BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Oct 14 — Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, the Queen of Malaysia, visited the Gadong campus of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (Unissa) today to officiate the Malaysia Book Corner, which showcases collaborative research publications between Brunei and Malaysia.
Her Majesty, who is on a state visit to Brunei with His Majesty the King, Sultan Ibrahim starting yesterday, was accompanied by Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah as the Royal Escort.
Raja Zarith Sofiah arrived at the university library at 2.15pm and was welcomed by Brunei’s Minister of Education Datin Seri Setia Romaizah Md Salleh, Unissa Rector Datuk Seri Setia Norarfan Zainal, and other members of the university.
Also present were Malaysia’s Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir and Grand Chamberlain of Istana Negara Datuk Azuan Effendy Zairakithnaini.
After the screening of the Unissa corporate video, Her Majesty officiated the launch of the Malaysia Book Corner and signed the commemorative book in conjunction with her visit to the university.
Raja Zarith Sofiah later visited the Al-Imtiyaz Gallery, the Cooperation Exhibition, and the Digital Mushaf Studio at Brunei’s second public university, and the first in Islamic higher education.
Her Majesty also participated in a photo session with the Unissa community before leaving.
Earlier in his welcoming speech, Norarfan said that Unissa's relationship with Malaysian higher education institutions is highly significant, with the presence of Malaysian scholars since Unissa's establishment helping to further develop the university.
“Currently, 24 per cent or 11 of Unissa's international academic staff are Malaysians,” he said.
The university is also actively engaging in high-impact research collaboration with regional countries, especially with higher education institutions in Malaysia, having signed 33 joint research projects with 15 Malaysian universities.
“Strategic collaborations are also carried out through activities such as the Study Abroad Programme and Student Exchange Programme with Malaysian universities like the International Islamic University of Malaysia, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and the Management and Science University.
“Other activities include mobility and internship programmes between Unissa and Malaysian universities. Currently, six students from UPSI (Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris) and two from UKM (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) are participating in these programmes at Unissa,” Norarfan said.
He added that Unissa's curriculum was designed to focus on spiritual and intellectual development, with the al-Qu'ran al-Karim course as the university’s core or compulsory subject for all study levels.
Unissa was established on January 1, 2007, and operates two campuses, one in Gadong and another in Sinaut.
The university has 1,900 students, including 158 international students, 12 of whom are Malaysians, with 121 academic staff.
— Bernama
