Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) concluded a four-week Cultural Immersion Programme with The University of Western Australia (UWA) under the Global Discovery Programme (GDP), marking the completion of the inaugural short-term programme between both institutions.
The programme welcomed 11 undergraduate students, funded through the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan (NCP), for a transformative experience that combined academic learning and cultural immersion in Brunei Darussalam.
The New Colombo Plan (NCP) is an initiative of the Australian Government aimed at deepening Australia’s relationships within the Indo-Pacific region by supporting Australian undergraduates to undertake the Scholarship Programme, Semester Programme, and Mobility Programme. The participation of UWA students under the NCP reflects the importance placed on fostering people-to-people connections and strengthening regional understanding through education.
A Closing Ceremony was held on 15th December 2025 to commemorate the completion of this inaugural programme. Hajah Irmawati Haji Ahmad, Director at the Office of Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) of UBD shared in her remarks that the short-term programme enabled the participating students to experience Brunei Darussalam in a more meaningful and personal way.
In conjunction with the programme’s conclusion, UWA students had the honour of meeting His Excellency Michael Hoy, Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, at Ruang Bicara Minda, University Library, UBD. During the session, students shared reflections on their academic, cultural experiences, and experiential learning in Brunei Darussalam.
In a Special Remark, His Excellency expressed appreciation to UBD for making the programme possible and for hosting the UWA students, and encouraged the students to share their experiences and learnings from Brunei Darussalam with their peers and families upon returning to Australia.
Representing UWA, Professor Amanda Davies, Head of School, School of Social Sciences at UWA, conveyed her appreciation to UBD for hosting the programme and acknowledged the dedication and hard work of the organising committee. She noted that their support played a significant role in helping UWA students understand the region more deeply. She also highlighted the NCP as an important platform that allows students to learn from diverse cultures and bring those lessons back to Australia.
A student representative from UWA, Maniya Amin, shared that “this unique experience has given us lessons that can’t be taught in the textbook or classroom.”
UWA students shared that the programme enhanced their understanding of Bruneian culture and provided meaningful exposure to local communities, traditions, and the natural environment. They highlighted the friendships formed with UBD students, visits to cultural heritage sites, and participation in experiential activities such as the Canopy Walk at Ulu Temburong National Park, which left a lasting impression and made the programme particularly memorable.
For more information on UBD’s Global Discovery short-term programmes, visit www.ubd.edu.bn or email globaldiscovery.ga@ubd.edu.bn.
