Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC)

Southeast Asian University Consortium Admits Tokyo University of Agriculture as Associate Member

Bangkok, Thailand--- The Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (or University Consortium) admitted the Tokyo University of Agriculture (TUA) in Japan as its fourth Associate Member during the 19th University Consortium Executive Officers and Coordinators Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on 6-7 November 2006. The admission of TUA brought to nine the total membership in the University Consortium.

The TUA, which was founded in 1891, takes pride of its continuing contribution to agricultural development in Japan as well as to Southeast Asian countries through education and research. A number of Japanese and Southeast Asians are currently engaged in the academic exchange, research and educational activities at TUA. These are carried out through the Society for Agricultural Education-Research Abroad (SAEDA), which was established by TUA in 1978. Other societies established by TUA are the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) in 1978 and the International Society for Southeast Asian Agricultural Science (ISSAAS) in 1994. TUA has signed academic cooperation agreements with a number of universities in Southeast Asia, namely: Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand, Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) in Indonesia, and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and Hanoi Agricultural University (HAU) in Vietnam. (E. C. Cedicol)

Kasetsart University Hosts 19th University Consortium Meeting

Bangkok, Thailand—Kasetsart University (KU) in Bangkok, Thailand hosted the 19th University Consortium Executive Officers and Coordinators Meeting on 6-7 November 2006. The University Consortium Executive Board meets annually and hosting of meetings is rotated among its member institutions.

Matters deliberated upon and approved by the UC Executive Board during the meeting are: 1) application of the Tokyo University of Agriculture (TUA) in Japan as Associate Member effective November 2006; 2) to study the possibility to set up a pool of fund for training and leadership projects; 3) development of project proposals to attract donors and philanthropists; 4) conduct of a UC workshop early next year to come up with a long-term plan and develop the proposal for UC projects; and 5) implementation of UC activities within the limits of the UC resources during the short-term period, to include faculty visits/exchange with joint seminar as output; faculty training for joint research advising; workshop of graduate school deans to share information on graduate school systems and curricular programs.

The Institut Pertanian Bogor will be the host of the next UC meeting tentatively scheduled on the first week of November 2007.

Participants to the meeting were Dr. Edhi Martono, Vice Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Susamto Somowiyarjo, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, and Dr. Masyhuri, Chairman, Master of Agribusiness Management Program, all from Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia; Dr. Ir. Muhammad Achmad Chozin, Vice Rector, Dr. Drajat Martianto, Vice Dean, Graduate School, and Dr. Ma’mun Sarma, Director for International Programs, Institut Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia; Dr. Hasanah Mohd. Ghazali, Deputy Dean, School of Graduate Studies, and Dr. Ghizan Saleh, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, both from Universiti Putra Malaysia; Dr. Wattana Swanyatiputi, President, Dr. Thanwa Jitsanguan, Vice President for International Affairs, and Ms. Phacharavadee Paerattakul, Director of International Affairs Office, Kasetsart University, Thailand; Dr. Mahesh Upadhyaya, Associate Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Graduate Studies, University of British Columbia, Canada; Dr. Roger Swift, Executive Dean, Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences and Director, Gatton College, and Dr. Richard Williams, Coordinator, Faculty International Programs, Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Australia; Dr. Luis Rey I. Velasco, Chancellor and Dr. Cristeta N. Cuaresma, Secretary of Graduate School, University of the Philippines Los Baños; Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, Director; and Dr. Editha C. Cedicol, Manager of Graduate Scholarship Department, both of the SEAMEO Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).

The UC was established in September 1989 at SEARCA, College, Laguna, Philippines and its founding members are Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Indonesia; Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM); Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand; and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). Its associate members are University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada; University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia; the Georg-August University of Goettingen (GAUG) in Germany, and just recently, Tokyo University of Agriculture (TUA) in Japan. SEARCA initiated the establishment of the UC and is the seat of the UC Secretariat. (Contributed by e.c.cedicol)

 

Institut Pertanian Bogor Hosts 20th University Consortium Meeting

Bogor, Indonesia—Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) played host to the 20th University Consortium Executive Officers and Coordinators Meeting on 5-7 November 2007.  Hosting of the annual meeting of the Executive Board of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) is rotated among its member institutions.

The meeting focused on the need to generate funds for the UC and enhance resource mobilization efforts.  The expert services of a consultant on fund generation were tapped to assist the UC in this aspect. Ms. Marianne G. Quebral, Executive Director of Venture for Fund Raising based in the Philippines, was invited to present some fund raising strategies and recommendations for the UC to consider. In her presentation, Ms. Quebral pointed out the following communication needs of the UC: 1) the need to communicate the niche of the UC and its successes; and 2) the need for more visibility and to raise funds. To address these needs, the following strategies were recommended: 1) emphasize the long-term existence and track record of the UC; 2) emphasize the impact of UC activities on individuals, institutions, countries, and the region as well as the prestige of being a grantee of the UC; 3) put across a message to the grantees to improve the value of their credentials by helping improve on the reputation of the UC; and 4) market the UC experts.  She then presented some fund raising strategies and challenged the UC to decide and focus on any of the following:  1) endowment; 2) earned income; 3) donations from individuals; 4) grants; and 5) membership fees. 

In order for the UC to move to the direction it wants to take, the UC Executive Board decided to set up a UC Steering Committee to make decisions on the activities that the UC must undertake and implement in the future.  The Committee is composed of a representative each of the immediate past host, the present host, and the future host of the UC meetings, and the UC Secretariat. The Committee shall communicate to all UC members/associate members the line-up of activities that shall be pursued in the succeeding years. 

The University of Queensland will be the host of the 21st UC meeting.

Participants of the meeting were Dr. H. Ahmad Ansori Mattjik,Rector, Dr. Khairil Anwar Notodiputro, Dean of Graduate School,Dr. Drajat Martianto, ViceDean, Graduate School, and Dr. Ma’mun Sarma, Director for International Programs, all fromInstitut Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia; Dr. Masyhuri, Chairman, Master of Agribusiness Management Program, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia; Dr. Aini Ideris, Dean of Graduate School, Dr. Hasanah Mohd. Ghazali, Deputy Dean, School of Graduate Studies, both from Universiti Putra Malaysia; Dr. Sornprach Thanisawanyankura, Vice President for International Affairs, and Ms. Phacharavadee Paerattakul, Director of International Affairs Office, both from Kasetsart University, Thailand; Dr. Mahesh Upadhyaya, Associate Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Graduate Studies, University of British Columbia, Canada; Dr. Richard Williams, Professor andCoordinator, Faculty International Programs, Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Australia; Dr. Akimi Fujimoto, Director of International Programs, and Dr. Michito Mihara, Deputy Director of International Programs,  both from the Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan; Dr. Luis Rey I. Velasco, Chancellor, Dr. Oscar B. Zamora, Dean of Graduate School, and Dr. Cristeta N. Cuaresma, Secretary of Graduate School, all from the University of the Philippines Los Baños; Ms. Marianne G. Quebral, Executive Director of Venture for Fund Raising; Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, Director; and Dr. Editha C. Cedicol, Manager of Graduate Scholarship Department, both of the SEAMEO Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).

The UC was established in September 1989 at SEARCA, College, Laguna, Philippines and its founding members are Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Indonesia; Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM); Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand; and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).  Its associate members are University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada; University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia; the Georg-August University of Goettingen (UG) in Germany, and Tokyo University of Agriculture (TUA) in Japan.  SEARCA initiated the establishment of the UC and is the seat of the UC Secretariat.  (ECCedicol, GSD)

AAACU Executive Board to hold meeting in UPLB-College of Agriculture

The Officers of the Executive Board of the Asian Association of Agricultural Colleges and Universities (AAACU) will hold their meeting on 23 August 2007 at the College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

Among the items to be tackled during the meeting are the ongoing and new projects of AAACU, membership, the AAACU Biennial Convention in 2008, and fund generation activities. The meeting will be attended by Dr. Jenn-Wen Huang, Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, National Chung-Hsing University (NCHU), Taiwan, Republic of China, and AAACU President; Dr. Mar de Asis, President of University of Eastern Philippines UEP), and Acting First Vice President of AAACU succeeding Dr. Pedro D. Destura who has retired from the service;Dr. Lee S. Yudin, Dean and Director of the Western Pacific Tropical Research Center of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS), University of Guam and AAACU Second Vice President; Dr. Candida B. Adalla, Dean, UPLB- College of Agriculture and AAACU Executive Secretary/Treasurer; Dr. Asannee Pachinburavan, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Khon Kaen University (KKU), Thailand representing Dr. Yupa Hanboonsong as AAACU Board Member; Dr. Ruperto S. Sangalang, OIC President of the Cavite State University, Philippines and AAACU Board Member; Dr. Akira Yamauchi, Director of International Cooperation Center for Agricultural Education (ICCAE), Nagoya University, Japan representing Dr. Tsukasa Matsuda, Dean of the Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Japan, as AAACU Immediate Past President/Ex-Officio Member; and Mrs. Nelia R. Belen, Head of Internal Audit Unit of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and AAACU Auditor representing Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, SEARCA Director and AAACU Fund Manager.

The Board officials will make a courtesy call on the UPLB Chancellor, Dr. Luis Rey I. Velasco in the morning of August 23. After the meeting, the officials will tour the UPLB campus and visit the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and SEARCA.

The AAACU was established in 1972 in Baguio City, Philippines. At present, the AAACU has a total membership of 46 regular and 4 affiliate members representing 17 countries (contributed by E.Cedicol).

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