| James Kon |
LOOKING to forge research collaboration on renewable energy, Director-General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri yesterday invited Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) to become a member of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW).
Dr Abdulaziz extended this invitation during his visit to UTB to explore potential collaboration opportunities in academic and research fields.
Upon arrival at the university, the ISESCO Director-General was welcomed by Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Research) of UTB Professor Dr Zuruzi Abu Samah, principal officers and academic staff of UTB.
During the meeting, Dr Abdulaziz listened to a presentation on the academic programmes offered at UTB as well as the research activities, especially on renewable energy, carried out at the university.
“I just heard of the works done by UTB and this has opened the horizon of possible collaborations between ISESCO, its scientific directors as well as colleges and schools and UTB,” Dr Abdulaziz said after the presentation.
“Established in 1982, ISESCO has accomplished many projects in the fields of science and technology, education and culture. We have developed various strategies for developing science and innovation.
“We have created the Centre for Promotion of Scientific Research and the Supreme Council for Education, Science and Culture to implement these strategies,” he pointed out.
“I am impressed with the UTB professors who come from various countries and possess many different experiences. Insya Allah, we will work with UTB through the Ministry of Education. The ministry could help UTB join the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World. The process is very easy and we welcome UTB to join us,” he added.
Currently, Universiti Brunei Darussalam and Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali are members of FUIW.
Concluding his address, Dr Abdulaziz said, “It’s important to maintain our research works on renewable energy like solar, wind and biomass energy. Islamic world is full of these components.
“Oil is not everlasting and when it ends, we will find it hard to power our cities.
“We need to concentrate on renewable energy because it is the future. I encourage the professors here to further increase their research on renewable energy.”