BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) has surged more than 150 places in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, breaking into the global Top 351-400, a significant rise from last year’s 501–600 position.
UBD is also ranked Top seven among universities in South-East Asia, reaffirming its growing reputation and academic excellence in the region.
Among the five performance pillars used to rank 2,191 institutions, research emerged as UBD’s strongest area.
The university’s Research Quality jumped over 250 places to 324th globally, while its Research Environment rose to 375th – affirming UBD’s status as a very high research Intensive institution. This reflects the commitment of its staff and students to impactful, interdisciplinary research across fields like biodiversity, energy, precision medicine, genomics, halal science, smart farming, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI).
A standout example is the AI-powered ‘KelulutSentri AI’ system developed at UBD’s Faculty of Integrated Technologies (FIT). Designed to monitor stingless bee hives, it uses acoustic analysis and AI-triggered cameras to detect intruders and send real-time alerts via a mobile app. The system, which won a Merit Award at the Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA) 2025 , helps farmers protect colonies and boost honey production.
Led by a PhD candidate from FIT and supported by a Master’s student from the Faculty of Science (FOS), the project is supervised by experts from FIT, FOS, School of Digital Sciences (SDS), Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER), and UBD Botanical Research Centre (BRC), contributing expertise that span AI systems, stingless bee product characterisation, and practical field insights as a hobbyist beekeeper.
The multidisciplinary collaboration advanced the system from a research concept to a working prototype that has been tested at UBD BRC.
Plans are underway to explore commercialisation of the system. With rising global interest in stingless bee farming, ‘KelulutSentri AI’ is well-positioned to contribute not only to Brunei’s aspirations in digital innovation and sustainable agriculture but also to the wider regional agenda of pollinator protection and biodiversity conservation.
To encourage great minds to collaborate and make significant contributions to research and academia in a variety of areas, UBD offers the UBD Graduate Research Scholarship and the UBD Bursary Award to interested PhD applicants. Competitive and highly rewarding, these two schemes promote lifelong learning through impactful studies.
According to the rankings, UBD also excelled in International Outlook, driven by strong performance in international co-authorship, staff and student diversity, and student mobility. Strategic partnerships through memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with leading institutions and industry players have strengthened UBD’s global network, enhancing research collaboration and boosting graduate employability.
One of the most recent MoUs signed was with Space Faculty Pte Ltd, Singapore which officially broadens UBD’s research vision towards space and technological innovation. The Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER) has used remote sensing technologies, traditionally utilised for Earth observation from space, to advance research on biodiversity and the environment.
Space-based technologies offer practical applications for Brunei Darussalam, from monitoring climate change and supporting reforestation, to enhancing disaster management and safeguarding the nation’s coastline and marine ecosystems. Another academic-industry collaboration was forged by the signing of an MoU with Northern Trust Corporation to develop digital and financial technology (fintech) talent.
UBD School of Business and Economics (UBDSBE) and Northern Trust Corporation will work together on research and development initiatives in areas such as digital assets, the application of AI, and emerging financial market trends. These efforts aim to equip Bruneian students with practical knowledge and global best practices in digital and fintech innovation.
In the Studying Abroad indicator, which assesses the provision of international learning opportunities for domestic students, UBD scored a consistent perfect score of 100.
Through the Discovery Year, particularly the Study Abroad Programme, internships and Community Outreach Programme in other countries, UBD students have been able to step out of their comfort zones, learn about other cultures, and expand their professional networks.
Their academic pursuits in partner universities and collaborative efforts with international organisations allowed them to gain many other essential skills which helps to improve their marketability to potential employers.
UBD’s scores in Research Environment, International Outlook, and Research Quality are above 75th percentile, while Teaching exceeded the global median. Teaching has shown significant progress over the years, evident during the 37th Convocation Ceremony this year where there was a total of 55 PhD graduates which is the highest number to date.
Overall, UBD improved in 15 out of 18 performance indicators, underscoring its commitment to academic excellence and global relevance.
UBD remains steadfast in ensuring the highest quality of teaching and research – driving innovation that empowers future-ready graduates to lead positive change across industries, communities, and nations. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
