Education
Since 1992, the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC) has regularly hosted groups from institutes of higher learning and students from local and foreign schools that participate in various educational activities on tropical rainforest biodiversity. KBFSC’s excellent location, infrastructure, amenities and ease of access to field sites greatly facilitate the organisation and of field courses and study visits.
KBFSC has often been used by many universities for conducting field courses on tropical biology and for teaching graduate/undergraduate modules. The Biology Programme of UBD has extensively been using KBFSC as a venue for its Field Ecology courses. Other faculties of UBD have periodically used KBFSC for teaching modules in Environmental Policy, Geography, Education Management and Leadership. Making biodiversity as their theme, some faculties have even conducted courses in photography, art and design at KBFSC.
Several foreign universities have conducted field courses at KBFSC, each often focusing on different themes on tropical biology. Some of the universities include Griffith University (Australia), University of Vienna (Austria), University of Würzburg (Germany), Queen Mary University of London (UK), Princeton University (US), Palacký and Ostrava Universities (Czech Republic), Yale-Nus College (Singapore), James Madison University (US), University of Otago (New Zealand) and University of Sunshine Coast (Australia).
KBFSC offers an environmental education programme to students at secondary school and pre-university levels. The programme comprises a 4 days/3 nights residential field course that is designed to enable students to experience, discover and explore the natural environment of the Ulu Temburong rainforest. This is to convey a better understanding about the environment, especially with regard to its protection and conservation for the wellbeing of both the society and environment. Thus, the programme objectives are:
- To provide opportunities for the young generation to experience and engage with the natural environment.
- To impart knowledge on the tropical rainforest and biodiversity and to enhance environmental understanding.
- To instil the value of environmental appreciation and responsibility in order to promote biodiversity and environmental conservation.
- To inspire interest in Biological Sciences among the young generation.
Other than field courses, KBFSC have also organised numerous study visits by foreign university students enrolled in various ‘summer/exchange programmes’ organised by UBD. The objective of the study visit to KBFSC to allow students to explore and learn about the rich biodiversity in Brunei Darussalam. Some of the participating universities include University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (USA), University of South Australia (Australia), Universiti Malaya (Malaysia), Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), National University of Singapore (Singapore), Mahasarakam University (Thailand), Mahidol University (Thailand), Hong Kong University of Technology and Science (Hong Kong), Rakuno Gakuen University (Japan), Kagawa University (Japan), Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (Japan), Waseda University (Japan), and Ibaraki University (Japan).
Please email us at: office.iber@ubd.edu.bn
