The program, “Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Scholarship Offerings for ASEAN Researchers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar (CLM),” had produced two MS graduates this year, while 24 (19 MS and 5 PhD scholars) are still completing their studies.
DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI) implements the said scholarship and is being monitored by the DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).
DOST has been offering scholarship and training programs to ASEAN (CLM) researchers since 2017.
The graduated scholars were from Myanmar. Mr. Mo Thant Kyaw graduated MS on Environmental Science from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and Mr. Tun Tun Oo graduated under the MS Electronics and Communications Engineering program from the De La Salle University (DLSU).
Mr. Kyaw received a special award from the UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management as the Most Diligent Student, while Mr. Oo was given an incentive by DOST-SEI equivalent to one term (four months) stipend for completing his studies within five terms only instead of the prescribed six terms at DLSU.
The concept of the scholarship opportunities for ASEAN researchers evolved after the 9th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology (IAMMST-9) held in October 2016 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, where it was mentioned that the year 2017 is the 60th year of the Philippines-Cambodia Bilateral Relations.
To commemorate said partnership, DOST offered 10 scholarship slots and 50 training slots for Cambodians. This initiative has been extended for Lao PDR and Myanmar as part of the ASEAN-help-ASEAN scheme for CLM.
Considering the interest of CLM in sending more scholars to the Philippines as conveyed during the 10th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology (IAMMST-10) held last October 19, 2019 in Cebu City, DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña pledged 24 additional scholarship slots to CLM or eight annual slots from 2019 to 2021. This is to strengthen the support of DOST to the ASEAN STI Partnership Contributions. With DOST’s approval to implement the additional scholarship support, a total of 42 CLM scholars will benefit from the program.
With the project’s main goal of promoting human resource development in engineering and sciences for sustainable socio-economic development of the ASEAN region particularly in CLM, it is expected that by 2024, practicing engineers and scientists in CLM will already have upgraded qualifications and have developed a culture of research and development (R&D).