HANOI, 28th JULY 2026 – From defence innovation and professional military education to powerful lessons of resilience and nation-building, Vietnam provided a dynamic learning group for Universiti Brunei Darussalam’s (UBD) Faculty of Military Studies (FMS) during its inaugural participation in the Overseas Study Tour (OST) from 28th June to 7th July 2026.
The ten-day tour formed part of the Master of Defence and Security Studies (MDSS) programme and Command and Staff Course 16 (CSC 16) organised by the Defence Academy, Royal Brunei Armed Forces (DA RBAF). Representing the faculty were Dr Mahani Hj Hamdan, Dean of FMS and Dr Suciyati Hj Sulaiman, who joined the delegation of military officers on an immersive learning journey across Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City.
Throughout the programme, the delegation engaged with key defence, diplomatic, educational and governmental institutions, including the Vietnam National Defence Academy, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, Military Region 7 Command, and Viettel High Tech. These engagements offered firsthand insights into Vietnam’s approaches to national resilience, professional military education, strategic leadership, defence innovation, and civil-military cooperation. Exchanges with Vietnamese counterparts also provided valuable perspectives on contemporary security challenges, defence diplomacy, higher education and emerging technologies. A key lesson from these discussions was that navigating today’s complex security environment requires more than military capability. It demands knowledge, innovation, institutional resilience and strong regional partnerships.
Vietnam’s history provided another powerful dimension to the learning experience, where visits to the Hue Imperial Citadel, Hien Luong Bridge, Cu Chi Tunnels, Independence Palace, and the War Remnants Museum offered profound insights into human consequences of conflict and the nation’s journey towards reunification, reconciliation, and peace.
For FMS, the value of the study tour extends beyond the visit itself. The knowledge gained, professional networks established and perspectives exchanged will contribute to strengthening the faculty’s teaching, research, professional military education and curriculum development. The experience also creates opportunities for comparative research and future collaboration with regional partners, particularly in exploring defence, security and resilience issues from the perspective of small and medium states.
As FMS’s inaugural participation in the OST, the visit plays a big role in strengthening the connection between academia and professional military education. It also reinforces UBD’s commitment to experiential learning and international engagement, while advancing FMS’s role in regional dialogue on leadership, innovation, peace and security. Beyond the knowledge and networks gained, the experience broadened perspectives and strengthened the Faculty’s commitment to nurturing informed, globally minded leaders capable of shaping the future of defence and security education in Brunei Darussalam.
For further information, visit FMS at IG: @fms.ubd or Email to: office.fms@ubd.edu.bn