Accompanied by Mr. Vasco Viana, Education Attaché at the Embassy of Timor-Leste, the Ambassador shared their government’s plan to strengthen its agriculture, fisheries, and tourism sectors which may serve as windows for further collaboration between SEARCA and Timor-Leste.
During the visit on 26 February 2016, Dr. Saguiguit briefed the Ambassador about SEARCA and its current programs and activities, particularly the Center’s ongoing Institutional Development Assistance (IDA) Program for the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL). Under this program, SEARCA aims to develop UNTL as the go-to institution for addressing the human resources development needs in the agricultural and rural development (ARD) sector of Timor-Leste.
Ambassador Martins also lauded SEARCA’s Graduate Education and Institutional Development Program, which to date has awarded graduate scholarships to 49 Timorese. He said that they would tap these Timorese SEARCA alumni to support the national government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, in providing policy recommendations and guidance on issues related to ARD.
Dr. Saguiguit was joined by Dr. Maria Cristeta N. Cuaresma, Program Head, Graduate Education and Institutional Development Department (GEIDD); Dr. Maria Celeste H. Cadiz, Program Head, Knowledge Management Department (KMD); Mr. Henry M. Custodio, Program Specialist, Research and Development Department (RDD); and Ms. Nancy L. De Leon, Program Specialist, Project Development and Technical Services (PDTS) in receiving the Ambassador.
Earlier this year, Ambassador Martins visited Los Baños specifically to check on the status of and meet with Timorese SEARCA scholars taking graduate degree programs at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
