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Universiti Brunei Darussalam

Centre for Advanced Research (CARe)

Youth Civic Engagement and Participation in Brunei’s Development: Unveiling Opportunities, Navigating Challenges, and Assessing Impacts. 

Principle Investigators: Dr Siti Mazidah Haji Mohamad and Dr Slesman Ly@Sulaiman Mohd Ali

Project Period: 2024- 2026
Funding amount: BND 19, 676.40

Executive Summary

This research is motivated by the relatively low to moderate participation and interest amongst young people in civic engagement, political participation and participation in development as indicated by Brunei’s Youth Development Index (YDI) 2018, nationwide research covering over 2000 youth in the country. The Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS), Brunei found that despite high loyalty to the country (95 per cent) among the young people in their study, approximately 50 per cent are not actively participating and volunteering (CSPS YDI Survey 2018). Their main findings indicate that the overall youth development score, which is at 65.1 (Good) did not meet the well-developed or Very Good quartile. They recommended that an overall YDI of 75 (Very Good) is needed to meet the Wawasan Brunei 2035 with the target of high standards of living. Based on these findings and recommendations, this proposed research examines the current state of Bruneian youths’ engagement in civic engagements and participation in the country’s development, the challenges faced by the already active youth, an analysis of the effects of their involvement on the nation’s development and uncovering the opportunities available to Bruneian youth. This research is hoped to offer a way forward for the state of Brunei to step up its youth-focused initiatives and materialise the state’s narrative of Bruneian youths as future-ready agents of change, in civic engagement and political participation and integration.

Brief Objectives

  1. To investigate the reasons for (and factors influencing) the currently low civic engagements and participation in development.
  2. To offer youth engagement and participation landscape in Brunei.
  3. To offer a way forward for the state of Brunei to enhance youth engagement and participation in development.

Significance

Youth participation and engagement in development is a key aspect in achieving sustainable development. As dynamic stakeholders and lauded as future-ready agents of change, they are the key to achieving the national vision and long-term development goals enshrined in the Wawasan Brunei 2035 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), respectively. The current state of youth participation in Brunei indicates that they are collectively working towards Wawasan Brunei 2035 and achieving a ‘Bangsa Brunei Cemerlang’ that is progressive, cosmopolitan, rooted in their Bruneian identity and future-ready in its broadest sense. By knowing the reasons for such low participation and engagement, Brunei can tackle them to ensure that we can fully achieve our desired development goals.