HRD Program in Biotechnology

underlying causes of the shortage of skilled manpower in the field of biotechnology in CLMV, which are lack of facilities, equipment, technical know-how, limited research and development in biotechnology and inadequate training facilities and equipment. The Program offers short-term training courses to young researchers from these countries to work and train in laboratories in Thailand. The training courses consist of teaching of basic and advanced techniques, designing and conducting a mini research project and site visits to factories or project sites. The trainees are provided with living and research/training expenses and are assigned a researcher to provide guidance. Some of the currently available courses are in the area of plant biotechnology, food safety analysis, biodiversity and bioresource utilization. The pilot program was launched in 2001 with direct BIOTEC funding, allocating four 3-month training scholarships. The program received a two-year grant from the ASEAN Foundation to provide a total of 20 scholarships for 2003 and 2004. From 2007, the Program offered training opportunities to young scientists from the Asia Pacific region, while maintaining funding priority for CLMV. The number of applications grew from 40 in 2003 to 74 in 2008, proving that the program effectively addresses the needs of these countries. Feedback received from both the trainees and the heads of their affiliated research institutes have been highly positive and supportive of this Program. Graduating trainees gained confidence both academically and socially, with drastic improvement in English as well as research skills. At least six of the trainees (during 2001-2004) went on to win scholarships for graduate studies in foreign countries such as SIDA scholarships to study at the Asian Institute of Technology, UNESCO International Post Graduate Course in Biotechnology, scholarships to study in Germany and Canada, to name a few. Most trainees returned to their work in academic and research institutes, maintaining linkages with experts and researchers in ASEAN. The Program expects to offer 10-15 scholarships annually and welcomes partnerships from other organizations sharing the same vision in capacity building for less developed countries. Announcements and a call for applications for the Human Resource Development Program in Biotechnology for Asia Pacific is posted annually on the BIOTEC homepage.