| Hakim Hayat |
UNIVERSITI Brunei Darussalam (UBD) has maintained its ranking band in the 2016 Asian Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University rankings.
Coming in at 123rd in Asia, UBD is now top 20 in five categories of the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asian University Rankings, marking an improvement from last year’s rankings where it was top 25 in the same categories.
UBD is 1st in Asia for outbound student mobility for the second year in a row, and is 3rd for inbound exchange, 11th for international faculty, 13th for faculty student ratio, and 17th for international students. UBD scored full marks (100 per cent) in three categories – outbound exchange students, inbound exchange students, and international faculty.
This is the third year UBD has been ranked in the QS University Rankings. It broke into the rankings in 2014 at the 171-180th band. In 2015, it became the 118th university in Asia, according to a statement from UBD.
This year QS has introduced several methodological changes to the way rankings are calculated, including taking for the first time a five-year averaging of several categories to establish the final scores. These changes have impacted universities like UBD, which only has scores in the last two-three years as it only entered the rankings three years ago.
“Despite the changes in methodology in the QS University Rankings, our ability to maintain our ranking band reflects that the university has scored better overall, reflecting the tremendous hard work of our academics and staff, and their commitment to building a first class university,” Datin Dr Hajah Anita Binurul Zahrina binti Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Aziz, the Vice-Chancellor of UBD said.
She noted that the five categories in which UBD was ranked top 20 were associated with its core values of teaching and learning, including providing a holistic and engaged UBD experience for students, and reaffirmed UBD’s commitment to an ethos of life-long learning.
A new category introduced by the QS Rankings this year is ‘Number of staff with PhDs’.
UBD medical students on a study tour at the Neonatal Unit in Kagawa University Hospital. For the second consecutive year, UBD is ranked top in Asia for student mobility in the QS Asian University Rankings. – UBD
“Alhamdulillah, I would like to thank 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, for the new academic scheme which has allowed UBD to recruit outstanding international and local academics,” the vice-chancellor said.
“This support has been crucial in enabling UBD to continue to nurture local academics and provide an internationally competitive curriculum to students, in line with the national agenda of a highly skilled population.”
The QS University Rankings also measures research productivity as part of its rankings exercise. Since 2011, research activity at UBD has increased exponentially, with the number of papers being published growing every year and having more than tripled over the last five years.
Research at UBD continues to be driven by national relevance, with emphasis on innovative and entrepreneurial initiatives and frameworks. Such initiatives are made possible through UBD’s active networks and engagement with industry players to ensure its research and teachings are relevant to the needs of the market, according to the statement.
In the last three years, UBD has filed over 40 patents through its Innovation and Enterprise Office, eight of which have been granted both in Brunei and internationally. UBD aims to leverage on its comparative niche advantages and major research projects in biodiversity, herbal medicine, Halal products, Islamic governance and energy are ongoing, all of which are of particular interest nationally and are expected to have global impact.
“We remain committed to research and teaching excellence, and to providing an environment in which future-ready and industry-relevant graduates can thrive,” said Datin Dr Hajah Anita Binurul Zahrina.
“As a national university, we take our role in contributing to the long-term economic and social development of the nation seriously, and every member of UBD has a part to play in realising Vision 2035.”
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