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 addressed the opportunities and risks of emerging defence technologies; policy and strategic responses to Illegal, Coercive, Aggressive and Deceptive (ICAD) activities, hybrid threats and grey-zone tactics; strategic leadership development for pan-domain operations; and the contribution of a diversified 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 meetings and engagements with counterparts from participating defence education institutions, reflecting the Academy’s commitment to strengthening international professional relationships. These engagements explored opportunities to further enhance cooperation in PME, including wargaming, academic exchanges and institutional partnerships.
ARF HDUCIM serves as an important platform for defence education institutions to exchange best practices, build mutual understanding and advance cooperation in PME. DA RBAF’s participation supports the continued enhancement of its PME programmes and the development of future RBAF leaders capable of addressing 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 Meeting (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 merangkumi peluang dan risiko teknologi pertahanan yang semakin berkembang; pendekatan dasar dan strategik dalam menangani aktiviti Illegal, Coercive, Aggressive and Deceptive (ICAD), ancaman hibrid dan taktik zon kelabu; pembangunan keupayaan kepimpinan strategik bagi operasi merentas domain; serta peranan kepelbagaian dalam angkatan 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 pendekatan strategik dalam memperkasa Pendidikan Ketenteraan Profesional (Professional Military Education) melalui rangka kerja pembangunan pegawai yang berstruktur, kerjasama akademik dengan Universiti Brunei Darussalam melalui Fakulti Pengajian Ketenteraan, serta penerapan kecerdasan buatan (Artificial Intelligence) secara bertanggungjawab. Inisiatif ini bertujuan untuk memperkukuh pemikiran strategik, keupayaan menyesuaikan diri dan pertimbangan profesional dalam kalangan pegawai ABDB bagi meningkatkan keupayaan kepimpinan dalam menghadapi persekitaran keselamatan dan operasi yang semakin kompleks.
Di samping mesyuarat tersebut, delegasi AP ABDB turut mengadakan pertemuan dua hala dan sesi perbincangan bersama wakil institusi pendidikan pertahanan yang mengambil bahagian, mencerminkan komitmen Akademi dalam memperkukuh hubungan profesional di peringkat antarabangsa. Pertemuan tersebut turut meneroka peluang untuk mempertingkatkan kerjasama dalam PME, termasuk simulasi peperangan (wargaming), pertukaran akademik dan kerjasama antara institusi.
ARF HDUCIM merupakan platform penting bagi institusi pendidikan pertahanan untuk berkongsi amalan terbaik, memperkukuh persefahaman bersama dan memajukan kerjasama dalam PME. Penyertaan AP ABDB menyokong usaha berterusan untuk mempertingkatkan program PME Akademi serta membangunkan pemimpin masa hadapan ABDB yang berkeupayaan menghadapi cabaran keselamatan dan operasi yang sentiasa berkembang.