Empowering Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity

Building a framework for inclusive higher education in Brunei through collaboration and innovation.

Empowering Equity and Diversity

Brunei Darussalam boasts one of the highest literacy rates in Southeast Asia, with women making up nearly 59% of the country’s tertiary education enrolments. Yet, beyond the classroom, the statistics tell a different story. Women constitute just 40% of the workforce and occupy only 37% of leadership positions. Despite their educational achievements, many women and minority genders in Brunei face systemic barriers that restrict their career advancement, leadership representation, and participation in decision-making. These include inadequate childcare infrastructure, limited public transport options, persistent pay disparities, and entrenched cultural norms that assign caregiving as a woman’s primary role.

The EDI-Brunei-HE project—Embedding Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity in Higher Education: Framework Development and Capacity Building in Brunei directly responds to these challenges. Funded by the British Council under the SEA-UK GEDI Challenge Grant, this 7-month collaboration between the University of the Built Environment (UK) and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (Brunei) seeks to reshape the higher education landscape by embedding principles of gender equality, diversity, and inclusion into institutional frameworks and daily practices.

A key focus of the project is the development of systems to collect and analyse gender-disaggregated data, an essential foundation for understanding and addressing disparities. By identifying structural and cultural barriers through comparative research, EDI-Brunei-HE aims to inform national policy, improve campus-level practices, and align Brunei’s higher education sector with global and regional benchmarks on inclusivity.

The initiative will also involve the design of gender-sensitive curricula, the implementation of capacity-building workshops for academic staff and students, and the creation of mentorship and leadership development programs for underrepresented groups. These actions are not only aimed at empowering individuals but at building resilient institutional cultures that value fairness, safety, and representation for all.

Importantly, EDI-Brunei-HE recognises that transformation cannot happen in isolation. Through close collaboration with stakeholders including university leaders, policymakers, advocacy groups, and international partners such as UNISSA, the University of the West of England, and the University of Plymouth, the project will build a network committed to inclusive growth and sustainable reform. This work is vital to Brunei’s future. As the country aspires to diversify its economy and foster innovation, ensuring equitable access to opportunities in education and the workplace is not just a matter of justice, it is a strategic imperative. Inclusive institutions are more productive, more creative, and more resilient. By addressing gender disparities and institutional biases now, Brunei is investing in a more equitable, capable, and forward-looking society.

The outcomes of EDI-Brunei-HE will include a policy action plan with tailored recommendations, a set of digital training resources, and open-access publications to support wider adoption of GEDI principles. The project will culminate in a national stakeholder forum, presenting findings and fostering commitments across the sector to carry this momentum forward. This is a timely and necessary step toward ensuring that Brunei’s higher education institutions are not only places of academic excellence—but also spaces of equity, empowerment, and inclusive progress.

For further information, please contact:
📧 Dr. Muhammad Qasim Rana, UBE. – m.rana@ube.ac.uk
📧 Dr. Sharifah Nurul Huda Alkaff, UBD – sharifah.alkaff@ubd.edu.bn

Equity in Education

We develop frameworks for embedding equity, diversity, and inclusivity in higher education in Brunei.

Framework Development

We create tailored frameworks to enhance equity, diversity, and inclusivity in educational institutions.

A collection of colorful sticky notes arranged in a grid on a whiteboard, conveying various company values and concepts such as 'Together,' 'Culture,' 'Innovation and Diversity,' 'Vision,' 'Equality,' and 'Respect.' Each note is a different color, including pink, blue, yellow, and green.

Capacity Building

Our capacity building initiatives empower educators and institutions to foster an inclusive learning environment.

Engaging Events

We organize interactive events that promote discussions on equity and inclusivity in higher education.

A flip chart with various colored sticky notes attached, containing words and concepts like 'people 1st', 'respect', 'diversity', 'vision', and 'teamwork'. The notes are predominantly pink, yellow, green, and blue. The background features a wall with geometric, dark gray panels.

A diverse group of people are gathered for a protest or awareness event, holding various colorful signs advocating for disability rights and inclusion. Some signs have text promoting the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in sports and society, with messages like 'I want to turn my disability into ability' and 'Support Disability Rights.' The participants appear engaged and passionate about the cause.

Gallery Showcase

Explore our projects, events, and publications promoting equity and inclusivity.

A group of people is gathered holding various signs and posters advocating for disability rights and empowerment. The signs carry messages promoting inclusivity, equal opportunities, and changing perceptions about disabilities. The crowd consists of diverse individuals, including children and adults.

A whiteboard with colorful sticky notes arranged in a grid. Each sticky note has words related to company values, such as equality, culture, and respect. The sticky notes are pink, blue, yellow, and green, creating a vibrant and organized display.

A vintage typewriter with a piece of paper loaded into it displaying the word 'inclusivity'. The typewriter is placed on a wooden surface, suggesting a rustic or nostalgic setting.

Two flags with vibrant rainbow colors are waving against a clear blue sky. The flags include symbols and additional colors representing diversity and inclusion.