SEARCA News

Dr. Cecilia N. Gascon (PhD Forestry, UPLB 1995-1998) was voted by the Bulacan State University (BulSU) Board of Regents as its new chief executive officer starting 1 September 2015.  The oath-taking ceremony, administered by Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, CHED Chair, took place at the Central Office of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on 11 August 2015, after the BOR elections… Read more

Dr. Rolando A. Delorino (MS Environmental Studies, UPLB 1986-1988) was appointed by the Philippines Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as the 6th President of the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP). Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, CHED Chair, administered the oath in August 2015, after the Governing Board members of UEP voted unanimously in favor of Dr. Delorino. Within his term as President, Dr. Delorino aims to “enhance the relevance of UEP’s academic, research and extension programs in the light of national development thrusts and international standards; strengthen the University’s resource generation capacity in order to provide sustained support for the viable… Read more

Another SEARCA alumnus has been appointed as a university chief executive in Indonesia. Prof. Dr. M. Maksum Mahfoedz (PhD and MS Agricultural Engineering, 1985-1989, 1982-1985) was officially sworn in as the new Rector of the University of Nahdlatul Ulama (UNU) Indonesia by General Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Prof. Dr. KH Said Aqil Siroj on 10 July 2015. The elected rector Prof. Dr. Maksum said he envisions UNU Indonesia to become an outstanding university and the melting pot for the academic world, Islam, nationality, and struggle. “My attitude is sami'na wa atho'na, and will manage the UNU Indonesia based on the… Read more

Following the signing of the Nagoya University (NU)-SEARCA Joint PhD Research Scholarship in Agriculture in March 2015, two Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) officials have been awarded the said scholarships to finish their PhD at the Nagoya University Satellite Campus for Bio-agricultural Sciences based at the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia… Read more

The Congressional Committee on Higher and Technical Education (CHTE) chaired by Hon. Roman T. Romulo of the Philippines House of Representatives has invited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to its 39th Regular Meeting held on 18 August 2015 to advise on House Resolution 589 which urges the conduct of an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the decreasing number of licensed agriculturists and students who are pursuing a career in agriculture with the end view of addressing the same in order to maintain the country’s rice sufficiency… Read more

“What is equity and how is it different from equality? Why should we care about equity?”, Mr. Ronnakorn Triraganon, Manager, Capacity Development and Technical Services, RECOFTC- The Center for People and Forests, triggered a discussion which highlighted the importance of equity, what it is all about and how to put it into proper perspective. This took place during the 2nd ASEAN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC) Learning Group (LG) Workshop held in Krabi, Thailand from 17-20 August 2015… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the members of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (University Consortium) have collaborated on a research project entitled “Food Reserves: A Comparative Study on Food Reserve Management and Policies in Southeast Asia.” This initiative is in line with SEARCA’s umbrella program on Food and Nutrition Security for Southeast Asia 2014-2019, which has also been adopted by the University Consortium since August 2014… Read more

NADI, Fiji – Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr., Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), attended the 7th Regional Policy Dialogue (RPD-7) and the 20th Regular Meeting of the Governing Council (GC-20) of the Centre of Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) held here on 17-21 August 2015… Read more

SELANGOR, Malaysia – The ASEAN Social Forestry Network Strategic Response Fund (ASRF) successfully completed its target of conducting four Proposal Development Assistance (PDA) activities after the recent workshop held at the Forest Training Division of the Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia in Kepong on 11-13 August 2015. Similar workshops were held in Lao PDR, Indonesia, and Myanmar earlier this year. The PDA workshops aimed to assist ASEAN Member States (AMS) in developing project proposals that would respond to the needs of the ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN) Focal Points in addressing emerging issues related to social forestry in their respective countries… Read more

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia – The Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (University Consortium) champions collaborative research and development on food and nutrition security and climate change adaptation and mitigation for an inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development (ISARD) in the region… Read more