Concerning towards the safety of the students amid the pandemic, Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) and University New South Wales (UNSW) held a half-day virtual welcome lecture for the undergraduate students undertaking BEng (Hons) in Petroleum Engineering, delivered by the representatives from UNSW, Sydney which took place at Lecture Theatre 2, Library Complex, UTB.
The event commenced with a welcoming remark by Yang Mulia Professor Dr. Dayang Hajah Zohrah binti Hj Sulaiman, Vice-Chancellor of UTB where she mentioned that due to the global pandemic, it is unfortunate that UNSW students in Brunei are not able to attend or return to Sydney in time to start their academic year due to this pandemic, however, the students’ safety and well-being are the university’s top priority.
She believes that this session is extremely beneficial for the students to ask questions about their courses and to be well informed on the mitigation measures that the Australian High Commission in Brunei Darussalam, UNSW and UTB are developing to assist them whilst they are unable to travel to Australia.
The event proceeded with a speech by Her Excellency Ms. Tiffany McDonald, High Commissioner of Australia in Brunei Darussalam on “Education in Australia in time of COVID-19”.
In Her Excellency’s speech, she highlighted that Australia and Brunei’s longstanding education links are demonstrated by the growing Australian alumni community in Brunei, which is made up of about 12,000 Bruneians who have studied in Australia.
Her Excellency also said that the Australian High Commission welcomes the ongoing partnership between UTB and UNSW. “By providing UTB students the opportunity to undertake part of their Petroleum Engineering Degree at UNSW’s Sydney campus, this partnership adds to the academic cooperation between our two countries.”
“For now, supporting Australians return home, especially vulnerable Australians, is the Australian Government’s priority. This means that international student arrivals can only be considered when Australians wishing to come back to Australia have returned in substantial numbers. However, Australian universities have successfully transitioned to online learning (where practical) and have also provided student support services and pastoral care online”.
The event then continued with welcome lectures through an online platform from UNSW, by Dean of Engineering, Yang Mulia Professor Stephen Foster; Head of Minerals and Engineering School, Yang Mulia Professor Ismet Canbulat; and Discipline Leader of Petroleum Engineering, Yang Mulia Professor Klaus Regenauer-Lieb.
Also present physically at the welcome lecture were UTB principal officers, staff and students of the University.
The objective of the lectures were to equip the undergraduate students with necessary information and resources available at UNSW who aren’t able to attend or return to Sydney in time to start their academic year due to the pandemic.
Vice-Chancellor of UTB delivering her remarks
Attendees in a group photo
High Commissioner of Australia delivering her speech
Representatives from UNSW presenting the lectures respectively
The attendees at the Welcome Lecture