Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and Baiduri Capital signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 7th July 2025, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at advancing investment literacy, capital markets awareness, financial education and research collaboration in Brunei Darussalam.
Under the agreement, both parties will work together to deliver a range of initiatives that support student development and academic engagement in finance and investment. This includes co-organising talks, stock trading competitions, and outreach programmes tailored for the UBD community.
Present as guest of honour was Dr Haji Azman Ahmad, Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education. The signing ceremony was officiated by Dr Hazri Haji Kifle, Vice-Chancellor of UBD, and Ti Eng Hui, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Baiduri Bank and Chairman of Baiduri Capital. It was witnessed by Dr Masairol Haji Masri, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Industry Engagement and Enterprise Development), and Brian Wong, General Manager of Baiduri Capital.
In his remarks, Dr Hazri, underscored the importance of the collaboration in supporting national aspirations outlined in the Brunei Darussalam Financial Competency Framework and Wawasan Brunei 2035. He noted that the MoU aligns with UBD’s broader academic and institutional objectives, particularly its efforts to equip students with practical, future-ready skills across disciplines.
While the partnership will directly enhance finance and investment education at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam School of Business and Economics (UBDSBE), which holds prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation and offers an Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA)-recognised Accounting and Finance programme, it also provides opportunities for meaningful engagement across UBD’s other faculties and research institutes. Students, researchers and staff will benefit from interdisciplinary access to real-world financial tools, data-driven learning, and research collaboration.
A key highlight of the partnership is the integration of Baiduri Invest, Baiduri Capital’s digital trading platform, into the university’s curriculum. Implemented within UBD, the platform will serve as an interactive teaching and learning tool, providing both students and staff with early, hands-on exposure to real-world investing. Through this initiative, users will gain access to stocks and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) listed on major exchanges in the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Malaysia, enabling them to explore the features, behaviours, and nuances of different global markets.
In addition to incorporating Baiduri Capital’s digital trading platform into the curriculum at UBDSBE, this strategic partnership also aligns with UBD’s upcoming launch of the Master of Science in Islamic Finance and Data Analytics and the Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) programmes in August and September 2025. These programmes aim to produce analytically proficient and ethically driven graduates, fostering responsible leadership in the financial sector and beyond. The Master of Science in Islamic Finance and Data Analytics programme, in particular, is designed to equip graduates with a strong foundation in both ethical finance and data-driven decision-making—skills increasingly in demand across today’s evolving financial landscape.
Baiduri Invest also offers investor-friendly features such as Regular Savings Plan (RSP) investing to support dollar-cost averaging, portfolio analytics, and access to research tools that help users make informed investment decisions. These functionalities are designed to empower young investors to develop healthy, long-term investment habits from the start.
Speaking on the collaboration, Brian Wong said, “This partnership allows us to create meaningful learning experiences that prepare students for the realities of investing in the capital markets. It reflects our ongoing commitment to support the development of investment and financially literate, future-ready individuals.”
In addition to academic support, the MoU will pave the way for joint research on investment and market-related topics affecting both local and global market sentiments.
The collaboration aligns with Baiduri Capital’s obligations under the Brunei Capital Market Association (BCMA) and Baiduri Bank’s continued support for the National Financial Literacy Council’s objectives.
The partnership will also help promote awareness of Baiduri Capital’s broader suite of offerings, including its financial wellness content and digital tools designed to support better financial decision-making.
This initiative is part of the Group’s wider mission to enrich, empower, and engage communities through education and innovation.