SEARCA has awarded graduate scholarships to 12 Southeast Asian nationals, 11 of whom began their study programs in school year 2009/2010 while one had begun her MS program in August 2008.

The 11 new scholars whose study programs commenced in SY 2009/2010 are from Cambodia (2), Indonesia (3), Myanmar (1), the Philippines (4), and Timor-Leste (1). The scholarships are for eight master’s and three PhD programs as of 30 June 2009. Of the 11 new scholars, eight are pursuing their graduate studies at University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) starting June 2009, while two will study at Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) and one at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), both in Indonesia, starting August 2009.

On the other hand, one new Indonesian scholar had already started her MS program at IPB in August 2008.

Of the 12 new SEARCA scholars, six are supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), while the rest are funded by SEARCA.

Scholars at UPLB

The two new Cambodian scholars are Mr. Tho Kim Eang, MS in Plant Pathology, who is Project Assistant at the Faculty of Agronomy, Royal University of Agriculture (RUA); and Mr. Heak Pring, MS in Environmental Science, who is Vice Chief at the Department of Planning and Public Relations, Ministry of Rural Development, Cambodia;

Mr. Daud Samsudewa, Indonesian, is pursuing PhD in Animal Science. He is Lecturer at the Faculty of Animal Science, Diponegoro University, Indonesia.

Ms. Yin Yin Nwet, Myanmar, is pursuing MS in Agricultural Economics. Prior to her MS scholarship award, she was awarded a SEARCA scholarship to pursue the two-month Summer Program for Economics from April to May 2009, which is an admission pre-requisite to the MS in Agricultural Economics program at UPLB. She is Assistant Program Officer at the Department of Agricultural Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Myanmar.

The four new Filipino scholars are:

• Ms. Gay Therese M. Bucol, MS in Horticulture, who is Agricultural Technologist/Provincial HVCC Coordinator, at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Siquijor, Philippines;
• Ms. Aisa O, Manlosa, MS in Environmental Science, who is Instructor at the Northern Mindanao State Institute of Science and Technology, Butuan City, Philippines;
• Mr. Kenneth A. Laruan, PhD in Forestry, who is Instructor at Benguet State University, Benguet, Philippines; and
• Mr. Artemio A. Martin, Jr., Straight PhD in Soil Science, who is Instructor at Isabela State University, Philippines.

Scholars at Indonesian Universities

The new scholars who will study at IPB are Ms. Widaningrum, Indonesian, MS in Food Science, and Mr. Raimundo Mau, Timorese, MS in Information Technology for Natural Resource Management. Ms. Widaningrum is Researcher at the Indonesian Center for Agricultural Post Harvest Research and Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia, while Mr. Mau is a staff at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Timor-Leste.

On the other hand, Ms. Angelita Puji Lestari had begun her MS program in Plant Breeding also at IPB. She is Laboratory Coordinator at the Muara Experimental Farm, Indonesian Center for Rice Research.

Mr. Johan Setiawan, Indonesian, will pursue MS in Tourism Planning at UGM. He is Head of Ecotourism and Environment at the Tanjung Putting National Park, Forestry Department, Indonesia.

The new scholarship grants bring to 1,250 the total number of graduate scholarships that SEARCA has awarded to nationals of the 11 SEAMEO member countries. As of 30 June 2009, SEARCA has 105 scholars whose graduate programs are ongoing, including the new scholars.