SEARCA is set to conduct a three-day, face-to-face Training-Workshop on Bridging Research into Policy from 21–23 January 2025 as part of its commitment to nurturing leaders and innovators in agriculture, rural development, and related fields. The course, organized by the SEARCA's Education and Collective Learning Department, was designed exclusively for the Center's scholars and aims to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to effectively translate research findings into actionable policies, promoting evidence-informed policymaking and practice. Sixteen SEARCA scholars across different scholarship programs studying at Kasetsart University in Thailand, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Nagoya University in Japan, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, IPB University in Indonesia, and Benguet State University in the Philippines will join the program.
The workshop hopes to address critical challenges in the policy-making process, including the timeliness, relevance, and quality of scientific information, biases, and competing agendas in the policy arena. Participants will explore the research process, policy cycle, and the research-policy interface through lectures, workshops, and guided exercises. They will also develop skills in crafting policy briefs, organizing policy dialogues, and building collaborative frameworks to bridge the gap between research and policy.
As future leaders and drivers of transformation under SEARCA's Five-Year Plan of Accelerating Transformation through Agricultural Innovation (ATTAIN), scholars will benefit from this opportunity to enhance their capacity for good governance and effective stakeholder engagement. The workshop will culminate with participants creating Re-entry Action Plans to apply their learning in real-world contexts, ensuring long-term impact.
The training-workshop is part of the Center's GOT (Graduate on Time) Program which includes academic and extracurricular learning events aimed at helping scholars complete their requirements on time.