| Azlan Othman |
THE construction of the new permanent campus of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) in Temburong will be expedited to realise its aim of becoming a genuine international Islamic university.
This was said by Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal, Rector of UNISSA, while welcoming some 324 students taking post-graduate, bachelor’s degree and diploma courses at the Islamic university yesterday.
The surge in the number of international students pursuing their studies in UNISSA over the years and the widening of strategic cooperation with regional and international institutions are a sign that UNISSA can move further and fulfil the potential of becoming a hub for Islamic higher education in the region in the near future, the rector said.
“UNISSA not only has gained a place in the hearts of the people in the country, but also attracted regional and international attention,” said Dr Haji Norarfan.
“Judging by the current development and future prospects, UNISSA is willing to expand and widen its faculty and academic programmes to meet the present needs of the nation.”
“As an Islamic university, we support the Islamic context which becomes the basic core of the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) concept. We are also the catalyst to realise the aspiration of Brunei Darussalam as a Zikir Nation (remembrance of Allah the Almighty) and one of the institutions responsible in generating the development of Ummah based on the Islamic teachings of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah,” the rector added.
Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal, Rector of the Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA). – PHOTOS: AZLAN OTHMAN
Photo shows new students of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) during the oath taking ceremony
“UNISSA in its capacity as a knowledge centre that possesses the expertise and credibility should become the pillar towards the country’s Vision 2035 to produce educated, highly skilled and successful people by embracing holistic Islamic values,” said Dr Haji Norarfan.
“We would not want to shape a ‘knowledgable and excellent community without a soul’ which in the end would tarnish the civilisation of the country itself”.
UNISSA is not only producing excellent students academically, but it is the university’s intention to produce excellent students who possess a multitude of capabilities based on integrated confidence, theoretical and practical knowledge in the development of an educated generation with high social responsibility that showcases dedicated leadership skills.
Dr Haji Norarfan also urged the new students to enroll in social and community work which is obligatory at UNISSA and gives a correct understanding on Islam according to the religious practice that becomes the basis of the Islamic community in the Sultanate.
The students later took their oaths in a ceremony led by Muhd Fuad bin Matahir, first year student from the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences at UNISSA.
Throughout the five-day long orientation, the new students were introduced to various programmes and given briefings on the administration affairs of UNISSA, university’s regulations, academic courses, co-curriculum and activities related to the students’ development.
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