SEARCA Director Gil C. Saguiguit Jr. accepted the award presented by Myanmar President U Thein Sein at the country’s commemoration of World Food Day held on 16 October at Yezin Agricultural University (YAU), according to a press release.

Currently, 27 Myanmar are enrolled in PhD and master’s programmes at universities in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand under SEARCA scholarship. All told, SEARCA awarded 80 master’s and PhD scholarships to Myanmar nationals to date, 53 of whom have completed their graduate programmes.

Moreover, 167 Myanmar had participated in 33 international, regional, and national training, seminars, and other learning events conducted by SEARCA. Myanmar also participated in the seven Policy Roundtables for policymakers and rural development practitioners organized by SEARCA from 2004 to 2011 and hosted three of the seven high-level meetings.

At present, two Myanmar researchers are implementing research projects funded by SEARCA under its Seed Fund for Research and Training (SFRT). The other four Myanmar SFRT grantees had completed their projects, while two others availed of SEARCA travel grants to present the result of their research in scientific conferences.

Myanmar is also covered by two ongoing SEARCA-implemented research projects in Southeast Asia. One of the projects is on food reserves management and the other is on social forestry as it relates to climate change, food security, and poverty alleviation.

YAU is one of the first three beneficiaries of SEARCA’s Institutional Development Assistance (IDA) Program, which develops strategic universities in Southeast Asia that have the potential to contribute to the country’s development.

Dr. Saguiguit said SEARCA is assisting YAU so it can effectively support the agricultural development agenda of MOAI. SEARCA supported and facilitated an institutional review to improve YAU’s curriculum and course offerings. Its continuing support to YAU includes PhD scholarships awarded to two YAU faculty members.