In efforts to connect the Islamic studies institutes of the ASEAN region, the Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies (SOASCIS) at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) received the extraordinary honour of representing Brunei in the newly established ASEAN Islamic Studies Network.

The ASEAN Islamic Studies Network is an initiative launched by the Thai government, with the main objective of “trying to find out how to develop the Islamic Studies in the area in correspondence to the ASEAN community 2015”, as one of the Thai delegates Kriya Langputeh explained. To bring together experts and researchers on Islam and Education , the delegation visited its ASEAN counterparts, starting with Muslim minority countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar and lastly reaching out to Muslim majority countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

As representative of Brunei, SOASCIS received the delegates and organized a joint programme in order to discuss the future of the network. During the programme held on 21^st October, Pengiran Dr Norhazlin Pengiran Hj Muhammad, Deputy Director of SOASCIS, was officially appointed as country coordinator for Brunei.

“It [is] an honour to get appointed and to have [their] trust and I will do my best to help establish this network as Brunei’s country coordinator,” she said. Pengiran Dr Norhazlin was first approached for the post by Professor Sukree Langputeh from Fatoni University , Pattani, during a conference last year.

“I have presented about the curriculum of Islamic Studies at UBD as well as the education system in Brunei. They know my background on Islam and Education and, furthermore, I was also recommended by Prof Dr Osman Bakar,” she explained. 

After a discussion on Islamic studies in Brunei Darussalam, the programme continued with a tour of SOASCIS’ facilities. Among the delegates were the Head of the Research Project, Suwannee Langputeh from Prince of Songkhla University in Pattani; Dr Liya Yaprang of Ramkhamheng University, Bangkok; Dr Sam Su Sau from Yala Rajabhat University as well as representatives from Fatoni University, Kriya Langputeh and Surachai Waiyawannajitr.

“What we need is ‘kesinambungan’ – continuity“, advised Professor Dr Osman Bakar, Director of SOASCIS, after an extensive exchange on the future of the network. In line with Prof Osman’s conviction of “Do not go the sectarian way, go the academic way!” the ASEAN Islamic Studies Network will provide a base for scholarly discourse and exchange in the region.

The next step in the regional partnership will be an international conference in Thailand, where Professor Osman received the honour of being invited as a keynote speaker. Pengiran Dr Norhazlin was also invited to attend the conference as a representative of Brunei.