SEARCA appoints MY prof as deputy director

A distinguished female educator and administrator at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has been appointed as deputy director for programs of the Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).

For the first time, according to SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio, a Malaysian woman has been appointed for a three-year term starting Jan. 1, 2023.

"I am very happy that we now have Dr. Nur Azura Binti Adam as our deputy director for programs since the post had been vacant since 2006. I am doubly pleased that with Dr. Nur we have not only the first Malaysian but also the first lady to fill up the position," Gregorio said.

Nur will provide strategic leadership and direction to SEARCA's core programs on Education and Collective Learning, Research and Thought Leadership, and Emerging Innovation for Growth.

"She will be instrumental in pushing our 11th Five-Year Plan of Accelerating Transformation Through Agricultural Innovation,"nGregorio added.

Also the immediate past dean of the UPM Faculty of Agriculture, Nur is an associate professor who holds a PhD and MS in Entomology and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

Gregorio said it was during her tenure as dean when she led the management team in developing the five-year strategic plan of the faculty, which is envisioned to become the reference hub for Southeast Asian agriculture.

Moreover, Nur established international linkages and collaboration in academic programs, including student exchange and mobility activities.

Skilled in strategic and action planning, she was involved in student development and review of academic programs to produce holistic graduates.

Since 2020, Nur served as auditor of the academic program under the Malaysia Board of Technologists Accreditation, and as Panel Advisor for the Master of Science (Entomology) of UKM and the Crop Agro-industry Diploma Program of Vocational College, Ministry of Education, Malaysia.

She served as a Malaysian representative in the Regional and Sub-regional Assessments of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services undertaken by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in Paris, France in 2018.

Nur has received various commendations throughout her career, including the Excellent Service Award, Best Lecturer Award and Publication Incentive Award.