A N T I - H Y P E R T E N S I O N R E S E A R C H B Y T E A M A T P A P R S B I H S P R E S E N T E D A T P E S T A K O N V OResearch by a postgraduate Biomedical Science student at PAPRSB IHS, Syahirah Hj Shahlehi, under the supervision of Dr. Mark Petalcorin (Associate Professor at IHS) was highlighted during the Pesta Konvo, held on the 16th of August 2018 at Universiti Brunei Darussalam’s (UBD) Botanical Research Centre.  Syahirah’s research focuses on characterizing the anti-hypertensive effects of an ethnomedicinal herb, Gynura procumbens or “Sambung Nyawa” in Malay, which is known among the elderly folks of Brunei as a traditional remedy for high blood pressure. Syahirah and her supervisor are aiming to devise ways to improve the efficacy of Gynura procumbens plant extracts for future clinical use. The Pesta Konvo event was officially launched by His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda (Dr.) Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Ibni Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Pro Chancellor of UBD. Also present at the opening ceremony were UBD Council Members; Deputy Minister of Education, Datin Seri Paduka Dr. Hajah Romaizah Haji Mohd Salleh; Vice-Chancellor of UBD, Datin Dr. Hajah Anita Binurul Zahrina POKLWDSS Hj Awg Abdul Aziz; foreign dignitaries and prominent officials from government agencies. This annual event is held in conjunction with UBD’s convocation ceremony to showcase outstanding and creative research by students across UBD as well as alumni’s entrepreneurial projects. B E Y O N D | J U L Y T O S E P T . 2 0 1 8 | I S S U E 1 4A U N - Q A T R A I N I N G C O U R S E F O R A C C O M P L I S H I N G P R O G R A M M E A S S E S S M E N T ( T I E R 1 )The ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) was established to promote quality assurance in higher education institutions, in collaboration with regional and international bodies of the ASEAN community. The AUN-QA Training Course for accomplishing programme assessment (Tier 1) was conducted at the PAPRSB IHS, UBD from the 7th to the 10th August 2018. The event was organized by UBD under the university’s initiative to ensure quality assurance for all GenNEXT programmes. The three and a half-day workshop was attended by academics and quality assurance division officers from higher institutions across Brunei Darussalam. The training was conducted by AUN-QA certified trainers, Dr. Evangeline P. Bautista from Ateneo, Philippines and Dr. Tan Kay Chuan from National University Singapore (NUS). The main objective of the workshop was to provide participants with an introduction to AUN-QA framework and the various AUN-QA criteria. During the training, participants were introduced to the AUN-QA framework definition, interpretation of the AUN-QA criteria for programme level, application of the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) approach to self-assessment at programme level, the requirements of self-assessment report (SAR) and the AUN-QA assessment process. The quality assurance assessment will enable an institution, system or programme to identify any gaps and implement relevant policies and mechanisms to ensure high quality international academic standards are achieved and maintained. Syahirah Hj Shahlehi (right), a PhD candidate in Biomedical Science (under the supervision of Dr. Mark Petalcorin) presents her research on the hypertensive effect of a local ethnomedicinal plant, Gynura procumbens or “Sambung Nyawa” at Pesta Konvo (16th of August 2018); with Deputy Dean (Research, Graduate Studies and Global Affairs) of PAPRSB IHS, Associate Professor Dr. Anne Cunningham (left) and Dean of PAPRSB IHS, Dr. Hjh Rafidah binti Hj GharifBiomedical Science Programme Leader at PAPRSB IHS (Academic Year 2018/2019), Dr. Suwarni binti Hj Mohd Diah (fifth right) with AUN-QA certified trainers, Dr. Evangeline P. Bautista (fourth right) , Dr. Tan Kay Chuan (sixth right) and other participants at the AUN-QA Training Course to Accomplish Programme Assessment (Tier 1) held at PAPRSB IHS from the 7th to the 10th of August 2018 7
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