On Thursday 9th March 2023, the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences (FASS), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) held its first “Professorial Lecture” to honour the faculty’s local professors as well as to celebrate their achievements and academic milestones. Each lecture aims to present an overview of the professors’ academic contributions thus far and to introduce the breadth and quality of their work to a wider audience.
The first Professorial Lecture was a talk by Professor Dr Haji Awg Asbol Haji Mail of the History and International Studies programme at FASS. The event was held at the Pro Chancellor Arts Centre from 9am to 10.30am.
The first Professorial lecture was attended by the Vice Chancellor of UBD, Dr Hazri bin Haji Kifle. Also present to commemorate the event were the Assistant Vice Chancellors of UBD, principal officers, staff and students of UBD, the Professor’s immediate family members, and invited guests from the Brunei History Centre, Language and Literature Bureau, and the Ministry of Education.
The event started with welcoming remarks by the Dean of FASS, Dr Kathrina Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Daud. This was followed by a speech by Guest Speaker, Haji Mohd Rozan Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos, who outlined Professor Dr Haji Awg Asbol’s impressive academic career and accomplishments from start to present. Professor Dr Haji Awg Asbol then gave a talk entitled “Sungai Kerajaan, Kuripan dan Tulin, Pentadbiran Wilayah Kesultanan Brunei: Kelahiran dan Kesinambungan” which touched on Brunei’s history and the administration of the Brunei Sultanate during the late 18th Century.
After the talk, the invited guests were given a tour of an exhibition showcasing Professor Dr Hj Awg Asbol’s publications and work achievements, which were on display at the foyer of the ProChancellor Arts Centre.
Professor Dr Haji Awg Asbol Haji Mail began his academic career as a trained teacher at the Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam (SMJA) secondary school, having graduated with a First Class Honours Bachelor’s Degree from UBD. On 22nd January 1990 he was appointed as Tutor at Universiti Brunei Darussalam. He was later promoted to Lecturer on 23rd August 1996. Then on 10th January 2005, Professor Dr Haji Awg Asbol was appointed as Senior Lecturer, followed by his appointment as Associate Professor on 4th March 2010. He was then awarded the professorship on 8th June 2021.
Professor Dr Haji Awg Asbol specialises in Brunei History, Malay Islamic Monarchy and Malay Civilisation and teaches at FASS as well as at Akademi Pengajian Brunei. He has authored numerous publications. He is the author of The History of Education in Brunei 1950-1985 (2005) and the History of the 19th Century Bruneian Sultanate (2011). His other publications include six solo-authored books, 27 co-authored books, 47 co-authored book chapters, 74 working papers and 91 journal articles. He is also the editor of five books. He has also written and compiled special publications for various government agencies, including the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and the Brunei History Centre. He has received several state orders and decorations, in recognition of his excellent service to the government and academic accomplishments. In 2005, he was awarded the Pingat Indah Kerja Baik (PIKB); in 2006 he was bestowed the Pingat Kerja Lama (Long Service Award or PKL); and in 2012 he was decorated with the Darjah Seri Paduka Makhota Brunei Yang Amat Mulia Darjah Ketiga (The Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei – 3rd Degree or SMB). In 2013, Professor Dr Haji Awg Asbol also received the National Excellent Teacher Award from 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 Negara Brunei Darussalam.