UBD to facilitate new diploma programme for the Defence Academy The 40-week course is designed hone communication, critical thinking skills of officers

BRUNEI-MUARA – University Brunei Darussalam (UBD) will be facilitating the Defence Academy of Royal Brunei Armed Forces new graduate diploma in Defence and Security Studies, following the signing of a three-year agreement on Wednesday.

The teaching collaboration between the two organisations starts this in January 2019, UBD’s director of Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Dr Mahani Hj Hamdan told The Scoop.

“Within the overall framework of our national interest, this collaboration between the IPS and the Defence Academy is a demonstration of our socio-political maturity as a people,” she said.

Dr Mahani said the course is specifically tailored for the Defence Academy’s students and UBD will be the teaching provider for the programme from 2019 to 2021.

The 40-week course features seven modules, including communication and writing skills, international security studies, Asia strategic environment studies, leadership and research methodology.

The seven modules will meet the learning objectives of the graduate diploma programme offered by the Defence Academy, she added.

“Under the foundation module, the students will be introduced to communication, writing skills and how to think critically. These are essential skills for the students to become well professed in the military career profession,” Dr Mahani said.

The students will also learn international security studies and Asia strategic environment studies.

“With the current challenges and national threats, it is good to learn from other case studies happening around the world. This [will provide students insight] to what has been going on and how different nations or countries approach to resolve the problems,” she said.

“The research methodology module is to equip them on their research skills, because for them to be relevant to the world today, they need to be well versed with information and sources,” the director added.

The programme currently has 30 students, including 13 international students.

Commandant of Defence Academy Colonel Hj Muhammad Haszaimi Bol Hassan signed on behalf of the academy while UBD’s assistant vice-chancellor (academic affairs), Pg Dr Mohd Iskandar Pg Hj Petra, signed on behalf of UBD.