TANAH JAMBU, Monday, 4 March 2024 – The 2nd South East Asia Conference of Commandants, co-chaired by the Defence Academy Royal Brunei Armed Forces (DA RBAF) and Defence Academy of the United Kingdom concluded today in a Closing Ceremony held at the DA RBAF Auditorium.
Present as the Guest of Honour was Yang Mulia Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohammad Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim, Acting Commander Royal Brunei Armed Forces. Also in attendance were RBAF Deputy Service Commanders, Acting Deputy Service Commander, Military Directors, Defence Attaches/Advisers and RBAF officers.
The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and a Doa Penutup led by Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Mujib bin Haji Japar, Staff Officer Grade 1 Religious Operations, RBAF Religious Directorate (JAMA’AT), followed by a closing remark by the Guest of Honour. In line with the conference theme, "Professional Military Education in the 21st Century," his speech emphasised digital innovation’s critical role in transforming defence and military affairs. The event proceeded with the presentation of certificates and mementos to the participating Heads of Defence Universities/Military Academies. The ceremony was concluded with a video presentation and a group photo session.
The two-day conference was co-chaired by Colonel Pengiran Sharifuddin bin Pengiran Haji Yusof, Commandant DA RBAF, and Major General Andrew Roe, Commandant of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. The conference was participated by the Heads of Defence Universities, Military Academies and representatives from Australia, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.
This aim of the conference was to discuss and exchange views on various aspects of contemporary military education and strengthen it through mutual collaboration between the armed forces. It also promoted continued dialogue amongst partner nations and Southeast Asian Defence Academy and Institutions to enhance intellectual interoperability in Professional Military Education (PME) while fostering professional development and networking.
The 2nd conference featured delegates’ presentations covering current challenges and solutions in military education. Three guest speakers were also invited to deliver presentations, namely “Digitalisation” by Mike Wadley, Head J7, Research & Education, Defence Academy UK; “Talent Management” by Dr Mahani binti Haji Hamdan, Director of Institute of Policy Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam; and “Critical Challenge: Developing Curriculum” by Assistant Professor Michael Hatherell, Deputy Principal & Head of Teaching & Learning, Australian War College.
A welcoming reception was hosted on 2 March 2024 by the Commandant of DA RBAF marking the first occasion of the conference at the Rizqun International Hotel, Gadong. The conference was officially commenced in the presence of the Commander of Royal Brunei Land Force with an opening ceremony on 3 March 2024, also held at the DA RBAF Auditorium.
The current edition witnessed the conference successfully co-chaired by DA RBAF and the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, and increased participation from partner military academic institutions, which reflects the growing emphasis on the importance of Professional Military Education in the region.
AKADEMI PERTAHANAN ANGKATAN BERSENJATA DIRAJA BRUNEI
MENGADAKAN SOUTH EAST ASIA CONFERENCE OF COMMANDANTS YANG KE-2 2024 KE ARAH MEMPERKUKUHKAN PENDIDIKAN PROFESIONALTENTERA DI ABAD KE-21
TANAH JAMBU, Isnin, 4 Mac 2024 – Akademi Pertahanan Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (AP ABDB) dan Akademi Pertahanan United Kingdom telah menutup tirai South East Asia Conference of Commandants yang Kedua dalam Majlis Penutup yang diadakan di Auditorium AP ABDB pada hari ini.
Hadir selaku Tetamu Kehormat adalah Yang Mulia Brigedier Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohammad Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim, Pemangku Pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei. Turut hadir adalah Timbalan-Timbalan Pemerintah Angkatan Tentera dan Pemangku Timbalan Pemerintah Angkatan Tentera, Pengarah-pengarah Tentera, Atase/Penasihat Pertahanan, dan Pegawai-pegawai ABDB.
Majlis dimulakan dengan bacaan Surah Al-Fatihah dan Doa Penutup yang dipimpin oleh Leftenan Kolonel Abdul Mujib bin Haji Japar, Pegawai Turus Gerakan Agama, Jabatanarah Agama ABDB (JAMA’AT) yang diikuti dengan ucapan penutup dari Tetamu Kehormat. Selaras dengan tema persidangan iaitu "Professional Military Education in the 21st Century", beliau menekankan peranan penting inovasi digital dalam mempengaruhi hal ehwal pertahanan dan ketenteraan. Majlis diteruskan dengan penyampaian sijil dan cenderahati kepada Ketua-Ketua Universiti Pertahanan dan Akademi Tentera dari negara yang turut serta. Majlis diakhiri dengan tayangan video dan sesi bergambar ramai.
Persidangan dua hari ini dipengerusikan bersama oleh Kolonel Pengiran Sharifuddin bin Pengiran Haji Yusof, Komandan AP ABDB, dan Mejar Jeneral Andrew Roe, Komandan Akademi Pertahanan United Kingdom. Persidangan dihadiri oleh Ketua-Ketua Universiti Pertahanan dan Akademi Tentera dan wakil-wakil dari Australia, Kerajaan Kemboja, Republik Demokratik Rakyat Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Republik Filipina, Republik Singapura, Kerajaan Thailand dan Republik Sosialis Vietnam.
Persidangan ini bertujuan untuk membincangkan dan bertukar-tukar pandangan mengenai pelbagai aspek pendidikan tentera yang kontemporari dan sekaligus mengukuhkan kerjasama di antara Angkatan-Angkatan Tentera. Ia juga mempromosikan dialog secara berterusan di kalangan negara-negara sahabat dan Akademi Pertahanan serta Institusi Asia Tenggara untuk meningkatkan interoperabiliti intelektual dalam Pendidikan Profesional Tentera sambil memupuk pembangunan profesional dan rangkaian perhubungan.
Persidangan kedua ini menampilkan pembentangan dari setiap delegasi yang merangkumi topik mengenai cabaran-cabaran semasa dalam pendidikan tentera serta langkah-langkah menanganinya. Tiga pembentang khas juga dijemput untuk menyampaikan topik-topik yang bertajuk "Digitalisation" oleh Mike Wadley, Head J7, Research & Education, Akademi Pertahanan United Kingdom; “Talent Management” oleh Dr Mahani binti Haji Hamdan, Pengarah Institut Pengajian Dasar, Universiti Brunei Darussalam; dan “Critical Challenge: Developing Curriculum” oleh Assistant Professor Michael Hatherell, Deputy Principal & Head of Teaching & Learning, Australian War College.
Sebuah majlis resepsi turut diadakan pada 2 Mac 2024 yang dihoskan oleh Komandan AP ABDB bertempat di Rizqun International Hotel, Gadong sebagai acara permulaan persidangan tersebut. Persidangan tersebut secara rasminya dibuka dengan kehadiran Pemerintah Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei sebagai tetamu kehormat di Majlis Pembukaan pada 3 Mac 2024 yang mengambil tempat di Auditorium AP ABDB.
Edisi kali ini menyaksikan persidangan yang dipengerusikan bersama diantara AP ABDB dan Akademi Pertahanan United Kingdom, dan juga peningkatan penyertaan dari Insitusi-Institusi Akademik Pertahanan, yang mencerminkan penekanan mengenai Pendidikan Profesional Tentera yang semakin pesat berkembang di rantau ini.
