CHONBURI, Thailand—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) joined regional leaders at the 2026 SEAMEO Centre Directors Meeting (CDM) to share knowledge, highlight recent milestones, and strengthen regional collaboration in agriculture and education. Held on 14–15 July 2026 at the Amari Bangsaen Hotel, the annual meeting brought together leaders and representatives from across the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) network to commemorate six decades of regional cooperation in education, science, and culture. The SEARCA delegation was led by Center Director Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, alongside Dr. Rico Ancog, Deputy Director for Administration, and Mr. Arnel Oabina, Financial Analyst, Accounting Unit.
To support agricultural, research, and educational development in the region, SEARCA submitted five comprehensive working papers to the SEAMEO Secretariat. Under the Matters for Information agenda, three papers were formally presented to share key updates on institutional progress and policy frameworks: a program reasserting the role of universities and colleges in rural development and poverty alleviation, insights and recommendations from the Consortium for Agricultural Policy Research Initiatives (CAPRI) onboarding workshop, and an initiative to strengthen the Center's financial and administrative processes through an enterprise resource planning system.
On 15 July, Sombilla took the plenary floor to present the other two working papers under the Matters for Discussion agenda. The first paper presented the results and future directions of a regional scoping study on micro-credentials in Southeast Asia, advocating for flexible and modern learning pathways to upskill the region's agricultural workforce. The second paper introduced the Southeast Asian Agricultural Statistics Database (SAASD), promoting data-driven agriculture through robust, interconnected regional statistical systems.
Beyond the formal sessions, the SEARCA delegation explored potential collaborations with institutions, such as the University of Tsukuba, the Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN), Siklab, and Kyungwon University.
In a major side event underscoring the spirit of inter-center synergy, SEARCA formalized a three-year memorandum of understanding with sister center SEAMEO Regional Centre for Education in Science and Mathematics (RECSAM). Signed by Sombilla and RECSAM Centre Director Dr. Azman bin Jusoh, the agreement will focus on advancing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), climate change education, and environmental stewardship. This strategic partnership combines SEARCA's agricultural leadership with RECSAM's expertise in science and mathematics education, paving the way for joint research, capacity building, and professional training programs for teachers throughout Southeast Asia.
This year's CDM provided a historical backdrop for the SEAMEO network to reflect on its collective achievements while looking toward the future. Over the two-day meeting, discussions also featured special sessions on publication and multimedia strategies, school leadership, and pathways to further deepen engagement with associate member countries and affiliate members.
Guided by SEAMEO and working together with other SEAMEO specialist institutions, SEARCA remains steadfast in promoting knowledge sharing and capacity building that advance food security, agricultural innovation, and inclusive prosperity across Southeast Asia and beyond.