Department of Agriculture-SEARCA Scholarship Program
Under the Umbrella Capacity Development Program on Strategic Management and Policy for Agriculture Professionals and Executives of the Department of Agriculture, Philippines

The DA-SEARCA Scholarship Program is one of the components of the “Umbrella Capacity Development Program on Strategic Management and Policy for Agriculture Professionals and Executives of the Department of Agriculture” funded by the Philippine Department of Agriculture and implemented through SEARCA.

Objectives

The program generally aims to produce a cadre of homegrown, world-class career bureaucrats who can competently and proactively steer the government's agriculture program in synergy with local governments, the private sector, external markets, civil society, small producers and their communities, and other national and international partners.

About the Scholarship

The program provides support to fulltime and part-time graduate studies of selected junior and mid-level DA professional staff towards master's (48) and doctoral (3) degrees in fields under any of the following general priority areas in support of food security and rural poverty alleviation:

• Strategic leadership and public management,
  
• Development economics and agricultural policy, and
  
• Agricultural business and trade and investment.

Scholars may study at any of the following collaborating higher education institutions:

• Ateneo de Manila School of Government (AsoG)
  
  • Master in Public Management (MPM) specialized in Strategic Leadership for Agricultural Development
    
• University of Asia and the Pacific School of Management (UAP)
  • Master in Food Systems Management
  • Executive Master in Business Management (Strategic Business Economics Program)
• University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPEcon)
  • Master in Development Economics
  • PhD in Economics

Scholarship Entitlements

The scholarship entitles the recipient to the following:

1. Full basic salary and other benefits from the mother agency for the duration of the scholarship;
2. Matriculation and other school fees (actual as assessed by the University/School);
3. Book/school supplies allowance;
4. Monthly stipend of PhP 18,000 for MS scholars and PhP 20,000 for PhD fulltime scholars; and prorated stipend for part-time scholars;
5. Health insurance for the duration of the award; and
6. Thesis support of up to PhP 50,000 for MS and up to PhP 80,000 for PhD.
   

Application Requirements

Interested applicants should submit the following requirements to SEARCA:

1. Duly accomplished DA-SEARCA Scholarship Application Form (3 copies);
2. Application forms for admission to the Graduate Schools of any three (3) collaborating universities;
3. Original transcript of academic records bearing the seal of the University and fresh signatures of the Registrar or Head of the University. Applicants for MS degree should submit their original BS transcript of records. PhD degree applicants should submit their original BS and MS transcripts of records;
4. Certification of employment;
5. A recommendation letter from employer or immediate supervisor (i.e., the head of DA office);
6. A write-up on how the applicant envisions his/her future role and contributions upon completion of the graduate program;
7. Updated curriculum vitae;
8. Brief description of the research the applicant plans to conduct for thesis/dissertation;
9. Two copies of passport-size photo of the applicant; and
10. Certification from a medical doctor that the applicant is in good physical and mental health condition and is fit to undertake graduate studies.  
    

For those applying for the scholarship starting first semester 2010-2011, the deadline for submission of application documents to the Expanded Human Resource Development Program (EHRDP) of the Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture (Diliman) is on 31 March 2010. The DA-ATI will then submit the documents of all nominated candidates to SEARCA on or before 30 April 2010.

Project Duration

The first batch of scholars will begin their study programs in June 2010/2011 and the project will be implemented for a period of five years.