Engr. Joanna Rose P. Angayen, a University Research Associate at the Sericulture Research and Development Institute (SRDI), has been awarded a scholarship grant by the Korea International Cooperation Agency – Capacity Improvement and Advancement for Tomorrow (KOICA-CIAT) to pursue her Master’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering at Kyungpook National University (KNU) in Daegu, South Korea.

On July 23, 2024, KOICA Philippines successfully held a pre-departure orientation for the 2024 Scholarship Program Fellows among the 14 promising Filipino government officials pursuing their master’s degrees in various fields at top Korean universities from August 2024 to February 2026.

The KOICA Scholarship Program aims to train key leaders in partner countries to contribute to the socio-economic development of their home nations. The KOICA-KNU collaboration focuses on training public officials to become change agents for development, enabling them to enhance agricultural production in their countries, regions, and the global community, sharing Korea’s experiences in economic and social development while providing practical knowledge of agricultural production technology and best practices that fueled Korea’s growth; and strengthening strategic partnerships with developing countries for future collaboration in the agriculture sector.

Engr. Angayen expressed her gratefulness for the opportunity given to her. “This opportunity is a blessing and a dream come true for me to deepen my knowledge in the ABE field.”

Engr. Angayen also noted that South Korea has made significant advancements in agriculture, engineering, science, and technology.

“I am eager to learn from these developments and apply them for future use, not only in my work but also for advancing the Philippine agriculture sector. The KOICA-SP also opens doors for collaboration with leading experts in my field,” she added.

Engr. Angayen’s journey underscores the significance of scholarships in empowering researchers to broaden their perspectives and address urgent global challenges. (By Aileen G. Carriedo)