Brunei Minister talks with KHDA about raising standards in education

The visit took place during KHDA's National Day celebrations, and the visitors were shown some of the day's activities before giving a presentation to the Board of Directors about the education landscape of Brunei.

Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of KHDA, said: "We were pleased to have the opportunity to meet and exchange information about education, and look forward to co-operating with each other in the future. We both share a passion for improving the quality of education we give to our children and understand the challenges that we each face very well."

Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director, Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City, members of TECOM Investments, said: "Our cluster is keen to build ties and promote academic exchanges between the UAE and South-East Asia. The fact that Brunei is ranked the second highest in the Human Development Index among the South-East Asian nations, after Singapore, reflects the importance given to knowledge and education building in the country.

"Academic exchanges with other regions are the key to the overall development of our educational sector and enhanced intercultural understanding. We are delighted to welcome the Minister from Brunei, a country that shares UAE's strategy of investing in higher education to reap long-term benefits."

Delegation members included Mr Daud Mahmud, Permanent Secretary, Minister of Education (Higher Education); Dr Zulkarnain Hanafi, Vice Chancellor, University of Brunei Darussalam; Dr Omar Khalid, Vice Chancellor, Institute of Technology Brunei Darussalam; Mr Abdul Aziz Hassan, Acting Assistant Director, Permanent Secretary Office; Ms. Kamaliah Abdula Rahman, Executive Secretary, National Education Council; and His Excellency Dato Haji Adnan bin Haji Zainal, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to the UAE.