B E Y O N D | J A N . T O M A R . 2 0 2 2 | I S S U E 2 7Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) held its 33rd Convocation event on the 29th of January this year at theChancellor’s Hall to celebrate successful graduates who have completed their programmes with theuniversity. This delayed ceremony went ahead despite the nation still battling its third wave of COVID-19pandemic at the time, with adherence to public health measures currently in place by the Ministry of Health, Brunei. A series of mandatory requirements was requested from attendees prior to the event which includesperforming COVID-19 PCR swab test days before and antigen rapid test on the day of the event. A total of 1060 graduating students were celebrated, which included 8 PhDs, 282 Master’s degree, 747Bachelor’s degree, 19 Graduate Diploma, and 4 Diploma recipients. The event was graced by His Majesty theSultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Chancellor of UBD who conferred the PhD and Bachelor'sdegrees in the morning session. Accompanying His Majesty was His Royal Highness Prince Doctor Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, as Pro-Chancellor ofUBD who graced the afternoon session for the remaining graduates. In her welcoming speech, the Vice Chancellor of UBD Datin Dr. Hajah Anita Binurul Zahrina binti Pehin OrangKaya Laila Wijaya Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz highlighted various achievements UBD has accomplished inthe past year via collaborative efforts on both national and international levels. UBD lent its support to theMinistry of Health in its National Vaccination Programme effort by establishing the UBD Vaccination Centre(VC) at PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences. The UBD VC began its operating soon after the second wave ofpandemic started in August 2021 and administered close to 80,000 vaccinations until the end of 2021. It waspowered by over 300 volunteers made of both UBD and Politeknik Brunei staff and students. UBD, particularlyacademic researchers from PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, together with members of the Ministry ofHealth have also established a new international research collaboration with Duke-NUS Medical SchoolSingapore which aims to investigate the efficacy of current COVID-19 vaccines that are being rolled out tothe Bruneian population as part of the Brunei National Vaccination Programme. A total of 130 students of PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences graduated in this ceremony which included 32postgraduates and 98 undergraduates. The ceremoney witnessed the graduation of 1, 2, 18, and 2 studentswho were conferred with PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Master in Public Health, Master in Medicine, and Masterof Health Science by Research (Nursing), respectively. Additionally, the faculty is proud to celebrate thesuccess of a total of 9 full-time nurses who are our first cohort graduates from Master in Nursing. Twenty fiveand 28 students of BHSc in Biomedical Sciences and in Nursing & Midwifery were also celebrated during theceremony. 7 of our students who graduated with BHSc in Pharmacy are currently undergoing theirprofessional training at the Ministry of Health Brunei. Thirteen students who completed their BHSc in Dentistryprogramme are also currently pursuing their training at two of our partner dental schools - University ofDundee and Newcastle University. All 25 of our graduates in BHSc Medicine are also currently continuing theirmedical training at our partner medical schools which include University of Aberdeen, University of Adelaide,Australia National University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, University College Cork, University of Glasgow, A big appreciation goes out to all of our faculty staff members for their contribution and to our students fortheir perseverance and hard work. Congratulations to all! 6P A P R S B I H S G R A D U A T E S C E L E B R A T E DA T U B D ' S 3 3 R D C O N V O C A T I O NC E R E M O N YLeft photo: HIs Majesty addressing the ceremony with his titah for UBD's 33rd Convocation. Right photo: Datin Dr. Hajah Anita(fourth from left), UBD Vice Chancellor, in a commemorative photo with PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences 2021 graduates andacademic staff.actionURI(https://www.southampton.ac.uk/medicine/about/internat_link.page):
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