New leadership takes the helm at four members of the University Consortium (UC), namely: University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in the Philippines, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Malaysia, University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada, and Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand.
Dr. Luis Rey I. Velasco became UPLB’s 7th Chancellor effective 1 November 2005. He replaced Dr. Wilfredo P. David. An Associate Professor of Entomology and former dean of the College of Agriculture, Dr. Velasco’s professional career spans more than two-and-a-half decades of college teaching, conducting research and extension, and rendering technical services to various government agencies mostly in the agricultural sector.
The following year, Prof. Dr. Nik Mustapha Raja Abdullah took over as Vice Chancellor of UPM on 1 January 2006. He replaced Prof. Dr. Mohd. Zohadie Bardaie. Prior to his appointment as Vice Chancellor, Dr. Abdullah was Deputy Vice Chancellor from June 2004 to December 2005.
Three months later, on 22 March 2006, Dr. Stephen Toope took his oath of office as UBC’s 12th President. His five-year term as UBC President and Vice Chancellor began on 1 July 2006. He succeeded Dr. Martha C. Piper, who completed her nine-year service to UBC on 30 June 2006. A scholar specializing in human rights, public international law and international relations, Dr. Toope had served as Dean of the Faculty of Law at McGill University, the youngest person to hold the position, and is currently President of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, a non-partisan Canadian education foundation. Dr. Toope has also served on the boards of numerous nongovernment organizations promoting human rights and international development and consultant to the Canadian International Development Agency and Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
On 8 June 2006, Dr. Wattana Swanyatiputi assumed office as the new President of KU. He replaced Dr. Viroch Impithuksa. Dr. Wattana has served as Vice President of KU and Director of the university’s Office of Extension and Training. (LLDDomingo)
