Through presentation sessions at the 5th Asia Pacific University-Community Engagement Network (APUCEN) Summit by experts in various fields, Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) identified new approaches to enriching projects or community engagement programmes that can be adapted at KUPU SB.
KUPU SB was also appointed as an executive member of the APUCEN for the implementation of the APUCEN 2025–2027 strategic plan.
The decision to appoint KUPU SB as an executive member of APUCEN was made during the summit in Chongqing, China.
The KUPU SB delegation attending the meeting was headed by the Ra’es of KUPU-SB Associate Professor Dr Abdul Nasir bin Haji Abdul Rani.
The summit is organised every three years. This year’s summit was hosted by Chongqing Perham Education. The main agenda included an APUCEN Council meeting, with keynote paper presentations and joint presentations of community engagement programmes and activities implemented by APUCEN university members between 2022 and 2024.
According to KUPU SB Assistant Lecturer and Communication Officer Ali Hardi bin Haji Mohamed, KUPU SB’s participation in the summit provides an opportunity to expand the university’s professional network and open doors to collaboration, knowledge exchange and experience sharing among regional and international universities to improve the quality of community engagement programme planning.
Ali Hardi added that participation in the summit also introduced KUPU SB as a religious teaching university college on the regional and international stage, aligning with its objectives.
KUPU SB also participated in presentation sharing sessions by reporting on several programmes and initiatives that have been implemented.
The first presentation ‘Building Bridges: Community Engagement Initiatives by the Fundamental Knowledge Centre at KUPU SB’ was delivered by Assistant Lecturer and Deputy Director of the Core Knowledge Centre Norhazimah Nadzirah binti Haji Misli. The presentation focused on community engagement and community service programmes implemented within KUPU SB’s co-curriculum.
The second presentation ‘Holistic Approaches to Enhancing Mental Well-Being among Students in Brunei Darussalam’ was delivered by Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Social Science Education, KUPU SB, Pengiran Siti Katijah binti Pengiran Sulaiman. The presentation emphasised the implementation of a collaborative programme with the Health Promotion Centre, Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to promote information and knowledge about mental health.
The APUCEN is a regional network of academic institutions of higher learning concerned with promoting a culture of university-community engagement that is proactive, inclusive and holistic. – James Kon
