ONE of the best young minds from Brunei has graduated from the University of Warwick with a First Class Degree (with Honours).
Vance Tan Zong Hao, who has achieved the top grade in an integrated Masters in Civil Engineering at the university’s School of Engineering, enjoyed massive cheers yesterday as he received his degree from Vice Chancellor Professor Stuart Croft at a ceremony attended by the Director of Studies from Brunei’s High Commission, Ahmad Faisal bin Haji Zainal Abidin.
Zong Hao came to the UK on a scholarship provided by Ministry of Education, and he joined the University of Warwick in 2012.
He expressed gratitude and deepest appreciation to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for the opportunity to pursue his higher education in the UK through the Ministry of Education scholarship.
Alongside his consistent academic successes, Zong Hao has also been active on campus and in the wider world.
He is currently Information Secretary for the Brunei Students’ Union (in the UK and Eire), and was President of Bruwick (the Brunei Warwick Society) during 2013/14.
Zong Hao was also Student Liaison Officer with the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Structural Engineers, and Course Representative at Warwick for Civil Engineering in the third and fourth years of his degree.
A proud moment for Vance Tan Zong Hao
Furthermore, he was the Chair of Warwick Civil and Structural Engineering (CASE) Society in 2014, a society which he set up to inspire younger engineering students to pursue a career in Civil Engineering.
Speaking of his time at the University of Warwick, Zong Hao said, “When I was applying for universities through UCAS during my A-Levels, I envisaged that Warwick University would lay an excellent groundwork for my research career and the recent Research Excellence Framework which nationally ranked Warwick 3rd in educational research intensity confirmed my initial intuitions.
“I joined Warwick with a long-term ambition to contribute sustainably to Brunei Darussalam by advancing the state-of-the-art through my research. I believe that my exposure to an internationally-minded and diverse environment will enable me to play a role in Brunei to remain globally competitive through an integrated knowledge-based economy that is both adaptable and relevant to current markets.
“To have graduated from a Russell Group university is personally an exciting prospect, and I pay tribute to the Ministry of Education in Brunei as well as the Brunei Students Unit in London who have been very supportive of my academic journey at Warwick.
“I thank the High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to the United Kingdom and Nothern Ireland Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin for sending his congratulations and appreciate the attendance of Ahmad Faisal today at the degree ceremony on the high commissioner’s behalf.”
Ahmad Faisal said he’s very proud of Zong Hao: “It is an honour to attend Vance’s graduation today. We feel really proud of his achievement, and we would like to thank the University of Warwick for its support, not only for Vance, but all the Bruneian students here.”
“I believe that Warwick works hard and is dedicated to supporting Bruneian students, so we’re really proud of the university and we’re proud of our students here. I hope Vance’s achievement will inspire other students,” he went on to say.
Zong Hao is continuing his studies at the University of Warwick, having been accepted to study for a PhD in Coastal Engineering in September 2016, under the supervision of Dr Jonathan Pearson.
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