Provided reference to DepEd’s Assessment System and Framework Improved DepEd’s assessment system Enabled the compatibility of the Philippines curriculum and assessment system K to 12 Toolkit: Reference Guide for Teachers, Educators, and School Administrators Completed studies impact on system performance for about 46,000 teachers, reaching 1.7 million learners. Provided information on urgent curricular reforms in the country DepEd - Rights-Based Education in Southeast Asia: Policies and Practices Explored legislation and implementation of the rights of the in education in the SEA region Recommended policy to improve access to education of kids at school age Provided awareness on the marginalized sector and policy response to improve the rights-based education Identified new and emerging policy response to promote the rights of the child in education 11 MOEs - Case Studies and Technical Assistance project on Teaching Standards Recognition of SEAMEO INNOTECH as a knowledge resource on education programs by international development partners - 4 policy forums on key issues on education in the Philippines Validated/reviewed findings generated through field research in support of the DepEd K-12 reform initiative Generated new perspectives in interpreting research data Developed policy guidance for DepEd MOEYS Cambodia MOES Lao PDR UNICEF PnG Technological Institute of the Philippine (TIP) Cebu Normal University -
SEAMEO SEARCA Vision: SEARCA seeks to be the leading enabler and champion of Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development (ISARD). Mission: SEARCA works to strengthen institutional capacities toward inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development (ISARD) in Southeast Asia through graduate education, research and development, and knowledge management. Key Activities & Impact Collaborators & Partners Suggestions to SEAMEC Graduate Scholarship Program At the institutional Development of human resources to serve as leaders and agents of change At the individual level: Automatic promotion in position/rank and salary (for the majority) of SEARCA scholarship alumni Improvement in research and technical skills, as well as communication and social skills; has opened other opportunities for professional growth SEARCA’s current partners in offering its Graduate Scholarship Program include the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the International Development Research Center (IDRC) of Canada, the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), and higher education institutions including the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), the Tokyo University of Agriculture (Tokyo NODAI) and Nagoya University. The University Consortium members which serve as study posts of scholars also provide tuition subsidy and other assistance. The members include UPM; Kasetsart University (Thailand); the University of the Philippines Los Baños; and Institut Pertanian Bogor and Universitas Gadjah Mada (both in Indonesia). In view of the ASEAN regional integration, SEAMEC may facilitate talks and pursue a Regional Credit Transfer System and the standardization of curricula in agriculture and related fields to allow more mobility for scholars. Institutional Development Assistance Program The program is still relatively new and its impact may not yet be that apparent; however, the program has been able to contribute to the manpower development of its partner universities through the In assisting these universities, SEARCA partners with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and the various ministries of education and agriculture in each Southeast Asian country. Funds from the Food Security In order for these IDA partner universities to sustain the gains of the program, they would need institutional support from their governments, particularly of the
various degree and non-degree training activities; and the strategic plans have provided direction for the university’s development. For instance, the Yezin Agricultural University uses its strategic plan to steer external assistance offered by the donor/development community Center of the University of Hohenheim have also been tapped for the conduct of short-term training/course. Ministries of Education and Agriculture. Affiliate members of SEAMEO may also be tapped for the implementation of the strategic plans of these universities. Research and Development Program The various R&D projects proved to be valuable inputs to policies and regulatory frameworks for sustainable ARD in the region. Many of these studies have been used in aid of policy and decision making of various governments, while some have been replicated and scaled up to other parts of the region in order to improve growth in the agriculture sector and expand the gains and lessons learned from the research. Majority of these projects also have capacity building components which directly benefited individuals and government institutions in the region. Example: Building Capacity to to Climate Change in Southeast Asia The project was able to contribute to developing resiliency to flooding, typhoon, and drought of vulnerable communities in Kampong Speu province in Cambodia, Laguna province in the Philippines, and Thua Thien Hue province in Vietnam. International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPESEA), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Hue School of Economics, Vietnam, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Grow Asia, Food Systems Innovation, Seas of Change, Global Donor Platform for Rural Development German-ASEAN Program on Response to Climate Change (GAP-CC), and the Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (Giz) GMBH, ASEAN Technical Working Group on Agricultural Research and Development (ATWGARD) SEAMEC may draw on the Center’s R&D outputs to inform policy and decision-making in education, most specifically in higher education; and in its members participation in development policymaking focused on agricultural and rural development. Umbrella Programs on Food and Nutrition Security and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation University Consortium, Food Security Center, CGIAR agencies and programs such as CIAT -
It is envisioned that the synergy created by the Umbrella Program can produce added value in terms of new knowledge, technologies, capacities, processes, and inputs to policies at the national and regional levels than what is currently being generated by institutions working on their own specific research agenda. and CCAFS, various Ministries of Agriculture and Universities in Southeast Asia Seed Fund for Research and Training (SFRT) The SFRT projects have helped strengthen the capacities of researchers and the communities where the studies have been conducted. These have also contributed to the body of knowledge on ISARD, climate change and related fields through the publications and other knowledge products generated and have helped promote/support development of the region. ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN), ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Secretariat, and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation - Short-term trainings and learning events The participation of senior and middle managers/researchers and leaders in SEARCA learning events have contributed to strengthening higher education institutions, government line agencies, and other development-oriented organizations in the region. In addition, many of SEARCA’s training alumni have brought their expertise to the regional arena allowing them to contribute to agricultural and rural development in their countries and the Southeast Asian region in a greater capacity. Specifically, the learning events that the Center has conducted helped enhance the technical leadership capabilities of many government agencies concerned with agricultural and rural development. This resulted to more SEARCA has been able to short-term training to its stakeholders with the support of various institutions in the development community, academe, governments, private sector, and civil society. These institutions range from local, national, regional and international organizations. -
rational and proactive decision-making and implementation of programs that address emerging issues and contemporary challenges in achieving rapid, inclusive and sustained economic growth. SEARCA’s Publication Program SEARCA’s publications have contributed to the available scientific literature in agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia and have served as useful references for policymakers, researchers/ scholars, and students on the technical, and within the last two decades, contemporary issues, in agricultural and rural development. Via its website and online presence that supports SEARCA’s visibility in its various scientific and policy-oriented knowledge events, policy makers have requested for SEARCA publications and invited SEARCA to input into legislative deliberations. - - Special Project - Biotechnology Information Center Some biotech policies are in place in the Philippines as an outcome contributed by BIC efforts and active networking. This has over the years placed the Philippines a step ahead of neighboring countries in ASEAN in terms of a science-based policy framework that allowed exploration of biotech as a pathway toward food security, food quality, and safety (this is up until the recent controversial court case where Greenpeace has had the upper hand). Through its contributions, there is a united and active sector of informed biotech advocates in academe, R&D, policy, farmers/producers, science biotechnology International Service for the Acquisition of Applications (ISAAA) has since its inception provided counterpart support for SEARCA BIC, which by its networking mandate has collaborated with various Philippine institutions, as follows: Philippine Department of Program Office University of the Philippines Los Baños- Institute of Plant Breeding (UPLB-IPB) UPLB-National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPLB-BIOTECH) National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST) SEAMEC may tap SEARCA BIC for science communication and learning on agri-biotechnology for the youth. Its strong support is further sought for endeavors and science communication as practiced by BIC, particularly in biotech communication research to enhance understanding and boost information, education and communication (IEC) efforts; in