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‘Floating Prison’:
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ends in virus
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Understanding social issues through
community engagement
Students during a cleaning campaign. PHOTOS: UTB
A look at initiatives carried out at Universiti Teknologi Brunei to produce graduates who are proactive and engaged
members of the society.
Universiti Teknologi Brunei
Engaging with the community
is an imperative part of student
life at Universiti Teknologi Brunei
(UTB). Community engagement is
not just about charity work at UTB,
but providing an opportunity for
students to apply their knowledge
and better understand complex
social issues.
As a global university that
envisions making a positive impact
to society, UTB goes beyond
academic pursuits and encourages
students to organise community
service activities every year.
Some of the community
outreach
activities
organised
through the UTB Student Affairs
Of ice include health awareness
programmes, welfare initiatives,
beach clean-ups and fundraisers.
Community engagement and
volunteerism are key components
of UTB’s mission to nurture socially
responsible students deeply rooted
in Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB)
values and committed to building a
global and entrepreneurial society
in pursuit of innovation, industry-
relevant capabilities, towards the
ful ilment of Brunei Vision 2035.
A COMPULSORY MODULE
TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
Dean of UTB School of Business Dr
Haji Saleem bin Haji Nazmudeen
said the university’s role has
evolved as the world is becoming
more dynamic and challenging,
therefore, it is important to shape
the next generation of leaders
to confront challenges through
community engagement. In January
2019 the university introduced
a
new
compulsory
module
named Environment, Leadership,
Technopreneurship and Social
Innovation (ELTS) for all its irst year
students.
The module is in line with the
university’s efforts to produce
graduates who are proactive and
engaged members of the society.
Dr Haji Saleem said the module
uses the experiential learning
methodwherestudentsareexposed
to various real-world problems and
are expected to propose innovative
solutions.
The one-semester module is
conducted in the form of seminars
where industry experts are invited
to share their experiences and site
visits to government agencies and
industries are made.
The dean added that the
module will allow students to
understand
and
experience
workplace scenarios, equipping
them with skills that will enhance
their marketability in and outside of
the country and raise awareness on
Brunei’s economic landscape.
APPLYING THEORY INTO
PRACTICE
The principle of applying theory
into practice was set as one of
UTB’s objectives in its strategic
plan.
Dr Haji Saleem said that the
UTB School of Business is always
looking for opportunities where
students can put into practice the
knowledge they learnt in class.
“We always encourage students
to apply their theoretical knowledge
into practice as early as their irst
year by designing the curriculum
and providing them opportunities
through these initiatives,” he
shared.
DeanofStudentAffairsDayangku
Ida Nurul-Fitri binti Pengiran Haji
Kahar said the students are inspired
to use their academic expertise and
knowledge to help issues relating
to the community service activities
that the students are involved in.
For example, UTB engineering
students had the opportunity to
discuss with government authori-
ties on the feasibility and the mech-
anism of carrying out the Kampong
Ayer waste-cleaning project.
“The students will go through
a process of doubt, then slowly
welcome the idea, communicate
the stumbling blocks and inally
implement according to plan,” she
said.
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020