Dato’ Ir. Dr. Mohd Saleh Jaafar expressed the hope that UPM’s participation in this collaboration would assist in producing high quality human resources in agriculture for the Southeast Asian region.

The Dean, School of Graduate Studies, Prof. Dr. Bujang Kim Huat pointed out that under this project, UPM is expected to award a matching scholarship for every full scholarship given by SEARCA.

“The number of scholarship grantees from UPM can increase to a maximum of four graduate students per academic year if SEARCA also sponsors four students with full scholarships at UPM, as agreed upon by both parties, starting the next semester,” he said.

SEARCA was established by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) in 1966. In line with its objectives in improving the university’s capacities in agricultural and rural state development in the South East Asian region through graduate scholarships, research and development, as well as knowledge management, SEARCA expanded its graduate scholarship scheme to include UPM, among other leading universities in Southeast Asia. As of date, SEARCA has awarded a total of 77 scholarships to various Southeast Asian nationals to complete their study programme at UPM.

The University Consortium is an international organisation established by SEARCA in 1989 and participated by five leading agricultural universities in Southeast Asia. It also includes agricultural universities from Canada, Australia, Japan, and Germany as associate members.

UPM is the only member from Malaysia. Other members are Institut Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia, Kasetsart University, Thailand, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, University of the Philippines Los Banos, the Philippines, University of British Columbia (Canada), University of Queensland (Australia), University of Gottingen (Germany), and Tokyo University of Agriculture (Jepan).