—— APFNet Scholarship Alumni Sharing Session
In celebration of APFNet 10th Anniversary, Conference on Forest Rehabilitation in the Asia-Pacific Region and Associated Meetings was organized during 26-28 March, 2018 at China National Convention Center (CNCC) in Beijing, China. On 26th March, 2018, APFNet scholarship alumni sharing session – “New Horizons for Forestry”, was held as a side event during the conference.
By the end of the year 2017, 46 officials and academics have already graduated and they are working for governments or international organizations, or continuing their doctoral study around the world. On the occasion of APFNet’s 10th anniversary, 3 alumni were invited back to share their experiences after graduation, what they have learnt through APFNet Scholarship program (ASP) and how the experiences have changed or influenced either their career or life.
Many graduated students work in the field of forestry in their economies to motivate people for forest conservation and giving their valuable insights and knowledge for future development of their economies. Mr. Mohammad Rahmat Ullah, from Bangladesh, is one of them. Currently he is doing his Ph.D. in the University of Sydney, Australia to research on the effect of drought on soil microorganisms in Australian grasslands.
Ms. Iqtie Qamar Laila, Senior Assistant Director of Forest Enforcement Division at Pahang State Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia, shared her story about how things gained during her study in Beijing helped her to become one of very few female forest enforcers. As a forest enforcer, she could hold a gun with valid gun license and defense equipment, and she had caught 26 forest offenders in Pahang State, a great achievement in her life. Another alumna Ms. Kemly Ouch works at Forestry Administration of Cambodia. After graduation, she got an offer from United Nation Development Program (UNDP) as a Young Professional Officer, which was a very competitive post in Cambodia. Then she worked in RECOFTC in Bangkok and then moved back to be an officer in Forestry Administration of Cambodia. She talked about how she has become more mature and positive because of ASP and she said “To me, I could see much growth on myself and I am proud of who I am.”
Their stories inspired currently enrolled students and all together they are part of new generation of forestry sector in the Asia-Pacific region. Their experiences prove that ASP is not only supporting individuals, but more importantly, a contribution to build the capacity of the next generation in the Asia-Pacific region. Ms. Tsend-Ayush, Munkhzul, the 2017 batch of ASP student said “I was inspired by their experiences and I think other students share the same feeling with me that new horizons for forestry has been set in the Asia Pacific region.”
APFNet Scholarship program was initiated in 2010 and as of now ASP is cooperating with four host universities, Beijing Forestry University, Nanjing Forestry University, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University and Inner Mongolia Agriculture University. ASP has supported more than 100 forestry officials and academics from 18 developing economies to pursue their postgraduate degree in forestry and its related fields by the end of year 2017.
For more info about the session and scholarship program, please contact
Ms. Chuyu Hu, huchuyu@apfnet.cn
I prefer to work with people dependent on forest resources —Mr. Mohammad Rahmat Ullah, Ph.D. in the University of Sydney, Australia I’m Ullah, and I came to the Beijing Forestry University, China in 2010 through the ASP majoring in Forest Management. Under that program, I learned some advanced forest management principles such as forest resource evaluation, wood utilization, and forest pest control measures. I found that these principles are ecologically sound, economically viable and societally acceptable. Moreover, for one year, I learned the Chinese language which is hard but interesting to me. So far, I capitalized on these learnings and devoted myself at the beginning of my career. I preferred to work with people who are dependent on forest resources. I worked in protected areas to motivate people for forest conservation, and at the same time, to improve their livelihoods. I was also involved in developing a “Country Investment Plan” addressing forestry, environment and climate change issues for the Government of Bangladesh. Now, I am doing Ph.D. in the University of Sydney, Australia. I believe that my current research on “the effect of drought on soil microorganisms for carbon use efficiency in a grassland of Australia” may somehow reflect my significant contributions to nature and people. I will never give up —Ms.Iqtie Qamar Laila Mohd Gani, Senior Assistant Director of Forest Enforcement Division at Pahang State Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia I’m Laila, 2nd batch student of ASP and I studied with 8 other friends from different economies. I’m grateful that we graduated on time together and we still get connected almost every day through social media. After my graduation, I continued my duty as the Assistant Director of several divisions in Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia (FDPM) until 2015 when I was promoted as the Senior Assistant Director of Forest Enforcement Division, and one of the two females in the division. My team and I caught 28 forest offenders in Pahang State in various offences from 2015 to 2018, which is the biggest achievement in my career. During two years of study in Beijing, I not only acquired technologies and techniques in forest management that can be applied in Malaysia, moreover, I have strengthened my character and learnt how to cope with things, think positively and never give up! Without my experience in ASP, I could never be a forest enforcer as I am now. It might be impossible to eliminate forest offences in my economy, but my team and I will never give up! I am proud of who I am now —Ms. Kemly Ouch, Deputy Chief of Timber Trade and Forest Certification Office, Forestry Administration of Cambodia My name is Kemly Ouch. Back to the year of 2010, I was a 22-year-old student, just graduated from the university. Like any other Cambodian students, I reached the crossroad where I could continue my education or seek for a job. Getting this scholarship was much more than being able to continue my education, and the 2-year journey was a life-changing experience which I had never thought of. It is just like a life test which I have no idea what the test is. The journey also shaped my personality, thoughts and how I viewed Cambodia. I am more than ready to develop myself to serve my economy. Currently, I am working independently under minimal supervision in Forestry Administration of Cambodia and could see my progress and I am proud of who I am now. The ASP has not only benefited myself, but on a larger scale, is highly important to contribute to the forestry talents development of every member economy in the Asia-Pacific region. We need more capable people to serve the forestry sector and we are working hard to do that thanks to many helpful programs like ASP. |
