CHON BURI, Thailand — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) will lead the design and pilot of a regional micro credential curriculum on regenerative and resilient agriculture, in partnership with the SEAMEO Regional Open Learning Centre (SEAMOLEC) and the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (RIHED). The 12 month initiative is funded by the SEAMEO Inter Centre Collaboration (ICC) Grant.
The project, “Developing and Pilot Testing a Micro Credential Curriculum on Regenerative and Resilient Agriculture for Southeast Asia,” responds to the region’s growing demand for structured, competency based training in regenerative farming. It supports the ASEAN Food, Agriculture and Forestry Sectoral Plan 2026–2030 and SEAMEO priorities on TVET, climate resilience, food security, and higher education.
The project will develop an open access, competency based course for agricultural educators, TVET trainers, extension workers, and early career practitioners. Three self paced modules will cover: (1) foundations of regenerative agriculture, (2) regenerative farming practices and agroecological systems, and (3) climate adaptive farm planning and implementation. Possible topics include cover cropping, minimal tillage, composting, agroforestry, integrated pest management, water retention, soil restoration, and farm level biodiversity.
Work will begin with a rapid training needs assessment in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. Universities, TVET providers, extension specialists, and industry partners will identify priority knowledge and practical skills across different agricultural settings. SEARCA and its partners will also review existing curricula, ASEAN priorities, and national qualifications frameworks to finalize course competencies and learning outcomes.
The modules will be released as open educational resources via a mobile friendly online platform, allowing universities, TVET centers, extension agencies, and other organizations to use or adapt them at no cost. At least 30 learners from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand will take part in the pilot test, with feedback informing refinements before wider rollout. The project will promote the participation of women, rural practitioners, Indigenous Peoples, and other underrepresented groups.
SEARCA will manage the project and lead the needs assessment, competency framework, curriculum development, module writing, quality assurance, and pilot testing in the Philippines. SEAMOLEC will convert content into self paced online modules, host the course on its learning management system, provide technical and learner support, and organize the pilot in Indonesia. RIHED will advise on quality assurance, assessment, alignment with national qualifications frameworks, credit transfer, and pathways to institutional recognition.
The project will document lessons on competency based curriculum design, quality assurance, qualifications framework alignment, and recognition pathways for agricultural micro credentials. These insights may shape regional discussions on how micro credentials can be recognized, combined, or credited toward formal qualifications, with broader institutional adoption and cross country portability as longer term goals.
The initiative supports Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia), the central theme of SEARCA’s 12th Five Year Development Plan for FY 2025/2026–2029/2030. By combining regenerative agriculture, flexible learning, and regional collaboration, the micro credential provides accessible, practical training for educators and practitioners and contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals on quality education, zero hunger, and climate action.