BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN — The Ministry of Education (MOE), in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, held the second edition of the EU – Brunei Darussalam Cooperation in Higher Education and Research webinar on August 27.
The online event was attended by 320 registered participants and focused on three flagship EU-funded programmes:
- Erasmus Mundus: The flagship educational initiative of the EU that allows students to pursue a joint master’s degree by studying at two or more universities in different countries within Europe.
- Horizon Europe: The world’s largest research and innovation programme, providing over €93.5 billion in funding to address some of the greatest global challenges.
- Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility: A programme that allows students, academic staff, and other higher education institutional personnel to undertake short-term educational experiences in the EU.
The webinar is designed to provide Bruneian students, scholars, and researchers with clear guidance on scholarship and fellowship opportunities offered by the EU.
Participants had the chance to engage directly with EU and Bruneian representatives and network with fellow students, academics, and institutions.
Past scholars also shared their experiences as students in the EU and addressed common challenges faced by applicants, such as cultural adaptation and navigating application requirements.
The first webinar in this series was held in September 2023, drawing around 180 participants. This year’s session attracted an even broader audience of 320 participants as it coincided with the start of the new academic semester, reaching both current students and recent graduates.
In his opening remarks, MOE Permanent Secretary (Higher Education), Dr Hj Azman Ahmad, underscored the importance of global academic collaboration, with the EU emerging as a key partner in academic mobility, joint research, and curriculum innovation.
“This webinar… opens doors to premier educational resources, state-of-the-art research facilities, and transformative international experiences. Programmes like Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe are central to this effort,” he said.
Dr Hj Azman added that several Bruneians have already benefitted from the Erasmus+ programme, gaining invaluable academic experience and cross-cultural competencies through International Credit Mobility.
Also present during the webinar were Dyg Rosimah Sumaimah Hj Metassim, Acting Director of the MOE’s Higher Education Department, who gave welcoming remarks, and Stéphane Mechati, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Indonesia and Brunei, who delivered a keynote address.
In addition to students and researchers, the webinar was attended by Dr Joyce Teo Siew Yean, Assistant Vice Chancellor (Global Engagement) at Universiti Brunei Darussalam; Dr Mohamad Saiful Hj Omar, Assistant Vice Chancellor (External & Industry Relations) at Universiti Teknologi Brunei; and Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Norarfan Hj Zainal, Rector of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali.
By hosting this event, the Ministry of Education and the EU aim to encourage greater awareness and interest among Bruneian students and scholars in pursuing EU-funded programmes.
The initiative also seeks to foster closer collaboration between higher education institutions in Europe and Brunei, laying the groundwork for joint research, academic exchanges and potential Memoranda of Understanding.