A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday for the modernisation of professional military education (PME) in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and the establishment of the Faculty of Military Studies between the Ministry of Defence (MinDef) and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). Commander of the RBAF Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan was the guest of honour at the signing ceremony at Defence Academy (DA) RBAF.
Commandant of DA RBAF Colonel Pengiran Sharifuddin bin Pengiran Haji Yusof signed on behalf of MinDef while UBD was represented by UBD Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Education) Associate Professor Pengiran Dr Mohammad Iskandar bin Pengiran Haji Petra.
UBD Director of the Institute of Policy Studies Dr Mahani binti Haji Hamdan said the MoU marks a new chapter with several milestones including the establishment of a new Faculty of Military Studies, new collaborations in war studies and military capability as well as the launch of two new academic programmes – Bachelor of Defence and Security Studies and Master of Defence and Security Studies.
Dr Mahani said the bachelor’s degree will be part of lifelong learning and covers professional military training from Officer Cadet School (OCS) to Intermediate Staff Course (ISC). She added that the Master’s degree will be a rigorous one-year full-time programme for those completing Command and Staff Course (CSC). “Our curricula will not only meet the training objectives of CSC but also align with PME standards,” she said.
Permanent Secretary at the MinDef Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin and UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr Hazri bin Haji Kifle were present at the ceremony. – James Kon
