VICTORIA, CANADA, Friday, 23 October 2026 –The Defence Academy of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (DA RBAF) participated in the 28th ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defence Universities, Colleges and Institutions Meeting (ARF HDUCIM), held from 20 to 23 October 2026 at Hotel Grand Pacific, Victoria, Canada. The delegation was led by Colonel (U) Azmie Iskandar bin Ariffin, Commandant of DA RBAF, accompanied by Major Mahmud Afifi bin Mohd Kifli, Deputy Chief Instructor of DA RBAF.
The meeting was jointly convened by the Canadian Defence Academy (CDA) and the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), and co-chaired by Major-General Jeannot Boucher, Commander of CDA, and Director Christine June P. Cariño, President of NDCP. Major-General Boucher also delivered the opening remarks on behalf of General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces.
Under the theme “Enhancing Professional Military Education to Adapt to Pan-Domain Operations”, discussions focused on emerging defence technologies, hybrid threats, grey-zone tactics and strategic leadership development. The meeting also addressed policy and strategic responses to Illegal, Coercive, Aggressive and Deceptive (ICAD) activities, as well as the contribution of a diverse military force to operational effectiveness. The meeting featured presentations by representatives from 16 countries, namely Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam.
DA RBAF highlighted its approach to advancing Professional Military Education (PME) through a structured officer development framework, academic collaboration with Universiti Brunei Darussalam through the Faculty of Military Studies, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI). These initiatives aim to develop RBAF officers with the critical thinking, adaptability and professional judgement required to lead effectively in increasingly complex security and operational environments.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the DA RBAF delegation held bilateral discussions with representatives from participating defence education institutions to strengthen professional relationships and explore opportunities for further cooperation. These engagements explored opportunities to further enhance cooperation in PME, including wargaming, academic exchanges and institutional partnerships.
Participation in ARF HDUCIM underscores DA RBAF’s continued commitment to advancing PME and strengthening engagement with regional and international defence education institutions. Such engagements contribute to the Academy’s ongoing efforts to develop capable and adaptable military leaders in response to evolving security and operational challenges.
AKADEMI PERTAHANAN ANGKATAN BERSENJATA DIRAJA BRUNEI MENYERTAI MESYUARAT ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM HEADS OF DEFENCE UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND INSTITUTIONS KE-28
VICTORIA, KANADA, Jumaat, 23 Oktober 2026 – Akademi Pertahanan Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (AP ABDB) telah menyertai Mesyuarat ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defence Universities, Colleges and Institutions (ARF HDUCIM) Ke-28 yang berlangsung dari 20 hingga 23 Oktober 2026 di Hotel Grand Pacific, Victoria, Kanada. Delegasi AP ABDB diketuai oleh Kolonel (U) Azmie Iskandar bin Ariffin, Komandan AP ABDB, dan turut disertai oleh Mejar Mahmud Afifi bin Mohd Kifli, Timbalan Ketua Jurulatih AP ABDB
Mesyuarat tersebut dianjurkan bersama oleh Canadian Defence Academy (CDA) dan National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), serta dipengerusikan bersama oleh Mejar Jeneral Jeannot Boucher, Komander CDA, dan Pengarah Christine June P. Cariño, Presiden NDCP. Mejar Jeneral Boucher turut menyampaikan ucapan pembukaan bagi pihak Jeneral Jennie Carignan, Ketua Staf Pertahanan, Angkatan Bersenjata Kanada.
Bertemakan “Enhancing Professional Military Education to Adapt to Pan-Domain Operations”, perbincangan memberi tumpuan kepada perkembangan teknologi pertahanan, ancaman hibrid, taktik zon kelabu dan pembangunan kepimpinan strategik. Mesyuarat tersebut turut membincangkan pendekatan dasar dan strategik dalam menangani aktiviti Illegal, Coercive, Aggressive and Deceptive (ICAD), serta sumbangan kepelbagaian dalam kalangan anggota tentera terhadap keberkesanan operasi. Mesyuarat ini turut menampilkan pembentangan oleh wakil dari 16 buah negara, iaitu Australia, Negara Brunei Darussalam, Kemboja, Kanada, India, Indonesia, Jepun, Republik Demokratik Rakyat Lao, Malaysia, New Zealand, Filipina, Republik Korea, Singapura, Thailand, Timor-Leste dan Viet Nam.
AP ABDB turut mengetengahkan pendekatannya dalam memperkukuh Pendidikan Ketenteraan Profesional (PME) melalui rangka kerja pembangunan pegawai yang berstruktur, kerjasama akademik dengan Universiti Brunei Darussalam melalui Fakulti Pengajian Ketenteraan, serta penggunaan kecerdasan buatan (AI) secara bertanggungjawab. Inisiatif ini bertujuan untuk melahirkan pegawai ABDB yang mempunyai pemikiran kritis, keupayaan menyesuaikan diri dan pertimbangan profesional yang diperlukan untuk memimpin secara berkesan dalam persekitaran keselamatan dan operasi yang semakin kompleks.
Di samping mesyuarat tersebut, delegasi AP ABDB turut mengadakan perbincangan dua hala bersama wakil institusi pendidikan pertahanan yang mengambil bahagian bagi memperkukuh hubungan profesional dan meneroka peluang kerjasama selanjutnya. Perbincangan tersebut turut merangkumi peluang untuk meningkatkan kerjasama dalam PME, termasuk simulasi peperangan, pertukaran akademik dan kerjasama antara institusi.
Penyertaan dalam ARF HDUCIM mencerminkan komitmen berterusan AP ABDB dalam memperkukuh PME serta mengeratkan hubungan dengan institusi pendidikan pertahanan di peringkat serantau dan antarabangsa. Penglibatan seumpama ini turut menyumbang kepada usaha berterusan Akademi dalam melahirkan pemimpin tentera yang berkebolehan dan berkeupayaan menyesuaikan diri bagi menghadapi cabaran keselamatan dan operasi yang sentiasa berkembang.