Participants and Resource Persons of the Training Workshop on Bridging Research into Policy together with the Education and Collective Learning Department and Office of the Director.
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) organized the Training Workshop on Bridging Research into Policy from 21–23 January 2025 as part of its commitment to nurturing future leaders and innovators in agriculture and rural development. Fifteen SEARCA scholars from various institutions such as Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), IPB University in Indonesia, and Benguet State University in the Philippines traveled to Los Baños, Laguna to attend the learning event.
The training workshop was led by Adjunct Professor Wilfredo B. Carada of the Institute of Governance and Rural Development at UPLB's College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAF), alongside CPAF faculty members aProf. Miriam Caryl D. Carada, Prof. Nelson Jose Vincent B. Querijero, and Assoc. Prof. Maria Kristina G. Alinsunusin. The lessons focused on equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to translate research findings into actionable policies. The workshop explored the growing movement toward evidence-informed policy and practice, guiding participants through developing collaborative frameworks linking research, policy, and practice. Scholars learned to craft policy briefs and memos, communicate effectively with policymakers, and organize policy dialogues.
Through its four-module structure, the workshop emphasized the importance of policy entrepreneurship, encouraging SEARCA scholars to play proactive roles in framing problems, building networks, advocating for evidence-based solutions, storytelling, and working within multidisciplinary teams. The program also highlighted the need for universities to reorient their research agenda toward evidence-informed policymaking (EIPM), stressing the importance of strategic communication, partnership building, and mainstreaming research to achieve meaningful policy impacts.
The workshop also addressed critical challenges in the policymaking process, such as ensuring the timeliness, relevance, and credibility of scientific information while navigating biases and competing agenda in the policy arena. A key highlight of the workshop was the participants' development of policy memos, briefs, and re-entry action plans based on their theses and dissertations. These were focused on various fields, including agricultural and resource economics, environmental science, community development, epidemiology and public health, statistics and data science, plant pathology, aquatic biology, food science, aquaculture, agricultural development policy, agronomy, and development studies. These outputs helped scholars transform their research into policies, ensuring their results can contribute to sustainable development in Southeast Asia.
Kroesna Mon, a Master in Aquatic Biology student at Universiti Sains Malaysia, presented her policy brief.
In his closing remarks, SEARCA Center Director Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio encouraged participants to continue transforming their research into impactful and actionable policies, emphasizing the Center's full support in the scholars' endeavors. He also highlighted their role in bridging the gap between research and policy to drive the region's innovation and sustainability.
Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Center Director, delivered his closing message.
The training workshop is part of SEARCA's Graduate on Time (GOT) Program, which provides scholars with targeted learning opportunities to help them complete their academic requirements on schedule. The GOT Program offers specialized training in English proficiency, scientific writing, research methodologies, data analysis, and presentation skills. This year's introduction of Bridging Research into Policy marks a significant addition to SEARCA's training programs for scholars, with plans to include it as a regular offering to strengthen their capacity to influence policy and practice.