10 Universities in Southeast Asia join CLSU’s flagship International Mobility Program with SEARCA and University Consortium

A total of 10 universities from across Southeast Asia are participating in this year’s edition of the International Summer Short-Term Program on Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability on the university campus for the next two weeks until August 2. The fourth installment of this international mobility program is a joint activity of the Central Luzon State University and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (University Consortium) The participating universities from the University Consortium include Universitas Gadjah Madah (Indonesia), Universiti Putra Malaysia (Malaysia), IPB University (Indonesia), Maejo University (Thailand), Visayas State University, University of the Philippines Los Banos and Central Luzon State University. Participants from these universities received travel support grants from the University Consortium. Outside the consortium, this year’s participants came from Mae Fah Luang University (Thailand), An Giang University (Vietnam), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (Malaysia), and Universitas Pakuan (Indonesia). During the opening ceremony on July 22, President Evaristo A. Abella of CLSU emphasized the crucial importance of sustaining the collaborative International Mobility Program, underscoring its role in preparing youth and future leaders in agriculture for sustainable leadership, highlighting CLSU’s commitment to promoting mutually beneficial cooperation among member institutions, and optimizing collective consortium resources through robust linkages in collaborative research projects and student mobility opportunities to address multiple sustainable development goals. Ms. Blessie Saez, Senior Program Associate, Education and Collective Learning Department of SEARCA, represented both the SEARCA and the University Consortium during the event and also provided an overview of both organizations and the available opportunities for graduate students as well as university staff. She also led the learning materials donation to the University Library from the SEARCA publications. In her recorded message, Dr. Nur Azura Binti Adam, Deputy Director of SEARCA, encouraged participants to make the most out of this program by actively participating in all activities, showing their insights, and building and expanding their professional network. She emphasized that their involvement would enhance both their academic and professional growth and contribute to developing sustainable solutions to pressing challenges in the agriculture sector. Dr. Ravelina R. Velasco, Vice President for Academic Affairs and UC Executive Officer, gave the participants an overview of the previous three editions of the international program. Dr. Parsons N. Hail, Director of the International Affairs Office, gave an overview of the program while Dr. Emil F. Ubaldo, Chief of the Mobility and Intercultural Exchange Unit, introduced the participating universities. Also present during the opening ceremony was Dr. Edgar A. Orden, the immediate past president of CLSU and current Vice President for Research and Extension. Dr. Orden, a leading scientist in goat research in the Philippines, will serve as the featured speaker in the track on Efficient and Sustainable Goat Production. Over the course of two weeks, the 18 participants from different Southeast Asian universities were enrolled in sustainable aquaculture, mushroom pharming, and goat farming tracks run by CLSU’s specialized R&D centers including the Freshwater Aquaculture Center, Center for Tropical Mushroom Research and Development Center, and the Small Ruminant Center. The International Affairs Office and the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs are the overall lead units of the University in this program.