UBD's Study Abroad Programme Beneficial

Bandar Seri Begawan Final year students who took part in the Study Abroad Programme organised by Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) said that they received a lot of benefits from the programme and encouraged others to apply.Norhazemah Kalong 23 who is doing a Bachelor's Degree in Geography, was in Thailand for 28 days and said that she learnt a lot during her time there.

She said When I was in Thailand, I actually learnt about tourism such as hotel and crisis management, even though I don't study these subjects.By attending a lot of cultural visits, she said that learning other people's way of life and experience has changed her.I am more confident in myself than I was before, and my advice to students is that they should at least try to apply for the programme because it will make you think outside the box and you will get to experience what you can't find in textbooks, she said.

Md Akhimullah Abu Bakar 22 a Maths and Chemistry Bachelor student participated in a lot of activities whilst he was in Korea. He said that the programme offered him the opportunity to learn from Korea's best practises, especially in terms of energy conservation.One thing that Brunei can improve on is its facilities when it comes to energy conservation. For example, everywhere I see in Korea everyone is saving electricity all over the place and I think that Brunei should be practising it here, he said.

Being the leader of the Bruneian delegation, he said that they participated in a lot of activities when they were in Korea such as exposing Bruneian culture through performances as well as the Asian Food Festival.We gave them a traditional performance and introduced them to Laila rice that was complimented with pais udang marinated prawn with spices grilled in Nyirik leaf, sago pudding and bamboo shoot cooked with coconut milk, he said.He added 'The Koreans really enjoyed the pais udang because it was quite spicy.

Md Akhimullah said that students should join this programme because not only will they learn a new culture and gain new friends, but they get to be ambassadors of their country by exposing their customs to an entirely different culture.Md Aziman Nasir, 22, majoring in Public Policy and Administration, was in Japan for a one year study programme. He said that the teaching methods there were almost similar to Brunei and that they also participated in projects that showcased Bruneian culture. You also make wonderful friends there. I spent a lot of time with my foreign friends from France and Israel, he said.

He explained that the programme is only available for students in certain faculties and that one of the criteria required the student to maintain a Grade C average in their first year as well as active participation in activities in UBD.I was active in my first and second year, so that helped quite a lot in the selection process, he said.Second year student Maisarah Khairunnisa Abdul Halim, doing a Bachelor of Science in Education, said that there was an attraction to apply for the study abroad programme. She said although Japan was not her first priority, she has heard of their outstanding marine facilities.

I hear Japan has great facilities when it comes to marine studies, like a huge aquarium to do their research. I want to pursue Marine Biology in the future and I think this could help me, she said.She added that the students she talked to about the programme have been very helpful and informative.