mammals to enhance understanding of conservation needs and support development planning.
Also under the same pillar is a project by Dr Veena Raj and Nur Fitriyani Nabilah Awang Musrapi presented the design and management of floating solar panels to aid the integration of renewable energy. This pillar calls for new creative solutions, innovative projects, green practices, equitable future, economic stability, and a focus on the environment.
Student Nuur ‘atika Shaifol Bahrom in her project under the pillar “Cultivating Sustainability Champions Through Transformative Education”, introduced the educational gamification of traditional kueh, immersing players in a world of traditional kueh from Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
This pillar aims to develop sustainability leaders, encourage hands-on learning, sustainability in all curricula, utilising education resources as well as interdisciplinary studies.
Under the pillar “Empowering Sustainable and Resilient Communities through Engagement and Partnership”, two separate upcycling projects by Damia Rafhanah Azyeen Khomeini and Ak Ahmad Haziq Pg Ahmad Sofian featured how plastic and fabric can be upcycled to reduce waste as a result of fast fashion and counter the habit of overbuying clothes. Meanwhile Muhammad Luqman Mohd Jaffari’s project on Brunei driver behaviour hopes to enhance road user awareness as well as aid in the development of automated driving models.
This pillar places an emphasis on knowledge sharing and skill development, community resilience, lifelong learning as well as wellbeing through awareness campaigns.
Under the pillar “Futuring Sustainability Through Green Campus”, the automation of a vertical moss wall using advanced automation technology to grow and maintain a vertical moss wall, serves as a case study to demonstrate how automation can enhance plant care, making it more efficient and sustainable with sensors are employed to monitor moisture, light and temperature levels.
Data collected from these systems will help refine the growing conditions, ensuring the moss wall thrives and this project showcased how technology can support sustainable practices at UBD by enhancing air quality, reducing stress, and improving productivity.
Encouraging an energy-efficient campus that leads to the development of a “green campus”, this pillar focuses on waste management, promoting good health and well-being as well as utilising eco transportation.
Last June 3, 2024, UBD launched an Electric Vehicle for staff and students to travel across the campus, which is powered by an ammonia-powered generator that produces zero carbon emissions.
The generator was developed in collaboration by UBD with Oxgrin Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary company of Oxford Green Innotech, which is based in the United Kingdom, and a spin-off from Oxford University and exhibited during the Pesta Konvo.
His Royal Highness also consented to receive Pesambah from the Student Representative Council of the UBD Students’ Association (PMUBD)
Additionally, the Khatam Al-Quran and thanksgiving prayer will be held this Thursday, August 8, to bless the graduating students in their future endeavors.
Pesta Konvo, held annually in the run-up to the Convocation Ceremony, serves to celebrate UBD graduates’ success and achievements while showcasing ideas and creations by its current and graduating students.
The 36th Convocation Ceremony is scheduled to take place this coming August 12 at the Chancellor Hall, in which graduates will receive their scrolls. – LYNA MOHAMAD
