Launched in 1989, the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources, or the University Consortium for short, is a commitment made among leading Southeast Asian higher education institutions to share academic expertise and resources.

Initiated by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in 1989, the University Consortium was seen by SEARCA and its five founding members as a viable approach to pursuing agricultural human resource development in Southeast Asia by linking top agricultural universities in the region to facilitate free exchange of information, facilities, and expertise.

Today, the University Consortium is an effective network linking strong universities in Southeast Asia, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, and Germany.

Categories of Membership

• Members – are leading universities within Southeast Asia which are recognized in their own right, have established graduate education programs in agriculture and natural resources, and genuinely interested in and capable of providing academic and financial support for the success of the University Consortium (UC).
  
  
• Associate Members – are leading universities outside Southeast Asia that have established graduate education programs in agriculture and natural resources, have a genuine interest in regional cooperation with the UC, and are capable of contributing to and providing academic and financial support for the success of the UC.
  
  
• Affiliate Members – are reputable universities or network/consortium of academic and research institutions within and outside Southeast Asia that have established graduate education programs in agriculture and natural resources or public and private organizations/institutions whose thrusts are in agriculture and natural resources, have a genuine interest in regional cooperation with the UC, and are capable of contributing to and providing support in any form for the success of the UC.
  
  

Criteria for New Membership

New Member

• The university should have a location advantage in Southeast Asia.
• The university should have a strong graduate program in agriculture, natural resources and related fields.
• The university has proven its excellence in academic and research programs as judged on the basis of student enrolment, number of graduates per year, preparation and performance of students, strength of faculty in graduate degree programs, academic achievement of its faculty, and participation of staff in scholarly and scientific activities.
• The university should be willing to participate and to contribute to the UC in terms of annual membership fees, manpower resources, and laboratory and research facilities.
  
  

New Associate Member

• The university should have distinguished itself as a recognized institution that can provide the UC students and faculty with the unique experience outside Southeast Asia in the area of agriculture, food and natural resources, and related fields.
• The university should have a keen interest to work with the UC member universities and should have undertaken collaborative work in academic and research with Southeast Asian universities in the past five years.
• The university should have the capability to assist the UC Secretariat in obtaining funds from other sources to support UC activities.
• The university should be willing to participate and contribute to UC activities in terms of annual membership fees, manpower resources, and laboratory and research facilities.
  
  

New Affiliate Member

• The university or public/private organization/institution should have distinguished itself as a recognized institution that can provide the UC students and faculty with the unique experience outside Southeast Asia in the area of agriculture, food and natural resources, and related fields.
• The university or public/private organization/institution should have a keen interest to work with the UC member universities and should have undertaken collaborative work in academic and research with Southeast Asian universities in the past five years.
• The university or public/private organization/institution should have the capability to assist the UC Secretariat in obtaining funds from other sources to support UC activities.
• The university or public/private organization/institution should be willing to financially support their participation in UC activities and contribute to UC activities in any form (cash donation, in-kind contribution, manpower resources, and laboratory and research facilities, etc.)

Resources : Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources
https://uc.searca.org/

Date of Input: 16/08/2024 | Updated: 22/10/2024 | aslamiah