Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) was awarded the 2025 Babson Collaborative Spotlight Award during the Babson Collaborative Global Summit at Ecole des Dirigeants et des Créateurs d’entreprise (EDC) Paris Business School, France.
The award, conferred by Babson College, United States, recognises outstanding initiatives in entrepreneurship education programmes across the Collaborative’s global network.
Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Industry Engagement and Enterprise Development) at UBD Dr Masairol bin Haji Masri received the award in Paris on behalf of the university. He was accompanied by a delegation from UBD comprising Deputy Director of Enterprise Development Dr Annie Dayanie Abdullah, Deputy Dean of Engagement and Partnership Dr Thuraya Farhana and UBD Entrepreneurship Management Team Committee Dr Siti Norwahida.
“This recognition reflects our continuous commitment to cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets on campus and beyond,” said Dr Masairol.
“The EntreMasterclass aligns closely with UBD’s Entrepreneurship Blueprint, which aims to build a holistic entrepreneurial ecosystem that includes students, researchers, educators, administrators and leaders alike.”
This year’s summit themed ‘The Power of Global Entrepreneurship Education: Cultivating Innovation through Collaboration’ brought together 78 delegates from 48 higher education institutions across 31 countries.
The Babson Collaborative 2025 Global Summit is an annual gathering for members to explore how global entrepreneurship education can inspire meaningful change through innovative teaching methodologies, impactful research and strategic partnerships.
Attendees exchange curricular and co-curricular best practices, gain insights into the host school and local entrepreneurship ecosystem, advance thought leadership in the field, and engage in informal discussions on future possibilities.
The Spotlight Award was the summit’s top highlight. UBD’s recognition marks a milestone – not only for the university but for Brunei Darussalam, as UBD becomes the first institution from Asia to receive such an international honour from the Babson Collaborative.
UBD earned the award based on its ‘EntreMasterclass’ programme, an in-campus entrepreneurial development initiative that impressed the Collaborative leadership team for its innovation, impact and potential for internationalisation.
To date, the programme has engaged 453 UBD staff members, reflecting wide institutional participation. Feedback from participants has been positive, with an average satisfaction score exceeding 80 per cent.
The Babson Collaborative leadership praised the programme as one that other member institutions would find “interesting and inspiring”, with strong potential to be adapted or replicated internationally.
