PATTAYA CITY, Thailand—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) actively participated in the 2025 Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Centre Directors Meeting (CDM) held at the Amari Pattaya Hotel on 23–24 July 2025.
SEARCA was represented by Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, SEARCA Center Director; Dr. Nur Azura Binti Adam, Deputy Director for Programs; and Ms. Julie Ann Barril, Executive Coordinator of the Office of the Director.
During the two-day meeting, SEARCA presented three working papers highlighting its ongoing and future initiatives. The working papers on the SEARCA Consortium for Agricultural Policy Research Initiatives (CAPRI) and the implementation of the SEARCA School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE) were presented as matters for information. Meanwhile, the working paper on SEARCA initiatives on micro-credentials was tabled as a matter for discussion, signaling the Center's strategic intent to expand learning access and credentialing opportunities in agriculture and rural development.
In addition to participating in the formal proceedings, the SEARCA delegation actively engaged in the networking sessions. They had exploratory discussions with representatives from the University of Tsukuba; the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP); King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT); and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Bangkok. These dialogues provided an excellent platform for SEAMEO centers and partners to identify areas of shared interest and lay the groundwork for future collaborations.
The annual CDM serves as a platform for all SEAMEO centers, including SEARCA, to report accomplishments, share knowledge, and synergize efforts toward the advancement of education, science, and culture in Southeast Asia.