Study opportunities making a difference

The long-term benefits of providing postgraduate scholarships to partners from developing countries is highlighted by the number who are now playing key roles and passing on their valuable knowledge and skills.

“Building the capacity of agricultural research institutions in partner countries in one of ACIAR’s key priorities,” said ACIAR Deputy CEO Dr John Skerritt. “This is crucial for ensuring development-research outcomes are generated and sustained.”

“ACIAR helps build the capability of its partner institutions through on-the-job training of staff during the implementation of ACIAR-funded projects, along with offering specific training opportunities in Australia,” Dr Skerritt said.

Each year ACIAR supports a group of PhD and Masters students at Australian institutions through the John Allwright Fellowship scheme. Short-term capacity building opportunities are funded through the John Dillon Fellowship scheme. The Fellowships are available to researchers who are actively involved in ACIAR projects in partner countries.

A recent survey of returned ACIAR fellows showed an overwhelming positive response from both fellows and institute directors:

• 93% of fellows agreed their skills and knowledge acquired during their postgraduate studies were highly relevant to their current positions
• 95% of fellows indicated their fellowship was a positive experience; with both fellows and directors identified research and writing skills, increased flexibility, openness to new ideas and the network of professional contacts as major benefits
• 99% of fellows were facilitating the transfer of knowledge and skills within their institute or current workplace.

An impact assessment of capacity building and training activities of ACIAR and the Crawford Fund in 2007 showed that capacity building plays a major role in the success of research projects, in one case study contributing a conservative estimate of 50% of the project benefits.

Some success stories

• Beero Tioti, Manager (Development Cooperation) for AusAID, Tarawa, Kiribati
• Dr Dinh Van Tuyen, Deputy Head, Animal Feed and Nutrition Division, National Institute of Animal Husbandry, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Dr Renuka Shrestha, National Coordinator, Grain Legume Research Program, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Ari Kristini, Research Scientist, Indonesian Sugar Research Institute (ISRI)
• Dr Siosiua Halavatau, Secretariat of the Pacific Community
• Marie-Vianney Melteras, Chief Executive Officer, Vanuatu Agriculture Research and Technical Centre
• Michael Poesi, Senior Forestry Officer, PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd, Papua New Guinea
• Dr Kamaludeen Sara Parwin Banu, Associate Professor, Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India
• Eric Omuru, economist and marketing adviser, Kokonas Industri Koporesen (KIK) Papua New Guinea
• Dr Bhagirath Singh Chauhan, Postdoctoral Fellow, International Rice Research Institute, India
• Dr Minda Mangabat, Chief Statistician, Crop Statistics Division, Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, Philippines
• Dr Daping Xu, Research Professor, Research Institute of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, China