Dr. Masyhuri, professor of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics, and University consortium (UC) coordinator of the Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia, visited the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) from 23 April to 2 May 2011 through a Faculty Exchange Program (FEP) grant from the UC. Dr. Masyhuri completed his Straight PhD Program in Agricultural Economics in 1988 at UPLB. Aside from being a professor, Dr. Masyhuri is also the director of the Center for World Trade Studies of UGM.
The visit of Dr. Masyhuri under the UC FEP was highlighted by his being the guest speaker at the UPLB Graduate School (UPLB-GS) Hooding Ceremonies held on 25 April 2011 upon the invitation of Dr. Oscar B. Zamora, Dean of UPLB GS.
Highlights of the visit
During the 10-day visit, Dr. Masyhuri met with the following officials: Dean Zamora and Dr. Cristeta Cuaresma, Secretary of the UPLB GS; Dr. Flordeliza Lantican, Dean of the College of Economics and Management (CEM) and former co-adviser; Dr. Jose Camacho, CEM Associate Dean; Dr. Prudenciano Gordoncillo, Chair, Department of Agricultural Economics; Dr. Amelia L. Bello, Chair of the Department of Economics; Dr. Reynaldo Tan, Chair of the Department of Agribusiness Management; and Dr. Isabelita Pabuayon, director of the Institute of Cooperatives and Bio-Enterprise Development (ICOPED).
Dr. Masyhuri also met with the following officials to discuss possible areas for collaboration: Dr. Francisco F. Peñalba, Deputy Director for Administration Dr. Maria H. Celeste Cadiz, Knowledge Management Department Manager and Dr. Bessie M. Burgos, Project Development and Management Department Manager of SEARCA; Ms. Corinta Q. Guerta, Head, Office of External Relations and Donor Relations and Projects Coordination Office and Dr. Thelma Paris, Deputy Division Head of IRRI; Dr. Primo Garcia of the UP Open University); Dr. Patricio S. Faylon, Director of PCARRD and Dr. Ernesto Brown from the Socio-Economics Research Division, PCARRD);andDr. Agustina Musa of the ADB.
Speaking before 157 Master’s and 67 PhD candidates during the UPLB-GS Hooding Ceremony, Dr. Masyhuri shared the various difficulties he encountered and the enriching experiences he had as a graduate student in UP Los Baños. Being a foreign student in a country whose second language is English, he shared that he had to double his efforts in studying for the oral and written examinations because of his English handicap at that time. He also had to deal with problems regarding his scholarship funding as well as domestic problems at home. Despite the daunting challenges, he persevered in his studies until he completed his PhD degree. Aside from sharing anecdotes from his life as a graduate student in UP Los Baños, he also gave the graduates some sound advice. He told them that graduation is not the end of their education. They should try their best “to continue to learn even after they have graduated”. Dr. Masyhuri also told them that the degree they earned would enable them to take advantage of the various work opportunities in store for them upon their return to their home institutions.
Dr. Masyhuri also conducted study visits as part of the faculty exchange program. Dr. Masyhuri visited Joshua's Meat Products (JMP) in Nagcarlan, Laguna, a successful agribusiness enterprise and the New Batong Malaki Public Market Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Los Banos, Laguna. He also presented a paper on Food Security in Indonesia in a special Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) session at SEARCA. (Anne Victoria L. Alcala with report from Dr. Masyhuri. Source of photos: Dr. Masyhuri)
