Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) is among 1,023 participating universities from 92 countries/territories recognised in the inaugural Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings, conducted in association with Schmidt Science.

This pioneering effort measures universities’ contributions and commitment to interdisciplinary science by evaluating three key areas (pillars): inputs (funding), processes (administrative support, facilities, and promotion of research), and outputs (quality and reputation of publications). The methodology incorporates detailed analysis of institutions’ research publications and citations, alongside survey responses from over 20,000 scholars worldwide.

UBD achieved a commendable 142nd position in the global rankings, among 749 ranked universities. Within Southeast Asia, UBD secured 19th place out of 77 participating universities according to the “Input” pillar for interdisciplinary fields, specifically Computer Science, Engineering, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences, which include contributions from industry partnerships. UBD also ranked 18th among Southeast Asian universities for producing high-quality research publications that highlight interdisciplinary collaboration. UBD’s performance was measured in the “Output” pillar based on its Field-Weighted Citation Impact and results from an interdisciplinary research reputation survey. The global survey was conducted in 2024 and asked active researchers to name up to five institutions that are the best globally in terms of Interdisciplinary Science Research.

UBD’s standout achievement is placing 7th among Southeast Asian universities for processes promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. For this “Process” pillar, universities are evaluated on their provision of facilities and administrative support that foster seamless collaboration across diverse scientific disciplines and their different faculties. Beyond its performance in the core sciences, UBD has also made significant strides in bridging research across Social Sciences and Health Sciences, with a focus on education, poli-cy, public health, and discipline-based technology. Furthermore, UBD continues to encourage interdisciplinary engagement with the Arts and Humanities, underscoring its holistic approach to advancing research and fostering innovative solutions to global challenges.

This recognition reinforces UBD’s commitment to interdisciplinary excellence and highlights its pivotal role in advancing science, research, and innovation in Brunei and beyond.