31 Southeast Asian HEI leaders complete SEARCA program

Thirty-one higher education leaders from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam have successfully completed the 7th Leadership Development Program for Higher Education Institutions in Southeast Asia (LDP-HEIs in SEA). The hybrid program, organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), The HEAD Foundation, and IPB University, was designed to strengthen leadership capacities in universities across the region.

Conducted from 23 September to 18 November 2025, the three-month program comprised five online sessions and a three-day onsite segment at IPB University in Bogor, Indonesia. Participants included deputy heads, program coordinators, associate/assistant/vice deans, deans, directors, administrators, and vice presidents, all dedicated to leading change in their respective institutions.

After the presentation of the Top 12 REAPs, five were selected as the Best REAPs. The awardees were Dr. Jesson Butcon of Caraga State University, Philippines; Dr. Juan Moshe Duyan of Kalinga State University, Philippines; Dr. Artemio Martin Jr. and Dr. Emerson Barcellano of Isabela State University; Dr. Issaree Supnui of Kasetsart University, Thailand; and Dr. Zulnaidi bin Yaacob of Universiti Sains Malaysia. Their REAPs focused on topics such as One Health, academic indigenization, internationalization, open and distance learning, curriculum and research capacity improvement, and product development.

Dr. Nova Ramos, Head of SEARCA’s Training for Development Unit, lauded the graduates, emphasizing the importance of translating new skills into meaningful institutional transformation. “The impact of this program will be measured not by the certificates that you earned, but by the changes that you champion, the teams you empower, and the systems you transform when you return to your respective universities,” she noted.

Participants also reflected on their experiences, highlighting the program’s transformative impact. Dr. Winitra Leelapattana, Associate Dean at the International College of Maejo University in Thailand, described the program as a defining moment in her professional journey. Dr. Siti Sahmsiah binti Sahmat, Senior Lecturer and Coordinator at the Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology of Universiti Teknologi MARA in Malaysia, emphasized the importance of leading with clarity and purpose gained from the training. Atty. Rushid Jay Sancon, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Laguna State Polytechnic University in the Philippines, underscored the value of collaboration and the insights on leadership as a mission for development.

The program was co-facilitated by distinguished leaders in higher education, including Dr. N Varaprasad, Program Director and former Deputy President of the National University of Singapore; Dr. Calvin Chan, Assistant Provost for Curricula and Student Matters at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS); and Dr. Rebekah Lim, Deputy Dean of the College of Interdisciplinary and Experiential Learning at SUSS.

As the program concluded, organizers applauded the participants’ dedication and encouraged continued collaboration and knowledge sharing to drive innovation and excellence in Southeast Asian higher education.