5 August 2021 – Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) through its Corporate Communications Office together with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) co-hosted the International Staff Week (ISW) 2021 under Asia Technological University Network (ATU-Net). The event was held through an online platform from 2 August until 5 August 2021.
The ATU-Net ISW is an annual programme tailored for members of the international office that serves as a capacity building programme with the aim to foster stronger ties and to enhance cooperation amongst the universities worldwide.
Carrying the theme Redesigning and Managing Higher Educational Institution Internationalisation in an Era or Uncertainties: Collaborating for Global Solutions, the programme was delivered in four sub-themes which were scheduled according to the four-day arrangement. Keynote sessions, workshops and presentations were concentrated on the respective themes.
Sub-theme 1: Institutional Management, Internationalisation and Ranking was hosted by UTM and as for Sub-theme 2: Establishing and Sustaining Partnerships was hosted by ITS. Meanwhile UMT hosted on Sub-theme 3: Staff and Student Mobility.
UTB hosted the Sub-theme 4 focusing on Visibility and Engagement. On day four, the event began with a welcoming address by Yang Mulia Professor Dr. Dayang Hajah Zohrah binti Hj Sulaiman, Vice-Chancellor of UTB.
In her address, Professor Dr. Dayang Hajah Zohrah shared on how UTB has been coping and transitioning towards the new normal amid the COVID-19 pandemic, especially on how the university had been managing the International Agenda in this era of uncertainties.
She also highlighted on the University-Industry collaboration where it often benefits for both universities and industries and often impacts on economic development.
“Universities are the bedrock for creating innovative products, however face challenges in commercialisation of such products,” she added.
Professor Dr. Dayang Hajah Zohrah said that industries may not have the time to conduct research therefore it makes sense for universities and industries combine technical skills, knowledge and resources to innovate and create IP assets which can be commercialised.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, UTB recognises the mutual benefits to collaborate with industry and has incorporated strategic objectives for industry collaborations in its Strategic Plan 2019-2023. The impact of such collaborations can be seen in the increase number of translational research projects with industries, high employment of our graduates and accredited curriculum.
The event continued with a keynote session by Yang Mulia Ms. Jennifer Voon Nyuk Hiong, Director of Liaison Office, UTB where she shared the impact of industry collaboration to the university as well as best practices. This was then followed by a workshop conducted by Yang Mulia Dayang Hajah Siti Asmahlati Bolkini binti Haji A. Ahmad, Director of Corporate Communications Office, UTB highlighting the university’s strategies and challenges on International Visibility and Global Engagements in Higher Education.
