(Bandar Seri Begawan, 12th) The University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD) achieved a remarkable leap of over 150 places in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, entering the global 351-400 band for the first time, a significant improvement from last year’s 501-600 range. UBD also ranked seventh in Southeast Asia, further affirming its continuously rising academic reputation and research strength in the region.
Among the five key indicators assessed among 2,191 universities worldwide by Times Higher Education, UBD’s research performance stood out the most. Its “Research Quality” ranking jumped more than 250 places globally, now at 324th; “Research Environment” also improved to 375th, demonstrating UBD’s strength as a high-intensity research university. This reflects the determination and results of UBD’s faculty and students in advancing interdisciplinary research across diverse fields such as biodiversity, energy, precision medicine, genomics, halal science, smart agriculture, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI).
One particularly outstanding achievement is the “KelulutSentri AI” artificial intelligence beehive monitoring system developed by the Faculty of Integrated Technologies (FIT) at UBD. This system utilizes acoustic analysis and AI-triggered cameras to monitor stingless bee hives, instantly detecting intrusions and sending alerts via a mobile app. The technology received the 2025 Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA) Merit Award and helps farmers protect bee colonies and increase honey yield.
This project is led by a FIT PhD candidate, assisted by a master’s student from the Faculty of Science, and guided by experts from FIT, FOS, the School of Digital Science (SDS), the Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER), and the Plant Research Center. The team integrated AI, bee product feature analysis, and hands-on beekeeping experience, transforming conceptual research into an operational prototype, and completed testing at UBD’s Plant Research Center. In the future, the system is planned for commercialization to promote Brunei’s development in digital innovation and sustainable agriculture, while also supporting regional pollinator conservation and biodiversity protection.
To encourage more top talent to pursue academia and research, UBD offers postgraduate scholarships and assistantships, providing competitive and rewarding support for PhD applicants, fostering lifelong learning and innovative research.
In terms of global vision, UBD’s achievements are equally impressive, thanks to the diversity of its faculty and students, international co-authored research, student mobility, and collaborations with universities and enterprises worldwide. Recently, UBD signed memoranda of understanding with Singapore’s Space Faculty Pte Ltd and U.S.-based Northern Trust, further expanding its research scope in space technology and fintech.
IBER also utilizes space-based remote sensing for biodiversity research, assisting Brunei in climate change monitoring, forest restoration, disaster management, and coastal protection, fully showcasing the practical value of space technology in sustainable development.
On the “Outbound Student Mobility” indicator, UBD once again earned a perfect score of 100. Through the Discovery Year program—which includes overseas exchanges, internships, and community service—students are able to step out of their comfort zones, broaden their global perspective and professional networks, and enhance employability.
UBD surpassed the global 75th percentile in the areas of research environment, global outlook, and research quality, with its teaching indicator also above the world median. At this year’s 37th graduation ceremony, UBD awarded 55 doctorate degrees, a new annual record. Overall, UBD showed improvement in 15 out of 18 assessment indicators, fully demonstrating its continued excellence and global impact in teaching and research.
The University of Brunei Darussalam will continue to uphold excellence in teaching and research, promote innovation and the application of knowledge, and cultivate future leaders with forward-thinking vision capable of driving positive change on the global stage.
Among the five key indicators assessed among 2,191 universities worldwide by Times Higher Education, UBD’s research performance stood out the most. Its “Research Quality” ranking jumped more than 250 places globally, now at 324th; “Research Environment” also improved to 375th, demonstrating UBD’s strength as a high-intensity research university. This reflects the determination and results of UBD’s faculty and students in advancing interdisciplinary research across diverse fields such as biodiversity, energy, precision medicine, genomics, halal science, smart agriculture, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI).
One particularly outstanding achievement is the “KelulutSentri AI” artificial intelligence beehive monitoring system developed by the Faculty of Integrated Technologies (FIT) at UBD. This system utilizes acoustic analysis and AI-triggered cameras to monitor stingless bee hives, instantly detecting intrusions and sending alerts via a mobile app. The technology received the 2025 Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA) Merit Award and helps farmers protect bee colonies and increase honey yield.
This project is led by a FIT PhD candidate, assisted by a master’s student from the Faculty of Science, and guided by experts from FIT, FOS, the School of Digital Science (SDS), the Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER), and the Plant Research Center. The team integrated AI, bee product feature analysis, and hands-on beekeeping experience, transforming conceptual research into an operational prototype, and completed testing at UBD’s Plant Research Center. In the future, the system is planned for commercialization to promote Brunei’s development in digital innovation and sustainable agriculture, while also supporting regional pollinator conservation and biodiversity protection.
To encourage more top talent to pursue academia and research, UBD offers postgraduate scholarships and assistantships, providing competitive and rewarding support for PhD applicants, fostering lifelong learning and innovative research.
In terms of global vision, UBD’s achievements are equally impressive, thanks to the diversity of its faculty and students, international co-authored research, student mobility, and collaborations with universities and enterprises worldwide. Recently, UBD signed memoranda of understanding with Singapore’s Space Faculty Pte Ltd and U.S.-based Northern Trust, further expanding its research scope in space technology and fintech.
IBER also utilizes space-based remote sensing for biodiversity research, assisting Brunei in climate change monitoring, forest restoration, disaster management, and coastal protection, fully showcasing the practical value of space technology in sustainable development.
On the “Outbound Student Mobility” indicator, UBD once again earned a perfect score of 100. Through the Discovery Year program—which includes overseas exchanges, internships, and community service—students are able to step out of their comfort zones, broaden their global perspective and professional networks, and enhance employability.
UBD surpassed the global 75th percentile in the areas of research environment, global outlook, and research quality, with its teaching indicator also above the world median. At this year’s 37th graduation ceremony, UBD awarded 55 doctorate degrees, a new annual record. Overall, UBD showed improvement in 15 out of 18 assessment indicators, fully demonstrating its continued excellence and global impact in teaching and research.
The University of Brunei Darussalam will continue to uphold excellence in teaching and research, promote innovation and the application of knowledge, and cultivate future leaders with forward-thinking vision capable of driving positive change on the global stage.