The first cohort of the Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM) Programme shared interesting outcomes of their studies in a research forum hosted by the Institute of Policy Studies on 8th June. The two-hour interactive session brought together an audience comprising students, members of the administrative and teaching staff at various faculties of UBD.
The scholars, who recently returned from the USA where they had been placed at various public policy partner universities, presented their research projects in groups of four. The research topics had been chosen on the basis of the scholars’ interests as well as the public policy needs of Brunei Darussalam, including organisational excellence, disaster management, food security, and education and socio-economic development.
The first group presented the topic “Towards Organisational Excellence”, which takes case studies of electricity sector planning, performance and outlook of the USA, China and Singapore; and attempted to derive a policy approach that is suitable for Brunei Darussalam’s needs. In presenting the topic “Towards a Disaster-Resilient ASEAN: Building the Capacity of Brunei Darussalam in Disaster Management”, the second group talked about natural disasters being a common occurrence in the region and explored various avenues through which Brunei could implement Disaster Management programs that would eventually be used as a model in ASEAN Region. They explored the use of Geohazard Maps, Incident Command Systems, and a creation of a Think Tank.
On the topic of “Food Security: Developing Youth Participation in Rice Production”, Group Three based their research on current concerns of Brunei’s overdependence on imported rice and high youth population. The scholars explored various ways through which Brunei could ensure food security in the future with the involvement of youth participation in rice production. Finally, the fourth group provided an analysis on “Brunei Education Policy and Socio-Economic Development” where the scholars discussed the problems that tend to arise from non-data driven education policies and explained the various ways in which more availability of data on education programs could help improve the overall socio-economic development of Brunei Darussalam.
The research projects are part of a requirement for the award of the Master degree. The research project was evaluated in phases with the presentation being one of the phases. Comments and inputs from the audience would be incorporated in the final reports of the scholars, from which they will receive their final score.
IPS’ Adjunct Professor, Professor Hj Amin Abdul Aziz, who moderated the presentations, shared that the policy partner institutes and the universities at which the scholars were placed for six months, had all sent in their positive comments on the scholars.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Joyce Teo Siew Yean, the Director of IPS and Assistant Vice Chancellor (Global Affairs) expressed her satisfaction at the positive transformation the scholars over the course of the programme. “We are now confident that these scholars are knowledgable and competent enough to undertake big roles in public related positions in the public sector. We all can see the positive transformation in them,” she said.
The first cohort is due to graduate at this year’s Convocation ceremony. The second cohort, currently in their second semester, is expected to leave for the USA in January 2016, while the third cohort will join in December 2015.
UBD introduced the MPPM as part of its vision to become a first class international university. The 18-month programme is designed to cater to individuals who seek to make influential and relevant impacts in public affairs, offering concentration to Islamic Governance, Energy and Environmental Policy and Management.
