FOUR Bruneian students yesterday left for the United States as part of the second batch of Universiti Brunei Darussalam’s (UBD) Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM) course.
Mohammad Ede Fadle Hj Shamsu, Masitah Hassan and Nur Nasuha Amalina Tajuddin will be spending one semester at the McCourt School of Public Policy in Georgetown University, while Hj Mohammad Asme Hj Amit will be studying at the Goldman School of Public Policy in the University of California, Berkeley.
All four students are civil servants who received MPPM scholarships.
They are expected to undertake policy-related modules during their time in the US, including Islamic governance, public policy administration and public policy analysis.
The scholars will also have a two-week study visit to Washington, DC where they will meet people from key policy-making institutions including the House of Congress, think-tanks and non-profit organidations.
Speaking to The Brunei Times, Nur Nasuha said that she felt that the opportunity would be beneficial, and hoped to be able to apply the learning as soon as she gets back to her work duties.
“One thing we know is what we’ll learn is totally new, so we’ll have learned two sides – the ASEAN-side and the Western-side.
“What we’ll learn can hopefully be brought back and adapted accordingly in line with our Malay Muslim Monarchy (MIB) concept,” she said.
On a personal level, Nur Nasuha said she was also looking forward to the networking opportunities during her time in the US.
“Since I work at UBD, I think knowing people from a top university in the US would be good,” she said.
Among those present at the Brunei International Airport to send the students off yesterday were Dr Pang Li Li and Ms Norainie Ahmad, deputy directors at UBD’s Institute of Policy Studies (IPS).
The MPPM is an 18-month programme offered under IPS where students spend 12 months in UBD and one semester in one of IPS’ partner policy schools in the US.
In 2012, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam announced that 10 MPPM scholarships will be given out per year to members of East-Asia Summit Participating Countries.
The Brunei Times
