Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD)’s constant dedication towards the highest standards of education has made the university an international research hub for knowledge within the region. On December 4, local secondary schools paid a visit to the university to explore facilities and gain UBD’s expertise on technical maintenance on laboratories.   

Hosted by the Faculty of Science, the visitors consisted of senior staff members of the three different Arabic Secondary Schools of Brunei, namely Mahad Islam Brunei, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit Arabic Secondary School for Girls  (SUAMRIPAD) as well as Hassanal Bolkiah Secondary School for Boys (SMALHB). 

The purpose of their visit was to explore the different facilities such as the various laboratories and learn about proper laboratory maintenance. “We wanted to see how the laboratories are organized and what high-tech equipment (is) available at UBD,” explained Sariah Haji Bujang, senior laboratory technician of Mahad Islam Brunei. “In our schools, we have our own science laboratories, so we would like to see how UBD handles their facilities. This is useful if we want to upgrade our own labs,” she said.

UBD’s Faculty of Science (FOS) has the most extensive science facilities in Brunei, including five physics labs, eight biology labs, seven chemistry labs as well as an animal house, boats and other equipment for field research. Hj Jamil Hamid, Laboratory Superintendent of FOS, who received the visitors, expounded on the huge task in maintaining these services. “We have a few instruments that can only be operated by trained staff. While most of them need to be certified first-aiders… we also need technical staff for handling, maintaining and driving our boats,” Hj Jamil Hamid clarified. Such maintenance, he said, requires careful planning, supervision and training, which are often conducted overseas.

The visitors received a briefing about the general organization of the technical facilities and proceeded to visit some of the chemistry and physics laboratories before finally continuing to the biology laboratories. The guests also had the chance to view the Biology Department’s museums and animal house.

In order to share the immense expertise that FOS has built up over the years, the faculty has reached out to the local community in providing training as well as receiving visitors from local institutions. Sariah summed up her visit, saying, “We could see some of the most expensive equipment, observe PhD students during their work, learn about the organization of the facility and see the animal house.” She concluded, “(It was) a great experience and we could learn many things.” Hj Jamil added that it is through these activities and training that UBD can give back to the local community by sharing their expertise.

As a cluster of experts in various fields, the different departments in UBD accumulate knowledge and know-how in their individual areas of which not only UBD’s students and staff can profit from but from which local institutions and schools can benefit as well.