SEARCA in the News

Applications are invited to apply for the SEARCA Scholarship Program 2026 in Southeast Asia. International students are welcome to apply for the Scholarship Programs. Applicants who want to pursue their Master Degree or PhD Degree Programs abroad are welcome to apply for this scholarship. This is more than just another scholarship; it's an opportunity to become a future-ready agricultural specialist who can help address real-world issues in the region. If you ever wanted to acquire a fully supported Master's or PhD while also making a significant difference in the lives of farmers, food security, and climate-smart agriculture in Southeast Asia… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is now accepting applications for its full master’s and PhD scholarships for Academic Year 2026–2027. The scholarship program is open to nationals of SEAMEO (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization) member countries, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. This initiative supports aspiring leaders and professionals pursuing advanced studies in agriculture and related fields. The scholarship aims to cultivate the next generation of experts who will lead agricultural innovation and sustainable development across Southeast… Read more

As Asia's agri-food systems undergo rapid transformation, researchers and experts from countries across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries met in a two-day Policy Roundtable and Inception Workshop in Jakarta to discuss shared challenges and new opportunities for sustainable and inclusive agricultural development, says a press release. The event that took place on 4-5 August in the Indonesian capital, was jointly organised by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical… Read more

Jakarta, Indonesia – Nagsama-sama ngayong linggo sa mula sa mga bansang kasapi ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) upang talakayin ang mga hamon at oportunidad sa pagpapaunlad ng agrikultura na mas inklusibo, matatag sa klima, at konektado sa pamilihan ng rehiyon. Idinaos noong 4–5 Agosto ang Policy Roundtable at Inception Workshop na pinangunahan ng International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), BIMSTEC, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), at Network of Policy Advisors and Analysts (NePAA)… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is now accepting applications for its highly sought-after full Master's and PhD scholarships for the Academic Year 2026-2027. The scholarship program is open to nationals of the member countries of SEARCA's mother organization, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. This initiative supports aspiring leaders and professionals pursuing advanced studies in agriculture and other related fields. This scholarship is designed to cultivate the next generation of experts… Read more

Jakarta, Indonesia: As Asia's agri-food systems undergo rapid transformation, researchers and experts from countries across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries are meeting this week in Jakarta to discuss shared challenges and new opportunities for sustainable and inclusive agricultural development. The two-day Policy Roundtable and Inception Workshop, taking place on 4–5 August in the city, is jointly organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)… Read more

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM – Jaymark Warren Dia, unit head for Management Information Systems at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), has been honored with the prestigious Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Service Award 2024–2025. The award ceremony, held on July 1, 2025, during the 53rd SEAMEO Council Conference at the Empire Hotel, recognized Dia for his outstanding service, innovation, and unwavering commitment to SEARCA over the past two decades. Jaymark "Jay" Dia, a University of the Philippines Los Baños graduate in computer science with a graduate degree in business management, has been… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) announced the recipients of its Regional Professorial Chair Grants for Academic Year 2025–2026. Five distinguished academicians, recognized for their exceptional contributions to agricultural and rural development, will each receive a grant of USD 5,000. The SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair Grant underscores the Center's commitment to fostering groundbreaking research and academic excellence across Southeast Asia, addressing critical challenges and advancing sustainable practices in the region's agricultural sector. The 2025–2026 SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair awardees are: Professor Yeng Ming Lam, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) concluded a comprehensive Training on Writing for Science and Policy, held on July 21–25, 2025. As a key component of SEARCA's Graduate on Time (GOT) Program, the training empowered eighteen scholars from various SEARCA scholarship study posts across Asia, including Kasetsart University (Thailand), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), IPB University (Indonesia), Tokyo University of Agriculture (Japan), and National Taiwan University. Organized by SEARCA's Education and Collective Learning Department and facilitated by faculty members from the UPLB College… Read more

Request for Proposals: Travel Grants Program Deadline: 31 August 2025 The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture provides travel grants to each qualified agriculture and agriculture-related professional, social scientist, or graduate student in Southeast Asia. Objectives Enable qualified Southeast Asian nationals to participate and present papers in scientific conferences and fora, locally or internationally Promote the dissemination of scientific knowledge vital to sustainable transformation of Southeast Asian agricultural systems through innovation. Provide a venue for dialogue between the grantees and other scientists, researchers, university faculty, and scholars about recent developments in their respective disciplines. Facilitate… Read more