Two SU Aggies Faculty Join Short-Term Program in New Zealand
Two faculty members from the Silliman University (SU) College of Agriculture (CoA) have been awarded a prestigious short-term study grant by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to participate in an advanced training program in New Zealand from December 1 to 15, 2024.
Rafael B. Nepomuceno, part-time faculty member and manager of the SU Scheide Farm, and Chester Wing Siong Señerez, a full-time faculty member, were among 31 recipients of CHED’s Higher Education Upskilling and Study for Advancement of Staff and Faculty (HUSAY) Grant Program. This program provided the scholars with an opportunity to attend an Advanced Short Course on Sustainable Dairy Production Systems designed for higher education institutions in the Philippines.
The course was hosted by Massey University’s Manawatū campus in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It aimed to enhance the participants’ expertise in dairy production systems by comparing New Zealand’s highly successful pasture-based model with the current systems in the Philippines.
Nepomuceno highlighted the program’s impact, stating, “This course significantly built our capability as faculty and researchers. It aligned with efforts to improve dairy production expertise in the Philippines, using comparisons as a learning tool to understand the effects of environmental, nutritional, and management factors on dairy production.”
The curriculum covered key topics, including:
- Animal Biosecurity
- Dairy Production Systems in New Zealand
- Supply Chain Management
- Pasture Growth and Grazing Management
- Feed Supply and Management
- Reproductive Management of Dairy Cattle in the Tropics
- Dairy-Beef Systems and Beef Production from Dairy
- Genetics and Animal Breeding
- Environmental Sustainability and Climate Impact
Participants engaged in lectures, practical workshops, exercises, and group activities designed to adapt New Zealand’s successful practices to the Philippine context. They explored Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) from the New Zealand dairy industry, identifying similarities and differences to inform strategies for local implementation. Hands-on field trips further enriched the learning experience, bridging theoretical concepts with real-world applications.
In preparation for the program, CHED required participants to develop a Re-Entry Action Plan (REAP), outlining initiatives to apply their newly acquired knowledge. Following the course, participants are expected to implement these plans through curriculum development, research projects, or outreach programs with local dairy farmers.
Chester Wing Siong Señerez and Rafael B. Nepomuceno take a pose during one of their field trips.
