Rokiah Mahmud
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was inked between Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and University of East Anglia (UEA) at Simpur Herbal Café, UBD, yesterday.
On behalf of UBD, the MoU was signed by UBD Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Global Affairs) Dr Joyce Teo Siew Yean while UEA Chemical Physics and Science Communication Professor Stephen Ashworth signed on behalf of UEA.
Present to witness the signing were UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr Hazri bin Haji Kifle and British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam John Virgoe.
The MoU is intended to promote cooperation and positive academic relations between the two institutions.
In addition, several opportunities may be sought for the exchange of students and academic staff, as well as for collaborations on joint research projects.
Deputy Dean (Academic) of the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE) Dr Roslinawati binti Mohd Roslan expressed gratitude to the British Council for awarding them the UK-Brunei Higher Education Teaching and Learning Partnership Seed Grant.
The grant will enable them to kick-start their collaborative teaching and learning research project on empowering primary and secondary teachers to deliver science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the classroom.
The project, which arises from the MoU, shows that UBD and UEA have been collaboratively developing an educational training programme and research project focussing on the development of knowledge and skills of primary school teachers in Brunei to incorporate STEM practical projects into their teaching.
The project aims to improve the education of Bruneian children with a long term impact on the quality of the workforce and economic growth, while offering an international dimension to the learning opportunities of Bruneian student teachers. The high commissioner said it was exciting to see the partnership between the two institutions developing.
“The British government is pleased to be supportive with the partnership through the British Council, especially collaboration through STEM education at schools in Brunei.”
He added, “Derived from this MoU, there is already research partnership in the aspect of STEM education.
“Going forward, I know that UBD and UEA are committed to deepening their partnership including research collaborations and I hope that UEA’s students will come to Brunei and vice versa.”
