BANGKOK, Thailand – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) showcased its research and administrative initiatives at the SEAMEO Centre Directors Meeting (CDM) 2024 on 17–18 July 2024. Dr. Glenn Gregorio, Center Director, led the SEARCA delegation to the annual meeting.
The CDM brought together leaders of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) to discuss strategies for advancing education and research in the region.
Dr. Gerlie Tatlonghari, SEARCA Program Head for Research and Thought Leadership, presented the Center's blueprint for the Consortium for Agricultural Development, Research, and Extension in Southeast Asia (CADRE) and the progress of its School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE) project. The CADRE aims to unite top-tier institutions in the region to boost sustainable and inclusive agricultural development, while the SHGBEE integrates school gardening with environmental protection and income generation.
On the other hand, SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration Joselito Florendo presented the salient features of the Center's Staff Development Program.
Aside from SEARCA's presentations, the meeting also featured workshops on monitoring and evaluation, policy research, and inter-center collaboration.
The SEARCA delegation also engaged in networking sessions to strengthen cooperation among SEAMEO centers and explore potential partnerships with affiliate members and other institutions from SEAMEO member and associate member countries.
Prior to the CDM, on 16 July 2024, Dr. Gregorio also joined the 3rd SEAMEO Strategic Workshop on Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), which aimed to finalize the organizational MEL framework, discuss the implementation pilot's status, and detail the MEL implementation plan. It featured expert-led sessions, participatory activities, group work, and interactive discussions to deepen understanding of MEL and commitment to MEL practices across all SEAMEO constituents. They reviewed the SEAMEO Results Framework, discussed data collection, and shared successful MEL approaches among the SEAMEO centers. The ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls' Education Programme supports the MEL initiative, which includes implementing software, building capacity, and piloting for scale to provide SEAMEO management with insights into their activities' impact.
The SEARCA delegation to the SEAMEO CDM 2024 comprised (from left) Dr. Glenn Gregorio, Center Director; Ms. Beatrisa Martinez, Executive Coordinator, Office of the Director; Dr. Gerlie Tatlonghari, Program Head for Research and Thought Leadership; and Assoc. Prof. Joselito Florendo, Deputy Director for Administration.