Sultan Hassanal, Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) delivers the titah at the 13th Convocation Ceremony of UTB. - Photo: Borneo Bulletin/ANN
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), in a titah emphasised the importance of not only pursuing academic excellence, but also strengthening teaching and learning facilities for both educators and students.
The Sultan highlighted UTB’s strong culture of innovation through initiatives such as the Crown Prince CIPTA Competition, which for two decades has generated impactful and globally relevant ideas.
The monarch underscored that future innovations must focus on addressing global challenges through artificial intelligence (AI), climate technologies and deep technology – areas that can drive sustainability and reshape industries.
“I hope that all parties will collectively support efforts to ensure that this culture of innovation contributes to sustainable economic development, generating employment opportunities for local graduates,” the Ruler said during the titah in conjunction with the 13th Convocation Ceremony of UTB at the International Convention Centre, Berakas.
The monarch also encouraged graduates to embrace advancements in technology and AI, while exploring digital and creative industries to help diversify the national economy and open up entrepreneurial opportunities.
Sultan Hassanal recalled the launch of the UTB Mushaf Writing Project at the 8th Convocation in 2020, decreeing that the Mushaf shall serve as the leading symbol in every UTB Convocation procession.
The Ruler was pleased that this year, for the first time, the hand-written Mushaf led the convocation procession, symbolising the highest pursuit of knowledge.
Sultan Hassanal also congratulated UTB on its international achievements, including its debut in the Times Higher Education World Rankings 2025 and ranking ninth among Asean universities in engineering and technology in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
These milestones, the monarch said, are aligned with the aspirations of Wawasan Brunei 2035 and the Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) philosophy.
The monarch further commended UTB’s collaborations with industry partners, including projects such as the Solar Farm, Electric Vehicles and EV Charging Stations, as well as innovation labs like the Huawei ICT Academy and CISCO Networking Academy.
Such collaborations, the Ruler said, enhance research and innovation capacity, reinforcing UTB’s role as an innovation hub. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
