Dayan Miyamoto @ Dayan Lee Baumgartner from Japan, who is among the 950 new students welcomed at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) for its August intake yesterday, said he hopes to improve his English language skills, make new friends, share Japanese culture and traditions with Bruneians and promote Brunei when he returns back to Japan.
He said Brunei is a mysterious country for many Japanese people and his senior, who previously studied in the Sultanate, recommended him to consider the Sultanate.
His compatriots Sadamu Nishikawa, Haruki Kamimura and Shintaro Kido, similarly look forward to experiencing a different culture.
Nazarah Marshall from South Africa who is taking a Bachelor’s Degree in Design and Creative Industries, said she is on her gap year and thought UBD would be a great option because she has already lived in the Sultanate and knows the people and the culture.
She said she was initially worried of not getting accepted, and is now excited to study at UBD.
She said her creativity, interest in art, photography and the growing digital industry are the reasons she chose to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Design and Creative Industries.
UBD Vice Chancellor Dr Hazri bin Haji Kifle was present to mark the start of the Freshers’ Week.
Dean of Students Saidai bin Haji Hitam said the programme will run for five days, to introduce and prepare new students in facing challenges and to disseminate information, activities and movement within the university. – James Kon
