HIS Royal Highness Prince (Dr) Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and the Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) visited UBD yesterday.

Present to receive His Royal Highness was Dato Paduka Dr Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi, the Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) and Vice Chancellor of UBD at the library.

His Royal Highness then visited the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS) where His Royal Highness was received by Pg Dr Nurolaini binti Pg Haji Muhammad Kifli, the Acting Dean of PAPRSB IHS.

During the visit, His Royal Highness was briefed on the new building by Zul Amali bin Dato Paduka Hj Idris from Arkitek Idris, which was then followed by a presentation on an eight-bedded simulation ward showcasing different scenarios in which both Bachelor of Health Science (Medicine) and Diploma in Health Sciences (Nursing and Midwifery) students demonstrated a variety of simulation skills such as electro cardiogram, medical bed-side teaching, the correct use of medication, blood-taking, nasso gastric tube insertion, suture, midwives station for post-natal care and abdominal palpation.

An exhibition was also set up to present research activities in PAPRSB IHS which featured four researches on Brunei Epidemiology of Stroke and Multiple Sclerosis (BEST) by Cikgu Agong Lupat; Influence of QiGong classes on somatic symptoms of stress among freshmen students by Cikgu Rozita Haji Tamin, Chan Ee Suen, Teo Yan Choo, Dr Salim Frederics, Alice Lim and Chair Professor Dr David Koh; Potential modulation of T-Cell responses by HDACis by Associate Professor Dr Anne Cunngingham; and Immunology research on ‘How Do Cells In Our Body ‘See’ Viruses?’ by Dr Adi Yusri bin Dato Paduka Idris.

In an interview with the Acting Dean of PAPRSB IHS, Pg Dr Nurolaini told the Bulletin that the concept of the building, in comparison to the previous one, is following the Green concept which is very eco-friendly in addition to having an open-space area to enhance student learning where students can utilise the space provided in the building.

Moreover, the building consists of two Harvard-style theatres that can accommodate about 100 students located on two levels for students to have small group interactions where students may also interact through video conferences in the theatre rooms.

The Green Building features the use of low maintenance materials; maximum day lighting and natural ventilation; water feature with a condensated top-up for cooling; courtyards and roof gardens; rain water harvesting and recycling system; and a permeable grass Crete car parking.

“There is also the UBD clinic situated at the ground floor level for the whole UBD community and also residents in the area that will begin operating somewhere in the future, but for now it is still under discussion,” the Acting Dean said.

Pg Dr Nurolaini also added that the new building also features a General Ward which is used to simulate the eight-bedded simulations, as well as five other simulation centres consisting of an operating theatre, a critical care centre, labour and neonates, as well as emergency and medical centres which are all the first of its kind for the institute. In addition, the simulation centres also include computer-controlled High Fidelity Mannequins to train students in emergency cases as well as Low Fidelity Mannequins for simple training.

Moreover, a workshop entitled ‘Workshop as a teaching method to promote student-centred learning’ was concurrently facilitated by Ms Teo Yan Choo, Lecturer and Teaching Excellence Award Recipient from the PAPRSB IHS, through the Teaching and Learning Centre.

The one-day workshop was intended to share experiences of the facilitator in utilising workshops as one of the teaching and learning strategies in higher education. This was done through simulating and sharing with the participants on her experiences in facilitating ‘positive thinking’ workshop for several cohorts of UBD students registered for stress management with complimentary therapies breadth module.

Through these activities, it was hoped that students will be able to cope well with the demand of being a university student. The participants will have the opportunity to discuss and share on how they can make the most of the workshop as one of the teaching and learning strategies for their own specialty or discipline in their future endeavour.

At the end of the workshop, participants should be able to explore the feasibility of utilising workshop as one of the innovative teaching and learning methods in the daily teaching for higher education and inculcate positive thinking.

The visit at the PAPRSB IHS concluded with a group photo, signing of Lembaran Kenangan parchment and presentation of ‘Discover UBD”, the quarterly university magazine, to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. - Borneo Bulletin (27 May 2014)