The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) welcomed faculty members from the National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) on 16 August 2024. The delegation was composed of Dr. Yuan-Ron Ma, Distinguished Professor of the Department of Physics; Dr. Wen-Yen Chang, Dean of the College of Environmental Studies and Oceanography; Dr. Ruey-Yi Chang, Deputy Dean of the College of Science and Engineering; and Dr. Chun-Hung Lee, Director, and Dr. Li-Li Lee, Deputy Director, both of the Center for Sustainable Development. They explored potential areas of collaboration, specifically on scholarships and capacity-building initiatives.
NDHU is a prestigious institution in Hualien, Taiwan, renowned for its commitment to academic excellence, innovative research, and holistic development of its students. Its three Shoufeng, Meilun, and Pingtung campuses, nestled near mountain ranges or an ocean, offer a unique and inspiring learning environment.
During the meeting, the visitors were given a glimpse of SEARCA and its priority areas, programs, and offerings.
In response, Dr. Ma presented NDHU's dual degree and articulation programs and eight academic colleges, namely, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Science and Engineering, the College of Management, the College of Indigenous Studies, the Hua-Shih College of Education, the College of Fine Arts, the College of Environmental Studies, and the College of Marine Sciences.
Dr. Ruey-Yi Chang further introduced the College of Science and Engineering, which comprises eight departments offering top-tier undergraduate and graduate programs supported by five research centers. She said that one of these centers is the Eastern Taiwan Center for Pesticide and Toxic Substance Analysis, the only certified pesticide residue testing laboratory in Hualien and can analyze pesticide residues and other toxic substances to ensure food safety and proper use of pesticides for agricultural products in local markets.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chun-Hung Lee highlighted the strong parallels between the focus of SEARCA and NDHU's Center for Sustainable Development and College of Environmental Studies on climate resilience, community-based conservation, and disaster management. He mentioned that through its Center for Sustainable Development and College of Environmental Studies, NDHU is beginning to explore community-based resilience and climate-smart agriculture and expressed enthusiasm for delving deeper into these areas. Additionally, he looks forward to the College of Environmental Studies introducing certification for carbon neutrality. In this context, Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA Center Director, shared the Center's efforts in promoting carbon neutrality, such as the Web-Based Integrated Spatial Engine and Smart Ecosystem (WISE) Carbon Farming project.
Dr. Maria Cristeta Cuaresma, Senior Program Head of the Education and Collective Learning Department, discussed the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC), a network of esteemed universities in Southeast Asia, Canada, Germany, Japan, and Taiwan. She also introduced SEARCA's joint scholarship project with various universities, research institutions, and government agencies, such as the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Agropolis Fondation, Sejong University, and National Taiwan University (NTU), among others. These scholarship opportunities are available to Southeast Asian nationals, offering them the chance to pursue degrees not only within the region but also at partner institutions worldwide. For example, the NTU-SEARCA Joint Scholarship Program for Global Agriculture Technology and Genomic Science (Global ATGS) supports graduate studies under NTU's Master Program in Global ATGS. Currently, the program hosts 12 students and will expand next year to include master's programs in biodiversity and disaster risk reduction and resilience.
The visitors were also briefed on the Consortium for Agricultural Development, Research, and Extension (CADRE), a regional network of high-caliber, like-minded institutions that will collaborate to deliver research and extension support on the most pressing issues and challenges faced by the Southeast Asian agriculture sector; and the Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (GRAINS), which provides starter funds not only to researchers and scientists but also to inventors and agripreneurs to scale up their technology or innovation model.
Dr. Gregorio concluded the meeting by identifying promising areas for future collaboration, including joint scholarships and training on carbon neutrality. The NDHU delegation was also given a tour of the SEARCA Hub for Agricultural and Rural Innovation for the Next Generation (SHARING) AgriMuseum.
The visitors were welcomed by Dr. Gregorio. With them in the meeting were Dr. Nur Azura Adam, Deputy Director for Programs; Dr. Cuaresma; Ms. Sharon Malaiba, Head of Partnerships Unit (PU); Ms. Bernice Anne De Torres, Project Coordinator of the Research and Thought Leadership Department; Ms. Lichelle Dara Carlos, Program Specialist of the Emerging Innovation for Growth Department; and key PU staff.
