TAIPEI, Taiwan—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) reaffirmed its commitment in furthering agricultural development in Southeast Asia by renewing its partnership with the National Taiwan University (NTU) International College for the Global Agriculture Technology and Genomic Science (Global ATGS) program on 31 October 2023.
The NTU-SEARCA Joint Scholarship Program for Global ATGS aims to empower Southeast Asian scholars by pursuing graduate studies under the Master Program in Global ATGS. Conducted in English, the program has a comprehensive curriculum on smart farming technology, genome science research, and breeding science and technology. The program's multidisciplinary approach features opportunities for internships and field visits to capacitate bio-agricultural professionals in addressing the changing needs of the agriculture sector with advanced knowledge and practical skills.
The SEARCA delegation led by Center Director Glenn Gregorio and Deputy Director for Programs Nur Azura Adam were joined by NTU Associate Dean Jiun-Haw Lee of the International College and Director Chih-Wei Tung of the Master Program in Global ATGS to formalize the renewal of the joint scholarship agreement. New and ongoing scholars also attended the ceremony, along with alumni who are based in Taiwan for work or for further studies.
The SEARCA-NTU joint scholarship partnership commenced in academic year 2020-2021 when both institutions signed the initial agreement. After three years of fruitful collaboration, SEARCA and NTU agreed to extend their cooperation to further nurture agricultural experts, encourage academic excellence, and promote research and development in Southeast Asian agriculture.
Since its inception, SEARCA and NTU have had jointly supported fifteen scholars. SEARCA covers stipends, book allowances, insurance, and international travel, while both institutions offer tuition support. Scholars engaged in research projects in their professors' laboratories are also granted stipends as part of NTU's research project-based, part-time research assistantship program.
SEARCA's Graduate Scholarship and Institutional Development Unit (GSIDU) also met with Dr. Chih-Wei Tung to evaluate the scholars' academic progress. Another gathering was organized for scholars and alumni at NTU to address any concerns or questions related to their scholarship benefits and to learn more about their campus life.
Beyond the joint scholarship collaboration, SEARCA and NTU have been active partners in various activities. Both institutions are members of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC). NTU had hosted significant events for the consortium, including the 32nd and 36th UC executive board meetings in 2019 and 2023, the 2nd UC Faculty Forum in November 2020, and the 7th UC Graduate Forum in December 2021. Additionally, NTU is poised to host the 8th UC Summer School in 2024.
For more information on the joint scholarship, visit https://www.searca.org/ntu-ms-scholarship
To apply for the NTU-SEARCA Joint Scholarship Program for Global ATGS, visit https://ischo.searcaapps.org/v2
