His Royal Highness Prince (Dr) Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) officiated the UBD Pesta Konvo 2026 on 30th July 2026 which marked the start of celebrations for the upcoming UBD 38th Convocation Ceremony.
Upon arrival at UBD’s Inspiring Hub, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was received by UBD Council Deputy Chairman and Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Mohammed Riza Dato Paduka Haji Mohammed Yunos, Acting Minister of Education Dato Seri Paduka Dr Haji Norarfan Haji Zainal, and UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr Hazri Haji Kifle. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince then consented to declare the opening of this year’s Pesta Konvo before viewing a special exhibition.
Held under the theme ‘Ideas to Impact’, Pesta Konvo 2026 featured a special exhibition showcasing UBD’s efforts in advancing digital transformation, innovation and enterprise towards a future-ready society. The exhibition showcased how UBD staff and students collaborate to turn ideas and research into tangible impact, driving innovation to improve the quality of life and well-being, generate economic and social value, and build a smarter, more sustainable, and resilient future.
Pesta Konvo 2026 highlighted UBD’s new curriculum, GenBESTARI. The new undergraduate degree structure has been designed to prepare students for a rapidly changing world shaped by digitisation, emerging skills requirements, and evolving expectations of university graduates.
Under GenBESTARI, undergraduate programmes are completed over three years while maintaining academic depth, breadth and rigour through new core modules and structured learning pathways. Discovery Year remains part of the learning experience, reflecting UBD’s continued emphasis on experiential learning. The curriculum seeks to nurture graduates who are balanced and holistic individuals, ethical leaders, sustainable thinkers, transdisciplinary practitioners, adaptable and resilient lifelong learners, responsible global citizens and innovative problem-solvers. GenBESTARI is further strengthened through ‘Pamor‘ and ‘Citra’: compulsory core activities that build students’ foundational competencies in health, spirituality, knowledge and leadership, as well as opportunities for students to explore interests, creativity and professional development.
The exhibition also featured two of UBD’s latest initiatives: ‘Nexus for Architecture, Data and Intelligence (NADI)’ and ‘UBD Campus Greening Roadmap 2025–2030’ which His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also officiated.
NADI is UBD’s central unified system designed to harmonise existing institutional systems under one intelligent platform. It serves as the operational backbone for the university by integrating academic, administrative, and operational systems into one cohesive digital ecosystem.
Powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, NADI enables smarter decision-making, streamlines university-wide processes and provides a more seamless experience for students, faculty, management and staff. It represents an integral step in UBD’s digital transformation journey. By bringing data, systems and processes together, it strengthens institutional coordination, improves operational efficiency, and supports a more connected and intelligent university environment.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and invited guests were then treated to a special performance by 39 students, including several who are graduating this year.
Titled ‘Harmony Beyond Horizons: Tradition Meets Innovation’, the performance brought together members of the Varsity Gulintangan Orchestra Club, UBD Phonemic Club and UBD Choir Club. The orchestral and choral production reflected the spirit of digital transformation and innovation for a future-ready society, demonstrating that progress is most meaningful when it builds upon the strength of cultural heritage and creates harmony between tradition and modernity.
The specially arranged orchestral medley featured three timeless Nusantara classics from Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Indonesia: Adai-Adai, Gurindam Jiwa, and Pamer Bojo. The distinctive sounds of the gulintangan blended seamlessly with modern orchestral instruments, while the choir added depth and emotion to a musical presentation that bridged generations, cultures and ideas.
The tour of the exhibition continued with ‘UBD Campus Greening Roadmap 2025–2030’ which presents UBD’s vision to create a “University in the Heart of a Living Forest”. As a flagship programme under the UBD Sustainability Masterplan, the roadmap focuses on restoring, protecting and enhancing the natural ecosystems and green spaces found on campus.
It promotes the planting and management of native tree and plant species through a science-based approach. It strengthens UBD’s role as a living laboratory while supporting biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and climate resilience.
Reflecting the university’s commitment to environmental stewardship, biodiversity protection and sustainability-focused learning for the wider campus community, the initiative contributes to shaping a greener and more sustainable UBD campus.
Pesta Konvo 2026 also presented an innovation that builds upon an earlier patented design. ‘BreSih’ is a pioneering interdisciplinary healthcare innovation project that places human dignity at the centre of assistive healthcare technology design.
BreSih is designed as an inflatable, lightweight and practical elimination and hygiene care system that integrates water supply and drainage functions into a single solution. Its portable and user-friendly design makes it suitable for use in hospitals, rehabilitation centres and home-care settings. BreSih demonstrates how nursing knowledge can be translated into meaningful healthcare innovation by combining clinical expertise, research, leadership, and entrepreneurship. The project aims to improve dignity, independence, and wellbeing while supporting improvements in healthcare delivery and quality of life for patients and caregivers alike.
Sharing the spotlight at the exhibition was New Wave Films BN. UBD alumnus Syafi Halim created the local filmmaking collective to showcase creative works that highlight Brunei Darussalam’s culture, communities, identity and environment. The exhibition featured trailers and highlight reels from four completed productions: Ekosistem Rasa, Kampung Buah, Wujud, and The Invisible Catch.
Through documentary, animation and visual storytelling, New Wave Films BN demonstrates the role of creative industries in preserving cultural narratives, raising awareness of social and environmental issues, and bringing Bruneian stories to wider audiences.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince then continued the visit to the newly renovated cafeteria, ‘Joompa’, where His Royal Highness the Crown Prince signed a commemorative plaque. Derived from the Malay word ‘Jumpa‘ (meet), the canteen aims to be a social space where students connect, gather, and create campus memories together. A student-centric venue, Joompa was designed for comfort, belonging and community, surrounded by nature, light and open views. In addition to being a place for refreshments and meals, it offers spaces where students can study and even perform.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince then consented to visit the Centre for University Life and Wellness (UniHEALTH). There, UniHEALTH Director Dr Deeni Rudita Idris presented an overview of the centre’s functions and the services available to staff and students on campus. As part of UBD’s Healthy University initiative, the centre supports integrated wellness through mental health, preventive care, and physical well-being initiatives.
The route took His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to the newly renovated UBD Central. Executive Officer (Discovery Year Unit) Dayangku Hajah Amey Marlina Pengiran Haji Metassan explained to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince that it serves as a one-stop service centre for the UBD community, providing administrative and support services for students, including undergraduate and graduate admissions, scholarships, registration and examinations, Discovery Year administration, and visa-related services for international students. Visa-related services are also provided for international staff.
The event also saw the presentation of a pesambah to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, which was designed and created by Nurul Amalina Mohd Aslam from the Design and Creative Industry (DCI) programme at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS). Her design, the ‘Titisan Bestari’ was inspired by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. Integrating elements of sustainability, education, and Brunei Darussalam’s cultural heritage, the pesambah conveys the importance of protecting water resources for the well-being of society and the nation’s sustainable development.
In the buildup to the Convocation Ceremony, the Thanksgiving prayer and Khatam Al-Quran will be held on 3rd 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 38th Convocation Ceremony is scheduled to take place on 11th August at the Chancellor Hall, in which graduates will receive their scrolls. Other events in conjunction with the Convocation Ceremony include The Next Day which starts on 12th August, and the UBD Medal and Book Prize Presentation Ceremony on 13th August.
For more information and updates on the upcoming events in conjunction with UBD 38th Convocation Ceremony, visit ubd.edu.bn or follow @ubd_brunei on Instagram.
