The University of Queensland (UQ) has signed an agreement to develop a new $10 million residential college for Australian and international students at its St Lucia campus in Brisbane.
UQ has signed the agreement with private Brunei organisation Human Resource Development Services (HRDS) to accommodate up to 200 undergraduate and postgraduate students, including families.
UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay said the college would be built on a two acre site at Walcott Street near the western periphery of the campus.
'The project, to be known as Paduka College, will be designed and planned in consultation with the University,' Professor Hay said.
'The University and HRDS have undertaken a design competition for the development, which will comply with University requirements. Up to 50 percent of places will be reserved for the use of students from Brunei.'
Chairman of HRDS, Haji Damit Abu Bakar said Brunei had been seeking a destination for high quality education for Brunei's future generations.
"We have identified The University of Queensland because of its location and world-class teaching and research facilities," he said.
Under the agreement, HRDS would provide student accommodation on, or near, the University's St Lucia campus, facilitating a flow of Brunei students, and strengthening the relationship between Brunei and the University.
"HRDS will finance accommodation at Walcott Street, St Lucia, in a precinct of the campus near three existing residential colleges - Cromwell and Grace Colleges, and International House," he said.
"The University will grant a long-term lease of 50-plus years, while HRDS will establish a trust fund into which some income from the College will be placed.
"Income from the trust will support a range of University scholarships, research funds, and prizes, particularly benefiting the local community, Brunei Darussalam, or enhancing the relationship between the University and Brunei Darussalam."
Australia's High Commissioner for Brunei Doug Chester said the signing of the agreement would further strengthen ties between Australia and Brunei.
"Geographically, we are close neighbours, and access between the two countries is improving with a tri-weekly air service by Royal Brunei airlines," he said.
The major international investment agreement is the latest development in a three-year partnership between Brunei and UQ, which has also involved;
* The offering of UQ Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma programs in Management and Financial Management in Brunei;
* The development of a University Foundation Studies program in Brunei for students wanting to undertake undergraduate degree programs at the University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD) or The University of Queensland;
* UQ's appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of UBD, Professor Dato Dr Haji Mahmud Saedon Bin Awang Othman as a visiting Professor in Islamic Law;
* Discussions to establish a UQ Medical School in Brunei;
* Discussions between UQ, the Brunei Ministry of Health and HRDS to establish a Brunei Institute of Medical Research to address areas such a biotechnology, tropical medicine and public health planning and management.
Professor Hay said he looked forward to developing further the relationship between UQ and Brunei.
'This agreement, together with past initiatives, will provide the basis for a long-term relationship involving other projects of mutual benefit,' he said.
For further information, contact Peter McCutcheon at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 1088, mobile 0413 380012, email p.mccutcheon@mailbox.uq.edu.au)
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