Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines — Two SEARCA graduate fellows recently got small grants as seed money for their re-entry projects.

Dr. Marissa Parao (left) and Mr. Keopheth Phoumphon (right)

Dr. Parao finished her PhD in Forestry in 2008, while Mr. Keopeth finished his MS in Land and Water Resources Engineering in 2009, both at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).  The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and SEARCA funded Dr. Parao’s PhD scholarship, while SEARCA funded the MS scholarship of Mr. Keopeth.

The SEARCA Re-entry Program is one strategy employed by SEARCA to ensure immediate impact of SEARCA's capacity building program as well as to widen the reach of the Center in contributing to agriculture and rural development in the region.  Through this Program, graduating scholars or newly graduated scholars may submit a re-entry plan/proposal.  Such plan/proposal must include project activities that will be undertaken by the newly graduated fellow and implemented together with his/her institution or other interested institutions in the home country. This may serve as starting point for a national or regional research study on issues addressing a specific concern that will utilize the expertise of the fellow or other SEARCA fellows in the country or the region.  This re-entry plan may also serve as a subject of follow-up proposal for funding by interested donors.  This shall be monitored by SEARCA, through its core departments. The Re-entry Program provides financial support of up to a maximum of US Dollars Five Thousand (US$5, 000) to selected proposals. Endorsement and counterpart funding from his/her institutions is a requirement.