Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Pesta Konvo 2025 was officially launched on 5th August 2025 by His Royal Highness Prince (Dr) Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pro-Chancellor of UBD. The launch kicked off the convocation celebrations with a showcase of impactful research and student activities.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was received at the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS) by Minister of Education Yang Berhormat Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah Haji Mohd Salleh in her capacity as Chairperson of the UBD Council, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha in his capacity as Deputy Chairperson of the UBD Council, and UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr Hazri Haji Kifle where His Royal Highness consented to officiate Pesta Konvo 2025.
Outside the building, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince then proceeded to plant a Gymnostoma nobile (Casuarinaceae), also known as the Bornean Rhu. A native tree species of Brunei Darussalam, the Gymnostoma nobile is typically found in Bornean heath forests (Kerangas) and can grow up to 10–15 metres tall. This species plays a vital ecological role through its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen via symbiosis with Frankia bacteria, enriching poor soils and supporting forest health. As a native species with high conservation value, its conservation is important for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince moved on to launch the UBD Healthy University Roadmap, a strategic initiative that embeds health, safety, and well-being into all aspects of university life.
Building on best practices from the ASEAN University Network-Health Promotion Network (AUN-HPN) and aligned with Wawasan Brunei 2035, the Ministry of Education’s Greening Education Partnership, as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the roadmap adopts an integrated approach that is committed to building a campus environment that supports, inspires, and empowers healthy living for all physically, mentally, socially, and environmentally. Structured across three phases to progressively build institutional readiness, system change, and measurable impact, the Healthy University Roadmap’s timeline runs from 2025 to 2028, which aligns with UBD’s strategic plan and national development targets.
Yang Berhormat Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah, Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary, and Dr Hazri guided His Royal Highness the Crown Prince on a tour of the Pesta Konvo Exhibition in the PAPRSB IHS Extension Building Foyer. Themed ‘Ideas That Move’, the UBD Pesta Konvo Exhibition supports the Healthy University Roadmap launched earlier and celebrates how UBD’s research, programmes, and partnerships together create healthier lives, greener campus, and stronger communities. The exhibits featured wellness, sustainability, and the community in action. Each exhibit showcased the bridge between science and everyday life as well as activities and events that engage youth, alumni and families. Separated into three separate zones, the featured innovations and research projects demonstrate the powerful impact that UBD students have beyond the classroom.
In the ‘Community Innovation’ zone, the exhibits from the Academy of Brunei Studies (APB) and Universiti Brunei Darussalam School of Business and Economics (UBDSBE) showcased people-centric ideas and initiatives that respond to real-world challenges faced by communities. This ranges from empowering youth and entrepreneurs to strengthening social inclusion and local development. Mohamad Bahiyuddin Aji, a UBD alumnus who graduated from the Academy of Brunei Studies (APB) in 2018 and dedicated a year to intensive agricultural research, established Kianjong.co in late 2019. His specialisation in anthropological cultural studies provided a comprehensive lens to approach business. Demonstrating a commitment to sustainable agriculture, Kianjong.co has strategically expanded its product portfolio to include organic fertilisers based on beneficial microbes. Furthermore, the company is actively developing a cutting-edge greenhouse project, poised to further enhance its agricultural capabilities and contribute to Brunei’s food security.
UBD Alya Playhouse, which was recently opened in May 2025, had the opportunity to highlight the importance of providing childcare services to UBD’s working parents and supporting healthier work-life balance for university staff and students.
Meanwhile Dr Nurul Afiqah Haji Nor Amin and Hajah Saerah Haji Petra from UBDSBE integrated their academic expertise with on-the-ground engagement, supporting sustainable community development in Kampung Bolkiah, Kampong Ayer. Rich in culture and strong community ties, the community ‘Living Lab’ enables inclusive and research-informed solutions that promote economic self-reliance and prosperity, while strengthening local leadership and data-driven development.
The ‘Culture and Identity’ zone celebrates the preservation and evolution of cultural identity through storytelling, seeing culture as a living part of learning and community. A self-taught beginner, Dayangku Nur Iman Shahidah Pengiran Md Tani developed a 2-dimensional platform game ‘Katok Tales’ where players explore a magical forest, solve puzzles and destroy enemies to collect hidden ingredients – to uncover the secret behind Nasi Katok. “I grew up eating Nasi Katok. It’s simple, affordable, and part of our everyday life,” Dayangku Nur Iman Shahidah shared. “I wanted to turn something so familiar into a fun little adventure that celebrates our culture in a playful way.”
Finally, the ‘Health and Well-Being’ zone explored innovative student-led approaches to care, compassion, and health education, translating their clinical knowledge into meaningful service and community empowerment. Third Year medical students from PAPRSB IHS showcased ‘Spikeout’, an initiative to raise awareness about diabetes, its complications and healthy ways to manage it. The ‘UBD TENANG Mindfulness Programme’ sought to enhance mental well-being through a proven mindfulness-based approach that is uniquely adapted with Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) elements that align with Bruneian culture, particularly from an Islamic perspective.
As part of the Pesta Konvo tour, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also visited the Rayyan Bahrain Clinic Universiti Brunei Darussalam and the Dental Simulation Laboratory located in the building. For use by the Bachelor of Health Science (BHSc) in Dentistry, clinical simulation activities using the ‘Phantom Head’ were previously conducted at the National Dental Centre from 2019 to October 2023.
The event also saw the presentation of pesambah to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince designed and created by Muhammad Hilmi Suhaimi, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Digital Economy undergraduate from the Centre for Lifelong Learning (C3L) on behalf of the Student Representative Council of UBD Students’ Association (PMUBD). The ‘UBD 40 GEM’ pesambah incorporates UBD’s 40th anniversary logo as well as four distinct iconography and patterns that symbolise the practice of Islamic principles in all aspects of life, continuous learning that aligns with the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), innovation and future-readiness of students in the digital era, and high quality of education that aligns with Wawasan Brunei 2035.
In the build up to the Convocation Ceremony, the Khatam Al-Quran and thanksgiving prayer will be held on 6th August to bless the graduating students in their future endeavours. Pesta Konvo is held annually in the run-up to the Convocation Ceremony to celebrate UBD graduates’ success and achievements while showcasing ideas and creations by its current and graduating students.
The 37th Convocation Ceremony is scheduled to take place on 13th August at the Chancellor Hall, in which graduates will receive their scrolls.