Scholars, eminent scientists, and prime movers, in agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) research and development (R&D) celebrated the value of knowledge sharing and global collaboration at the First International Graduate Research and Education Assistantship for Technology (iGREAT) Convention last November 05, 2024 at Muntinlupa City.
Hosted by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), the iGREAT Convention assembled key players of the scholarship program to connect, share experiences, and build a strong network for future collaborations. The event served as a platform to showcase the impact of global partnerships and highlighted successful collaborative research outcomes.
DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora set the stage for the event with an inspiring message. Dr. Ebora highlighted the support of DOST-PCAARRD scholarship programs as a key driver in the Council’s capability-building efforts, with more than six years of positive outcomes.
In his message, Dr. Ebora noted that cultivating a rich R&D community in the country goes beyond technical training. It is about inspiring a culture that values science, technology, and innovation in all aspects of development. “The iGREAT Program is more than earning a degree; it’s about building a community of Filipino researchers, equipped to lead global scientific advancement in the fields of AANR,” Dr. Ebora said.
Academician and Former DOST Secretary William G. Padolina, in his keynote message, enthused, “Now, we must adopt a circular economy. To prepare for our future, we must learn how to correct (what was done wrong), continue (save) the positive gains; and create (install) solutions to our problems.”
Academician Padolina further emphasized that the country must urgently invest in building a skilled, innovative workforce to remain competitive in a technology-driven, intelligence-based global economy. As such, the iGREAT program aims to address these challenges and generate a competitive talent pool for the future of the Philippine AANR R&D.
The iGREAT Convention also featured presentations from UNESCO Fellowship alumni, who detailed their journeys as international scholars. These talks included insights from Dr. Lourdes Nadala of Diagnostics for the Real World, Ltd.; Dr. Walter A. Laviña of the Institute of Biological Sciences-University of the Philippines Los Baños (IBS-UPLB); Dr. Francisco B. Elegado of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH-UPLB); and Dr. Crisanto M. Lopez from Ateneo de Manila University.
A plenary session with the GREAT completers was also held together with Dr. Jill Villanueva of the Philippine Rubber Institute, Dr. Emil John Cabrera of the UPLB-Technology Transfer and Business Development Office, and Mr. John Albert Caraan of the UPLB-Institute of Plant Breeding – some of the young researchers, aspiring scientists and leaders being honed by the GREAT Program.
International collaborators of the iGREAT program were also present during the event. Partners from prestigious institutions such as Texas Tech University, Osaka University, and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) shared their experiences as hosts of the program and partners of DOST-PCAARRD in fostering greater talents.
As a fitting conclusion to the one-day convention, Dr. Jayeel S. Cornelio, newly appointed Director of the Science and Education Institute (DOST-SEI) emphasized the critical role of international collaboration, drawing from his own experiences as a beneficiary of such partnerships. "We must sustain the energy and momentum you've demonstrated," Dr. Cornelio remarked, "to nurture a new generation of researchers and scientists committed to advancing the nation's welfare."
iGREAT is a scholarship program of the DOST-PCAARRD, in partnership with the DOST-SEI, that offers support to graduate students abroad who are conducting DOST-PCAARRD-funded research projects. The scholarship includes tuition, allowances, research budgets, and potential re-entry grants of up to P5 million upon program completion, which is for implementation in their agency of origin. Meanwhile, iGREAT serves as the program’s international assistance counterpart.
Moving forward, DOST-PCAARRD aims to continue its human resources development initiatives by expanding its current efforts and increasing support and assistance to more students and young researchers. As the first iGREAT Convention concludes, the Council urges the scientific community to create more collaborations and build partnerships to ensure a sustainable knowledge ecosystem that shall benefit the country and the world.