| Azaraimy HH |
UNIVERSITI Brunei Darussalam (UBD) has announced that the country’s flagship tertiary education institution will be offering a very flexible and innovative study-at-your-pace-and-place and choose-your-own-module study programme called ‘Blended Learning Degree’ programme that provides learners the opportunity to customise and align their studies with their own educational needs and career objectives.
The innovative programme gives learners the opportunity to study at their own pace, place and time alongside their career or daily activities.
In a media conference held yesterday, Associate Professor Dr Mohammad Ayub Sadiq, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) of UBD explained that the programme is a work-learn-work-learn programme; an integrated workplace learning that appeals to the general public, or working students, working people, business owners and those who are simply interested to do part-time studies while working or doing business, etc.
The programme is offered through UBD’s Centre for Lifelong Learning (C3L), and the first of this programme – BSc in Digital Business will be offered from January 2017.
Also present at the conference was Professor Abdal-Hakim Hardaker @ Glenn Hardaker, the Director of Centre for Lifelong Learning (C3L) at the UBD, who further explained that in combination with face-to-face tutoring, learners will be utilising an online study platform through the Canvas Online Learning Management system.
Present during the media conference was Hajah Maudena binti Haji Abdul Hamid, Deputy Registrar (Administration), University Liaison Office, UBD.
UBD stated that the first blended learning degree programme, Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Digital Business, is trans-disciplinary covering: Business and Management, Entrepreneurship, Digital Technology, and Financial Literacy.
Associate Professor Dr Mohammad Ayub Sadiq (R), UBD Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and Professor Abdal-Hakim Hardaker @ Glenn Hardaker, the Director of Centre for Lifelong Learning. – AZARAIMY HH
Learners will also be able to customise and choose their specialisation areas in creative industries, tourism and hospitality, environment studies, Halal industries, accounting and finance, and digital technology.
In addition to the degree programme, these modules are also offered to learners as part of continuing professional development.
For example a learner may choose just one module of interest or a package of modules from digital technology or financial literacy. Over time, learners can accumulate modular credits which can lead to a diploma, degree or master’s qualification.
Overall, the opportunity exists to harness learners’ strengths within a negotiated and blended learning approach, offering the learner a flexible, adaptable and sustainable way of gaining a higher educational qualification.
For example, the trans-disciplinary approach towards BSc in Digital Business offers real world knowledge and skills as well as a way to customise learning on a deeper level in a specialised area that is integrated into high growth areas in the Brunei economy.
Graduating students will have to meet the admission requirements prior to applying, whereas non-graduating students can still benefit from any of the available modules, for which the fee is $500 each.
The Centre for Lifelong Learning (C3L) of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) aims to enable innovative approaches towards continuing education, professional development and blended learning by “transforming reaching, inspiring lifelong learning”.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s titah at the recent UBD 28th Convocation stated that His Majesty hoped access to lifelong learning through the Centre for Lifelong Learning (C3L) would contribute significantly to the development of a knowledge-based society and economy. “UBD’s blended learning focus will take note of the Islamic traditions for learning in shaping a new innovative solution for the future where a personalised approach is revived by the use of a blended learning approach that is flexible, adaptable and sustainable for learners,” added Professor Abdal-Hakim Hardaker.
Interested parties can apply by sending an email directly to office.admission@ubd.edu.bn. They will then be sent an application code which will give them access to complete the online admission application. Applications must be received by December 5, 2016.
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