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Become a Member

Become a Member

Criteria for New Membership

Regular Member

  • The university should have a location advantage in Southeast Asia.
  • The university should have a strong graduate program in agriculture, natural resources and related fields.
  • The university has proven its excellence in academic and research programs as judged on the basis of student enrolment, number of graduates per year, preparation and performance of students, strength of faculty in graduate degree programs, academic achievement of its faculty, and participation of staff in scholarly and scientific activities.
  • The university should be willing to participate and to contribute to the UC in terms of annual membership fees, manpower resources, and laboratory and research facilities.

Associate Member

  • The university should have distinguished itself as a recognized institution that can provide the UC students and faculty with the unique experience outside Southeast Asia in the area of agriculture, food and natural resources, and related fields.
  • The university should have a keen interest to work with the UC member universities and should have undertaken collaborative work in academic and research with Southeast Asian universities in the past five years.
  • The university should have the capability to assist the UC Secretariat in obtaining funds from other sources to support UC activities.
  • The university should be willing to participate and contribute to UC activities in terms of annual membership fees, manpower resources, and laboratory and research facilities.

Affiliate Member

  • The university or public/private organization/institution should have distinguished itself as a recognized institution that can provide the UC students and faculty with the unique experience outside Southeast Asia in the area of agriculture, food and natural resources, and related fields.
  • The university or public/private organization/institution should have a keen interest to work with the UC member universities and should have undertaken collaborative work in academic and research with Southeast Asian universities in the past five years.
  • The university or public/private organization/institution should have the capability to assist the UC Secretariat in obtaining funds from other sources to support UC activities.
  • The university or public/private organization/institution should be willing to financially support their participation in UC activities and contribute to UC activities in any form (cash donation, in-kind contribution, manpower resources, and laboratory and research facilities, etc.)

Procedures for Admission

Written expression of interest to become a member, associate member, or affiliate member may be through direct application, by invitation, or by nomination. The expression of interest must be addressed to the UC Executive Board through the UC Secretariat and accompanied by a profile of the applying institution and any relevant supporting information. The letter must be signed by the President/Rector/Chancellor or any member of the Executive Committee of the University, such as the Vice President, Vice Rector, Vice-Chancellor, or Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

The UC Secretariat verifies and screens the qualifications of the applicant-university and makes a summary of the applicant's profile for reference by the UC Executive Board. The application may be discussed and acted upon by the UC Executive Board through referendum or during the annual University Consortium Executive Officers Meeting.

Southeast Asian universities applying to become a Member shall be admitted initially as an Affiliate Member, but shall contribute annual membership fees equal to that of Members, and may participate in all UC activities. These institutions may be elevated to regular membership after three (3) years subject to satisfactory assessment by the UC.

Annual Membership Fees

Regular Members

Fee: USD 6,050

By paying the annual membership fee, the staff and graduate students of Regular Members are eligible for UC faculty and student grants. They can also participate in key UC events, such as the Faculty Forum, Graduate Forum, and Summer School. Regular membership also provides universities with extensive research opportunities through active involvement in UC's collaborative projects.

Associate Members

Fee: USD 9,075

By paying the annual membership fee, the staff and graduate students of Affiliate Members are eligible for UC faculty and student grants and can participate in UC's annual activities, such as the Faculty Forum, Graduate Forum, and Summer School.

Affiliate Members

Contribution: In-kind contributions (e.g., expertise, access to facilities, capacity building)

In lieu of membership fees, Affiliate Members are expected to provide in-kind support, such as offering student internships, hosting faculty mobilities, providing expertise, or sharing facilities, among others. In return, they are invited to engage in UC projects and activities.

Affiliate Members Applying for Regular Membership

Fee: USD 6,050

Affiliate Members transitioning to Regular Membership are required to pay the same annual fee as Regular Members, granting them similar benefits, including access to UC grants and participation in UC activities.

Becoming a member of the University Consortium (UC) offers benefits beyond access to UC faculty and student grants and participation in UC-organized events. Membership provides universities with a strategic advantage in their internationalization efforts, creating direct connections with some of the top institutions in Southeast Asia, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, and Germany.

In addition to UC-led activities such as the Faculty Forum, Graduate Forum, and Summer School, member universities are invited to attend international conferences, workshops, and programs organized independently by other UC members or participate in UC's other activities such as the ERASMUS+-funded projects. UC membership also opens doors for bilateral partnerships that pave the way for dual degree programs, joint scholarships, and collaborative research initiatives, giving students and faculty opportunities for cross-border academic exchange. Membership in the consortium positions universities at the forefront of educational innovation in a rapidly globalizing world.

Inactive Status of Membership

Inactive membership for a continuous period of two years shall not be entitled to benefits in the UC Consortium.

Termination of or Withdrawal from Membership

Non-payment of membership fees (for member and associate member) on the third year of inactive membership shall be subject to termination of membership in the UC.

Any member that wishes to withdraw from the UC membership must notify the UC Executive Board in writing through the Secretariat at least six months before the effective date of withdrawal from the membership.

Reinstatement of Membership

A previous UC member/associate member may be reinstated in the UC membership upon submission of expression of interest to be reinstated and upon payment of previous years' dues.