Towards understanding the current higher education climate and industry practices, as well as best practices of international institutions, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) has undergone a significant transformation by revising the duration of programmes offered.
Rector of UNISSA Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal said this in his welcoming remarks during UNISSA’s 14th Hafl Al-Takharruj yesterday at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Berakas.
After conducting evaluations and gathering feedbacks from external experts and industry practitioners, the five academic programmes under the Faculty of Islamic Development Management, the Faculty of Islamic Technology, the Faculty of Agriculture, and the Halalan Thayyiban Research Centre have begun offering three-year programmes rather than four years as previously.
“The shorter, yet comprehensive programme provides a faster pathway for graduates to achieve their goals with more economical education costs,” the rector said.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Norarfanalso spoke about the university’s new Tamhidi programme to be introduced in the upcoming academic session in collaboration with Kolej International Graduate Studies (KIGS).
The one-year programme, commonly known as the Foundation programme, caters to prospective students and includes two branches; the Tamhidi programme in Sciences of Halal and Agriculture, and the Tamhidi programme in Business, Technology, and Management.
“By providing early exposure of UNISSA’s programmes to pre-university students, this initiative is also part of the university’s effort to bring students closer to a more focused and planned future career options,” he said.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Norarfan also touched on UNISSA’s achievements.
“For the fifth consecutive time, the university has received the GIFA Market Leadership Award 2024 through the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Finance in the category ‘Education in Islamic Banking and Finance’,” he said. “This accolade further proves UNISSA’s commitment and dedication to strengthening human capital for the advancement of Islamic banking and finance in Brunei Darusalam.”
The rector also said UNISSA should explore opportunities for cooperation and collaboration in professional development, improving the quality of teaching and research. On this note, he added that at the end of last year, UNISSA became a member of the ASEAN Fisheries Education Network (ASEAN-FEN).
ASEAN-FEN is a consortium of universities focused on fisheries and aquaculture, aiming to support and enhance the industry in both sectors through education, research, and the dissemination of new techniques and technologies to communities in the Southeast Asia region, the rector explained.
Meanwhile, in upholding a titah by 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 during the 15th Borneo Islamic International Conference (KAIB XV) on the need for the establishment of a centre responsible for preserving and sustaining manuscripts and conducting research, a Centre of Islamic Manuscripts Studies has been set up at UNISSA, the rector said.
The centre, he added, intends to serve as a reference in the study of Islamic manuscripts by developing a digital database of Islamic manuscripts collections.
UNISSA has also established a one-stop centre aimed at guiding and supporting its students and alumni in developing their businesses, known as Entrepreneurship Hub or E-Hub, to connect students and alumni with industry networks to mentor and highlight their talents in starting businesses.
“E-Hub provides facilities such as incubation, courses and workshops, consultancy, and other resources to encourage youth to venture into Syariah-compliant business fields,” Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Norarfan said. The rector highlighted the university’s achievement in producing its first local professor in Arabic Language.
“This appointment will serve as an inspiration for more local academic staff to show dedication in their fields. Furthermore, they are also expected to become mentors and catalysts for a positive change that will have a significant impact for the country and the community,” he said. – Rokiah Mahmud
