Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) Vice Chancellor Datin Paduka Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman yesterday reminded students not to ignore or deny personal and academic problems.
In a speech at the start of the orientation week 2023-2024 academic year, she said; ”Problems will often get worse if they are not directly addressed in a timely fashion. Get help when you need it. Speak to your dean, programme leader, counsellor, or your parents/guardians. Always seek Allah the Almighty’s guidance for everything that we want in our life no matter how big or small.”
She said 1,439 students indicated their interest in joining UTB while 525 were offered a place for the undergraduate programmes and 183 for postgraduate programmes. “Of the number, 453 and 131 accepted the offer.”
Datin Paduka Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah shared, “UTB, the only local university rated 5+ Stars University by Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (QSWUR), is ranked among the top 20 universities in Southeast Asia. We also excel in international faculty and faculty student ratio.”
“In addition, UTB obtained the 226th position in Employment Outcomes, highlighting its focus on student career preparation,” she said.
“We are proud of our accreditation in Civil and Mechanical Engineering, the School of Computing and Informatics and recently from the UTB Business School. Other programmes are also in the process of either being accredited or about to embark on the journey,” Datin Paduka Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah added.
The campus and facilities will provide avenues for students to try new adventures, develop or enhance soft skills.
The vice chancellor encouraged students to set high personal and academic goals and to achieve a work-life balance by joining clubs and societies.
She believed it is crucial to expose students to the community. There are 12 community outreach activities incorporated in the orientation programme including the mosque and beach clean-ups, spending time with children of Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam, Children’s Cancer Foundation, Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources, and Down Syndrome Association, donating items to underprivileged families and activities with senior citizens, she added. She stressed that employers are looking for graduates with a range of skills, personal qualities, and experience.
She said, “I would like to support 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’s titah during the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration in which His Majesty mentioned the rising mental health issues in the country. I wish to assure you that your well-being is of the utmost importance to us.” – James Kon
