Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the world’s leading network for top careers and education, is partnering with Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) this year to host the QS in Conversation Seminar on October 14-16.

The seminar, themed “Higher Education in Asia: Models, Transformation and Challenges”, invites vice chancellors, presidents, top academics and higher education administrators from around the world to a dynamic dialogue discussing challenges and opportunities arising from the changing higher education landscape. Education officers and government officials are also expected to attend the event at the Empire Hotel and Country Club.

QS in Conversation aims to put the spotlight on current issues and opportunities in higher education to contribute to the development of higher education at the national, regional and international levels. The seminar will address issues such as challenges and opportunities in higher education in Asia; progress and transformations in the changing landscape of higher education; trends and transitions towards a knowledge-based society; and the global connection between universities worldwide enabling student mobility.

As part of the programme, participants will go on a campus tour of UBD to explore the academic faculties and research institutions, during which they will learn about the different modes of learning as well as the establishment of the GenNEXT programme and Discovery Year. The participants will also visit the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC) in the Temburong district to view a showcase of research by Masters and PhD students in the field of biodiversity and environment. 

This year marks a milestone for UBD as - for the first time - it has broken into the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University Ranking, and is now positioned among the top 50 universities in Asia in five criteria, including international students, faculty student ratio and exchange students.

The QS in Conversation highlights diverse perspectives from around the world of the best practices and strategic recommendations to internationalize and achieve global recognition for higher education institutions. The QS in Conversation is now on its third year, with the first seminar held in Dubai in 2012, and the second seminar in 2013 in Jordan.