Shaping Policy, Advancing Governance for Southeast Asia
Policy Lab is the dedicated think tank and research innovation hub of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) at Universiti Brunei Darussalam. Established to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical governance, Policy Lab serves as a collaborative platform where expert faculty, graduate researchers, policy practitioners, and institutional partners converge to produce rigorous, actionable policy intelligence.
Operating within one of ASEAN's leading public policy institutions, Policy Lab leverages IPS's interdisciplinary strengths to address pressing governance challenges at the national, regional, and international levels. The Lab's outputs span policy briefs, research publications, commissioned studies, professional training programmes, and advisory services to both public and private sector stakeholders.
Explore Our ServicesOur Mission
To advance evidence-based, ethically grounded, and practically relevant policy research that empowers governments, institutions, and communities in Brunei Darussalam and across the ASEAN region to navigate complex governance challenges with clarity, integrity, and innovation.
Our Vision
To be recognised as Southeast Asia's premier academic policy laboratory, renowned for interdisciplinary rigor, Islamic governance expertise, and a commitment to equitable, sustainable development.
Energy & Environmental Policy
Researching sustainable energy transitions, environmental regulation, and green governance frameworks relevant to Brunei and ASEAN member states.
Public Policy & Management
Core expertise in policy analysis, formulation, implementation, and evaluation across all domains of public administration and governance.
Islamic Governance
Advancing scholarship on governing from Islamic principles of compassion, equity, and justice — a distinctive strength aligned with Brunei's Melayu Islam Beraja philosophy.
Education Policy
Examining curriculum reform, higher education governance, student wellbeing, and the integration of technology in learning environments across ASEAN.
Social Policy
Addressing inequality, health, family welfare, mental health, and social protection frameworks through participatory research and evidence-based recommendations.
Regulatory & Institutional Reform
Comparative analyses of governance structures, regulatory frameworks, and public sector innovation across small states and developing economies.
A Unique Asian & ASEAN Perspective
Policy Lab occupies a rare and strategically important position in the regional policy landscape. Embedded within Brunei Darussalam — a small, resource-rich, predominantly Muslim state at the heart of Southeast Asia — the Lab brings an authentically Asian lens to policy scholarship that is often absent from Western-centric academic frameworks.
The Lab's research is particularly attentive to the development imperatives and governance realities of ASEAN's diverse member states, including issues of small-state diplomacy, Islamic governance integration, digital transformation in the public sector, and regional economic coordination. This ASEAN-centred approach ensures that Policy Lab's outputs are not only academically rigorous but also operationally relevant to policymakers across the region.