The Symposium on Borneo Biodiversity hosted by the Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) in collaboration with the Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) was held on the 18th November 2025 at the Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Advancement (ILIA) Conference Room, UBD. This symposium represented a landmark occasion in advancing tropical forestry and biodiversity research, not only between the two institutions but also for strengthening academic and research networking across Borneo. This symposium also formed part of a broader academic visit by staff and students from the School of International Tropical Forestry, Faculty of Tropical Forestry, UMS to UBD.
The symposium provided a pivotal platform to gather researchers and students, addressing critical regional challenges such as ecosystem conservation, sustainable forest management, and their wider applications within Borneo. The scholarly program included talks from UBD and UMS which included topics on Brunei’s biodiversity, forest restoration and peat swamp ecosystem recovery, sustainable ecotourism and applied innovative research into the bioprospecting of Borneo’s natural products for medicinal use.
In her welcoming remarks, Dr Norhayati Haji Ahmad, coordinator for the Symposium on Borneo Biodiversity, shared that the impact of the symposium extended well beyond academic exchange where this collaborative framework established between UBD and UMS will continue to enhance the ongoing collaboration in the areas related to biodiversity and conservation.
The visit also included a guided tour of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam Botanical Research Centre (UBD BRC) providing UMS staff and students with a firsthand look at the ongoing research, education and conservation initiatives. This physical exchange of knowledge and resources is fundamental to building lasting institutional partnerships and facilitating future student and staff mobility programs throughout partners within Borneo. Universiti Malaysia Sabah is a partner university under the Borneo Studies Network consortium which is a regional platform that unites 12 member universities across Borneo (Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia) to foster stronger collaboration in research, education, and knowledge exchange.