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

University Consortium pushes for more collaborations and linkages

University Consortium pushes for more collaborations and linkages

The Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) held its 29th Executive Board Meeting on 9-10 November 2016 at the SEARCA Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Updates to the UC's various programs including the various grants, the Summer School, the Graduate Forum, the collaborative researches on the Umbrella Program on Food and Nutrition Security for Southeast Asia (FANSSEA), the recently approved ERASMUS+ funded project on the establishment of the Master of Science in Food Security and Climate Change (MS FSCC), the application of University of Brawijaya to be a member of the UC, and the possible collaborations between the UC and the French institute AGREENIUM were discussed during the meeting.

Seventeen participants from the UC member organizations (Institut Pertanian Bogor and Universitas Gadjah Mada, both from Indonesia; Universiti Putra Malaysia from Malaysia; University of the Philippines Los Baños from the Philippines; Kasetsart Unversity from Thailand; Tokyo University of Agriculture from Japan, and SEARCA) attended the meeting. Also present were three other resource persons from SEARCA, six representatives from the University of Brawijaya of Indonesia, and two representatives from AGREENIUM.

University Consortium pushes for more collaborations and linkages

Part of the agenda of the board meeting was presentation of the FANSSEA portal under the Umbrella Program on Food and Nutrition Security for Southeast Asia. Dr. Maria Celeste H. Cadiz, Head of SEARCA's Knowledge Management Department, and Dr. Mariliza V. Ticsay, Head of Knowledge Resources Unit, solicited views and suggestions for the proposed website and invited the University Consortium members to consider linking the portal to their own websites for a more consolidated information system.

The UC was founded in 1989 to link the top agricultural universities in the region to facilitate free exchange of information, facilities and expertise. (Jarah N. De Guzman)

University Consortium pushes for more collaborations and linkagesUniversity Consortium pushes for more collaborations and linkages

Workshop held to establish Joint Masters Degree in Food Security and Climate Change (MS FSCC)

Workshop held to establish Joint Masters Degree in Food Security and Climate Change (MS FSCC)

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) hosted the first workshop to establish the Joint Master’s Degree program in Food Security and Climate Change (MS FSCC) at the SEARCA Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines on 7-8 November 2016.

Workshop held to establish Joint Masters Degree in Food Security and Climate Change (MS FSCC)The MS FSCC is a project initiated by the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) and is jointly led by Kasetsart University (KU) and SEARCA. It is a 3-year project, which was awarded funding under the ERASMUS + Capacity Building for Higher Education Program. The first year of the project is meant to establish the curriculum; the pilot implementation is set to start in August 2017.

Workshop held to establish Joint Masters Degree in Food Security and Climate Change (MS FSCC)The two-day workshop, also supported by the Food Security Center of the University of Hohenheim, aims to identify the professional profiles of future graduates of this specialized Master’s degree, based on market demand. It is also a first step to recognize the various degree programs and courses existing in the partner universities that may be considered for the MS FSCC.

In his welcome remarks, Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr., SEARCA Director, emphasized that the MS FSCC program will not just enhance and broaden the specific areas of study in the field of ARD but will also promote internationalization of higher education in Southeast Asia. Dr. Poonpipope Kasemsap of KU, Co-Project Leader, and Dr. Didier Pillot of Montpellier SupAgro, Project Coordinator for EU, also delivered their Messages in the Opening Program.

Workshop held to establish Joint Masters Degree in Food Security and Climate Change (MS FSCC)

The partners to the MS FSCC project include: Kasetsart University, Chiang Mai University, and Prince of Songkla University in Thailand; Universiti Putra Malaysia and Nilai University in Malaysia; Institut Pertanian Bogor and Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia; University of the Philippines Los Baños and Central Luzon State University in the Philippines; Royal University of Agriculture and University of Battambang in Cambodia; Montpellier SupAgro and AGREENIUM of France; Gottingen University in Germany; BOKU of Austria; AGRINATURA (European Alliance on Agricultural Knowledge for Development) based in the Czech Republic; and SEARCA. (Jarah N. De Guzman)

Workshop held to establish Joint Masters Degree in Food Security and Climate Change (MS FSCC)

Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Aini Ideris is new UPM Vice-Chancellor

Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Aini Ideris

PUTRAJAYA - Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Aini Ideris has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor for Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) for a duration of two years, effective January 1, 2016 until December 31, 2017.

Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Aini, who is the Director of UPM Corporate Strategy and Communications Office, replaces Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Fauzi Hj. Ramlan whose tenure as UPM Vice-Chancellor ended on December 31 last year. She received her formal letter of appointment from Higher Education Minister, Dato’ Seri Idris Jusoh.

Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Aini Ideris expressed her gratitude to Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Fauzi Hj. Ramlan for his leadership qualities and contributions towards UPM while he was the Vice-Chancellor, saying under the latter’s tenure, the university had succeeded to maintain its excellence as a leading university at both the national and international levels.

“I also want to express my gratitude to Dato’ Seri Idris Jusoh for the trust, opportunity and mandate given to me to continue with the legacy to give the best of services to the university.

“With this appointment, I will strive harder to enhance UPM’s achievements as a leading research university in order to steer and bring the image of the country to a higher level, in addition to continuing with the efforts for more successes and academic excellence amidst the challenges, particularly the need for a paradigm shift in enhancing the quality of the nation’s agriculture sector,” she said.

Formerly UPM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) from December 2008 to November 2013, she was instrumental in the preparations for the university’s SWA Accreditation, autonomy and other curriculum-related improvements as well as teaching and learning at UPM.

With her vast knowledge in dealing with issues at both the national and ministerial levels, she has held various positions in the past, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Committee Chairman/Rector (Academic and International) of IPTA from January 2012 to 2013, chairman/member in various other committees at the Higher Education Ministry/ Education Ministry, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry.

Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Aini Ideris is a renowned scientist in detecting and controlling avian diseases through the commercialization of a “Newcastle” vaccine in 1995 and “fowl pox” culture tissues in 1996 which had penetrated the market in nine countries.

In 2005, she was involved in a joint research in the commercialization of an important vaccine for chickens to fight against contagious bursal diseases. Her team of researchers also developed several diagnosis kits for fast detection of avian influenza (bird’s flu which is a zoonotic disease), ‘Newcastle’ and ‘Mycoplasmosis’ diseases.

In 2011, Prof. Aini received the National Academic Award (Anugerah Akademik Negara (AAN) 2010 under the Innovation and Product Commercialization category for her success in the innovation and commercialization of ‘Newcastle’ disease vaccine (ND V4-UPM).

She was also named as one of 10 researchers for Anugerah Inovasi Negara 2012, Anugerah Alumni Terbilang UPM 2012and was announced as 2013 Malaysia Best Research Scientist.

The climax of her success was in 2013 when she was absorbed to be an inaugural member of Honour of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, the most prestigious achievement in scientific, training and health teaching on avian as well as leadership community in developing nations.

 

Kasetsart University hosts 2016 Summer School on Climate Change and Food Security

Kasetsart University hosts 2016 Summer School on Climate Change and Food Security 1

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Kasetsart University now plays host to 28 graduate students and young faculty members from 15 countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa for the 2016 Summer School on Climate Change and Food Security from 25 July to 11 August 2016.

“As Thailand’s leading university in agriculture and natural resources, we understand how important climate change and food security is, and everyone in this University need to take that into consideration, especially in support of the sufficiency economy, which is now the priority of His Majesty.”

This was underscored by Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, Acting President of Kasetsart University, as he opened the 2016 Summer School on 25 July 2016. For the first time, the roving summer school supported by the Food Security Center (FSC) of the University of Hohenheim (UHOH), Germany is merged with the summer school implemented by the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC).

Despite being considered as the Kitchen of the World, Dr. Chongrak pointed out that many Thai farmers remain poor. “This means a lot of things still need to be done,” according to the KU President.

For its first week, the summer school will focus on climate change and aquaculture with Dr. Sukkrit Nimitkulat from KU’s Faculty of Fisheries as resource person. On the other hand, Dr. Jean Rust from Dohne Agricultural Development Institute, South Africa will discuss how climate change affects livestock production on the second week. The final week will dwell on climate smart agriculture to be facilitated by Dr. David Reiser of UHOH.

“Kasetsart University and SEARCA has had a long and strong partnership both at the level of the UC and as strategic partners of FSC. KU initially hosted the FSC Summer School in 2012, which SEARCA also hosted in 2013. Recognizing the value of bringing together students from different countries to learn from experts, share experiences and develop networks, SEARCA conducted its own Summer School in 2014. This was eventually adopted by the UC as another venue to collaborate among its members,” remarked Dr. Maria Cristeta N. Cuaresma, SEARCA’s Program Head for Graduate Education and Institutional Development.

KU and SEARCA are both founding members of the UC, which was established in 1989. On the other hand, KU and SEARCA are the Asian partners of the FSC since its first phase started in 2009. The project is now on its second phase.

Among the participants of the summer school are eight graduate students from four other UC member universities, namely, Institut Pertanian Bogor, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universiti Putra Malaysia, and the University of the Philippines Los Baños. SEARCA, through its Institutional Development Assistance Program, is supporting six participants from Yezin Agricultural University in Myanmar, Royal University of Agriculture in Cambodia, and Savannakhet University in Lao PDR.

Dr. Chongrak welcomes participants to Kasetsart UniversityDr. Chongrak welcomes participants to Kasetsart University

Kasetsart University hosts 2016 Summer School on Climate Change and Food Security 3

Thai News Network (TNN24) interviews Dr. Cuaresma after the Summer School opening program.Thai News Network (TNN24) interviews Dr. Cuaresma after the Summer School opening program.

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  • UC Secretariat
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  • Email: mcnc@searca.org, gsid@searca.org
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