The C3L Open Day and Lifelong Learning Festival 2026 was held on 31st March 2026, at the Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Advancement (ILIA) Building, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).
The event commenced with an opening ceremony featuring remarks by the Director of Centre for Lifelong Learning (C3L) Associate Professor Dr Jose Hernandez Santos who said that the event brought together educators, policymakers, industry partners, and learners who share a common belief — that learning does not stop at graduation, but continues throughout life. “At C3L, our mission is to support this journey by creating flexible and meaningful learning opportunities for individuals at different stages of their careers.”
Guest of Honour UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr Hazri Haji Kifle, shared that lifelong learning is now recognised as essential for economic resilience and national development. “In Brunei Darussalam, this vision is deeply embedded in Wawasan Brunei 2035,” he said. “which calls for highly educated, skilled, and adaptable people.”
Following the opening ceremony, Dr Hazri presented Best-Micro Credential Awards for both new and established categories.
Best Micro-credential Award:
New Submission
First Place: ‘Introduction to Sustainability: Small Actions, Big Impact’ – Dr Roslinawati Roslan, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE)
Second Place: ‘Mastering APA 7 in Style’ – Michelle Poh Wan Pei, Language Centre
Third Place: ‘Project Management for Entrepreneurs’ – Dr Mohamed Syazwan Ab Talib, UBD School of Business and Economics (UBDSBE)
‘Mastering Systematic Reviews for Strategic Decisions’ – Dr Zaidah Rizidah Murang, Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS)
Established
First Place: ‘Autonomy, Voice, and Inclusive Pedagogy’ – Dayangku Ratna Suriani Pengiran Haji Osman, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE)
Second Place: ‘Mastering Qualitative Insights for Business’ – Dr Nurul Afiqah Haji Nor Amin, UBD School of Business and Economics (UBDSBE)
Third Place: ‘Introduction to Board Game Design’ – Dr Noreena Liu, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS)
“At UBD, our journey in micro-credential development began with a clear intention — to make learning more accessible, meaningful, and future-oriented,” Dr Hazri said. “Since 2022, we have built a growing portfolio of micro-credentials designed to support professional development and industry relevance. These are not standalone offerings — they are structured as stackable learning pathways, enabling progression towards recognised qualifications at multiple levels, including Micro-Bachelor, Bachelor, Micro-Master, and Master degree recognition.”
“Since 2024, through initiatives led by our C3L and the Innovation in Teaching and Learning Centre (InTELECT), more than 200 academics — from UBD and other higher education institutions across Brunei Darussalam — have participated in specialised training on micro-credential design, delivery, and assessment,” the Vice-Chancellor added. “This is not just capacity building within one university. It is a contribution to strengthening the national ecosystem for lifelong learning.”
A significant focus of the morning was the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), explored through a keynote by Dr Asnul Dahar Minghat and a panel forum. The panel features distinguished experts including Associate Professor Dr Asnul Dahar Minghat from UTM Malaysia, Dr Shaikh Khalid Shaikh Haji Ahmad of Serikandi Group of Companies, and Haji Mohammad Jaafar Haji Johari from the Lifelong Learning Centre (L3C), Ministry of Education, with the session moderated by C3L Deputy Director Dr Anni @ Nik Ani Afiqah Haji Mohamad Tuah.
RPL provides a structured and credible approach to recognising competencies developed through professional experience, non-formal training, and informal learning. Through RPL, adult learners may gain entry into academic programmes via lifelong learning pathways, or receive modular credit for selected modules or micro-credentials based on demonstrated competencies. Together, micro-credentials and RPL represent an evolution in higher education, recognising both academic achievement and the depth of learning gained through real-world experience.
Throughout the day, attendees engaged with various exhibitors including Openlearning, Brunei Institute of Leadership & Islamic Finance (BILIF), and Job Centre Brunei. The afternoon was dedicated to practical workshops which included ‘Integration of AI in Digital Pedagogy’ by Associate Professor Dr Mohammad Tazli Azizan from C3L, ‘Practical Workplace Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment’ by Wardatul Zahrah from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and ‘Stress Less, Live More!’ by representatives from AC-ACE Creative Training Services.