Los Banos, Laguna – National Taiwan University (NTU) and SEARCA collaborated for the offering of a joint scholarship for the Master Program in Global Agriculture Technology and Genomic Science (ATGS). The Global ATGS is offered by the International College of NTU for its students to gain deeper understanding on smart farming technology, genome science research, and breeding science and technology. The NTU-SEARCA Joint Scholarship Program for Global ATGS aims to cultivate agricultural professional talents, encourage academic excellence, and promote the research and development of agriculture within Southeast Asia.
The program also provides an opportunity for internship and field visits in line with NTU's efforts to connect with industries and promote hands-on training. The program's curriculum is interdisciplinary to develop global bio-agricultural talents that are responsive to the needs of the agriculture sector and with advanced knowledge and practical skills on contemporary agriculture.
Keystone courses include global agriculture technology foresight, mathematical method for life science, and scientific writing. Under Digital Agriculture Technology, students will explore the application of blockchain technology in agriculture, process control for smart farming, plant factory, smart technology applied to livestock production, and agriculture waste treatment engineering. In Genome Science, discussions will be on genetics and genomics, crop genomic breeding, advanced plant molecular biology, core biotechnology: DNA, RNA, and protein, special topics in poultry production, and medicine and products processing. For Breeding Science and Technology, studies will be on the agriculture of Taiwan, introduction to bioinformatics, crop modeling, and plant phenotyping.
The program, offered in English, requires students to finish their thesis and at least 24 credits of coursework which includes 12 credits of compulsory courses and 12 credits of elective courses to earn the degree. Global ATGS will have its inaugural class in August 2020.
Besides this collaboration on a joint scholarship, SEARCA and NTU have worked together in different activities as both institutions are also members of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC). NTU hosted the previous 32nd UC Executive Board Meeting in November 2019 and will be hosting the 2nd Faculty Forum on 8-9 September 2020.
For more information about the program, visit the Global ATGS page. Details of the joint scholarship are available here.