Nine SEARCA scholars from Cambodia (1), Indonesia (1), Lao PDR (1), Myanmar (2), the Philippines (1), Thailand (1), and Timor-Leste (2) have completed their graduate programs (7 MS, 2 PhD) in June 2010.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has supported the scholarships of three of the nine scholars who graduated.       

Of the new SEARCA graduate alumni, seven obtained their graduate degrees at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB); one at Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), Indonesia; and one at Kasetsart University (KU), Thailand.

Graduate alumni from UPLB

The seven SEARCA graduate alumni who obtained their graduate degrees at UPLB, their nationality, degree program, field of specialization, and title of thesis/dissertation are:

• Ms. An Ny, Cambodian, PhD in Community Development, “The Impoverishment Risk Reconstruction (IRR) Model and Lievlihood Satisfaction of the Urban Poor Resettlement Communities in Phnom Penh, Cambodia;”
• Mr. Avakat Touy Phasouysaingam, Laotian, Ms in Natural Resources Conservation, “Assessment of Ecotourism’s Contribution to Biodiversity Conservation and Income of Local People in Nalan Village Luang Namtha Province, Lao PDR;”
• Ms. May Thinn Khaing, Myanmar, MS in Horticulture, “Leaf and Fruit Nitrogen Potassium and Calcium Concentrations in Relation to Fruit Yield, Quality and Severity of Anthracnose in Mango (Mangifera indica L.);”
• Ms. Josefina M. Ocampo, Filipino, MS in Natural Resources Conservation, “Impact of Marine Protected Area (MPA) Establishment on Natural Resources Conservation in Verde Island, Batangas City;”
• Ms. Kanlaya Damrongsadsiri, Thai, PhD in Environmental Science, “Land Use Change and Its Impacts on Watershed Function and Food Security in Huaynamphung Sub-Watershed;”
• Mr. Mateus de Jesus Gomes, Timorese, MS in Agricultural Education, “Integration of Agriucltural Extension Competencies in the Basic Agricultural Courses in Selected Institutions in East Timor;” and
• Ms. Agustinho da Costa Ximenes, Timorese, MS in Agronomy, “Agronomic Responses and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Local and Introduced Corn (Zea mays L.) Genotypes to Varying Levels and Sources of Nitrogen in Two Corn Growing Areas in Timor-Leste.”

Graduate alumni from other study posts

Ms. Maria Ulfa Christiantys, Indonesian, obtained her MS in Agro-Industrial Technology at IPB. The title of her thesis is “Production of Biodegradable Plastic Through Blending Thermoplastic Sago Starch with Compatibilized Linear Low Density Polyethylene.”

On the other hand, Ms. Amy Thein, Myanmar, completed her MS in Plant Pathology at KU. Her thesis is titled “Reduction of Bacterial Leaf Blight of Rice Caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae by its Avirulent Stains.”