The 2023 Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) Summer School under the theme of  "Sustainability of Agricultural Systems in Difficult Environments" was took place at Kasetsart University, Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus and Bangkok Campus, Thailand between 24th July - 4th August 2023. This was the 7th Summer School organized under the UC and this year, KU collaborated with the TALENT Programme on Sustainable Land Management of the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD).

The Summer School supported by the UC was regularly offered to 12 UC members and organized in different countries to educate and emphasize the need of agricultural development in Southeast Asia. The programme which was specifically designed for postgraduates and other professionals offered a comprehensive discussion on the economic, social, and environmental challenges as well as a critical review in the aspect of sustainability when agricultural productions are extended in unfavorable conditions. The programme also enhanced participants' understanding in rural studies, agriculture and natural resources management on the sustainable use of land and water resources in agriculture production specifically in Southeast Asia.

The programme brought together 28 students from UC member universities, including IPB University, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and Universitas Brawijaya from Indonesia; Universiti Putra Malaysia from Malaysia; Kasetsart University and Maejo University from Thailand; Tokyo NODAI from Japan; National Taiwan University from Taiwan; UP Los Baños, Visayas State University, Central Luzon State University, and Central Mindanao University from the Philippines. 

Also presented, four delegates from Cagayan State University and Capiz State University, both are members of the State Universities and Colleges-Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines (SUC-ACAP). All together, there were 51 participants from 9 countries participated in the programme. UPM was represented by 2 postgraduate students namely Nurul Solehah Mohd Zaini (3rd year of PhD in the field of Food Biotechnology) and Nur Nabila Wae Ali Etam (2nd year of MSc iin the field of Industrial Biotechnology). 

The closing ceremony and certificate conferment took place on 4 August in Bangkok, Thailand. All participants also had the opportunity to tour the KU Institute of Food Research and Development, as well as the KU Milk Center.

Tarikh Input: 11/08/2023 | Kemaskini: 25/10/2023 | aslamiah