Author : Cedicol, Editha C.

Summary : Since 1969, SEAMEO member countries have benefited from SEARCA's human resource development efforts through its Graduate Scholarship Program. This study aimed to determine the impact of SEARCA's Graduate Scholarship Program on fellows of selected institutions in the Philippines. Data were obtained from 169 fellows and 180 fellows' supervisors. The study revealed that the Program had a significant impact on the SEARCA fellows in terms of position/rank, salary, research skills, management skills, technical skills, self-confidence, career opportunities, awards/recognition, and performance in research and extension. It also had significant impact on institution by way of the fellows' achievements in the development or enhancement of instruction, research, and extension programs. Impact was not significant on the fellows' teaching performance, communication skills, and work loads in teaching, research, and extension. Overall, the Program was perceived by both SEARCA fellows and their supervisors as "very useful" in terms of developing human resources, considering the achievements of SEARCA fellows. The study recommended the following: 1) strengthening of fellows' network for collaborative activities and information sharing to achieve the "tricle-down effect" on the beneficiaries of the Program; 2) a review of degree of programs for scholarship to make them relevant to the needs of the country; 3) exploring possibilities for a re-entry program for SEARCA fellows to ensure continued and sustained application of fellows' training and expertise in their respective workplaces; 4) inclusion of short and long-term agricultural human resource development plans in the general plan of DECS; 5) closer coordination of DECS and CHED with other government agencies involved in agriculture, science, and technology; and 6) bigger bugets for teacher training, staff development, curriculum development, and R & D programs of agricultural colleges and universities.