UBD aims to increase postgraduate courses
New academic life: Some of the postgraduate students at the orientation day for the January 2008 intake at UBD yesterday. Picture: Zamri Zainal
Thursday, February 7, 2008
TAKING a peek into their new academic life at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), more than 50 students began their new life as postgraduates with an orientation day that started at the Senate Room of the Chancellor Hall yesterday.
Officiating the New Postgraduate Student Orientation for those who enrolled in January 2008 for academic session 2007/2008 was the Vice Chancellor of UBD, Dato Paduka Dr Hj Ismail Hj Duraman. Also present were the Assistant Vice Chancellor, UBD principal officers, senior management and administrative officers.
On the list for the orientation day included briefing by the Student Welfare Section, Examination Section, Administration and a presentation by AIA Insurance, as well as a tour of the UBD campus, particularly areas such as the library, Information Communication Technology Centre (ICTC), Educational Technology Centre (ETC), Student Welfare Centre and UBD's eight faculties.
With the growing popularity of postgraduate study in today's environment, the vice chancellor said that "competition and change are among the name of the game." He pointed out how people consider knowledge and qualification important and thus choose to upgrade and improve their education. The perception of postgraduate study has shifted to be more competitive and essential for personal development and a trend in line with the philosophy of life long learning. "In many cases, a postgraduate qualification is not only a need but also a requirement to obtain position or to confirm the post," he added. "Gaining a postgraduate qualification will continue and become a general feature for a country to go for a knowledge-based economy."
In his speech during the opening ceremony of the orientation day, Dato Dr Hj Ismail advised those present to build on their strengths and find their own niche or forte to help with their studies and to assimilate what was taught. He explained that it will help lead them to their goals. "Learn to be more proactive in your learning," he said, reminding them of how fortunate they are to have a supply of good references in the library and unlimited information easily accessible from the Internet. He also urged them to practice good time-management skills, planning so that they have time for readings besides attending lectures and tutorials.
He warned the postgraduate students from taking their studies lightly as the contents of their programmes would be more vigorous and advanced compared to their degree courses as an undergraduate.
According to the vice chancellor, UBD has been intensifying its capacity by offering more postgraduate programmes in various disciplines and providing more facilities for postgraduate students such as postgraduate study rooms, workstations, books and journals related to postgraduate research.
Diana Cheong, Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Research Office added that they will be opening up the existing postgraduate workroom, which is equipped with individual personal computers and wireless service, to both Masters by research and PhD students.
"In keeping with UBD's new vision of 'A first class international university, A distinctive national identity', an important policy change for this academic year is the introduction of a grading system for all Masters programmes," she said. Previously, students would only be graded as either 'pass' or 'fail' but now a level of achievement, 'distinction' has been added to rewards those who have done well and motivate them to aim higher in their studies.At present, UBD holds 36 Masters programmes and 12 PhD programmes.
According to the Dean of the Postgraduate Studies and Research Office, the number of students taking postgraduate programmes are currently at six per cent of UBD's total population which is about 3,659. The vice chancellor pointed out the university's target to raise the number of students to 30 per cent, while at the same time progressively increasing the number of postgraduate programmes available.
Dato Dr Hj Ismail said that in order to reach the target, UBD requires substantial resources which goes beyond infrastructure and staff to support increasing demand. With the direct link that postgraduate students have with research activities, urgent funding requirements are intensely implied. He pointed out how the issue has been raised on numerous occasions regarding how UBD should be given means and ways to be different when requesting for funding and resources. Moving towards research and development would be the way forwards to excellence.
"With the nature of UBD, a government university, in which has yet to collect payment from its client, and managing its funds independently, understanding and support for its autonomy is timely," the vice chancellor said. "If this is not happening in the near future and as long as UBD is under the mercy of other agencies, its development as a global player in education is also questionable, let alone obtain a good ranking in the world university league table."The Brunei Times
Officiating the New Postgraduate Student Orientation for those who enrolled in January 2008 for academic session 2007/2008 was the Vice Chancellor of UBD, Dato Paduka Dr Hj Ismail Hj Duraman. Also present were the Assistant Vice Chancellor, UBD principal officers, senior management and administrative officers.
On the list for the orientation day included briefing by the Student Welfare Section, Examination Section, Administration and a presentation by AIA Insurance, as well as a tour of the UBD campus, particularly areas such as the library, Information Communication Technology Centre (ICTC), Educational Technology Centre (ETC), Student Welfare Centre and UBD's eight faculties.
With the growing popularity of postgraduate study in today's environment, the vice chancellor said that "competition and change are among the name of the game." He pointed out how people consider knowledge and qualification important and thus choose to upgrade and improve their education. The perception of postgraduate study has shifted to be more competitive and essential for personal development and a trend in line with the philosophy of life long learning. "In many cases, a postgraduate qualification is not only a need but also a requirement to obtain position or to confirm the post," he added. "Gaining a postgraduate qualification will continue and become a general feature for a country to go for a knowledge-based economy."
In his speech during the opening ceremony of the orientation day, Dato Dr Hj Ismail advised those present to build on their strengths and find their own niche or forte to help with their studies and to assimilate what was taught. He explained that it will help lead them to their goals. "Learn to be more proactive in your learning," he said, reminding them of how fortunate they are to have a supply of good references in the library and unlimited information easily accessible from the Internet. He also urged them to practice good time-management skills, planning so that they have time for readings besides attending lectures and tutorials.
He warned the postgraduate students from taking their studies lightly as the contents of their programmes would be more vigorous and advanced compared to their degree courses as an undergraduate.
According to the vice chancellor, UBD has been intensifying its capacity by offering more postgraduate programmes in various disciplines and providing more facilities for postgraduate students such as postgraduate study rooms, workstations, books and journals related to postgraduate research.
Diana Cheong, Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Research Office added that they will be opening up the existing postgraduate workroom, which is equipped with individual personal computers and wireless service, to both Masters by research and PhD students.
"In keeping with UBD's new vision of 'A first class international university, A distinctive national identity', an important policy change for this academic year is the introduction of a grading system for all Masters programmes," she said. Previously, students would only be graded as either 'pass' or 'fail' but now a level of achievement, 'distinction' has been added to rewards those who have done well and motivate them to aim higher in their studies.At present, UBD holds 36 Masters programmes and 12 PhD programmes.
According to the Dean of the Postgraduate Studies and Research Office, the number of students taking postgraduate programmes are currently at six per cent of UBD's total population which is about 3,659. The vice chancellor pointed out the university's target to raise the number of students to 30 per cent, while at the same time progressively increasing the number of postgraduate programmes available.
Dato Dr Hj Ismail said that in order to reach the target, UBD requires substantial resources which goes beyond infrastructure and staff to support increasing demand. With the direct link that postgraduate students have with research activities, urgent funding requirements are intensely implied. He pointed out how the issue has been raised on numerous occasions regarding how UBD should be given means and ways to be different when requesting for funding and resources. Moving towards research and development would be the way forwards to excellence.
"With the nature of UBD, a government university, in which has yet to collect payment from its client, and managing its funds independently, understanding and support for its autonomy is timely," the vice chancellor said. "If this is not happening in the near future and as long as UBD is under the mercy of other agencies, its development as a global player in education is also questionable, let alone obtain a good ranking in the world university league table."The Brunei Times
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