SEAMEO Centres held the annual Governing Board Meeting to review Centres' accomplishments and set the direction for the next fiscal year. The Governing Board is the policy-making body of the SEAMEO Centre and is composed of representatives of SEAMEO Member Countries.

For 2009, the second batch of Governing Board Meetings was convened in September and October by SEAMEO RELC, SEAMEO INNOTECH, SEAMEO BIOTROP, SEAMEO SEAMOLEC, and SEAMEO RECSAM, SEAMEO VOCTECH, and SEAMEO SEARCA at various venues.

SEAMEO Regional Language Centre (RELC)

The 38th Governing Board Meeting of SEAMEO RELC was held on 28-29 September 2009 at the SEAMEO RELC, Orange Grove Road, Singapore. The two-day meeting tackled reports on the Centre's training programmes, research initiatives, special services, international and in-house seminars, library and information services, and publications. Plans were also presented as well as budget for the next fiscal year.

SEAMEO Regional Centre for Educational Innovation and Technology (INNOTECH)

The Governing Board of SEAMEO INNOTECH approved the Centre's Eighth Five-Year Development Plan (2011-2016) during the Centre's 52nd Governing Board Meeting held on 29-30 September in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. Thematic areas, programs and activities to be pursued in the plan were also approved by the Governing Board.

SEAMEO Regional Centre for Tropical Biology (BIOTROP)

The 47th SEAMEO BIOTROP Governing Board Meeting was held at IPB International Convention Centre, Bogor, Indonesia on 6-8 October 2009. The opening ceremony was officiated by the former Minister of National Education of Indonesia, H E Prof Dr Bambang Sudibyo.

The Centre reported its accomplishments in the last fiscal year and presented plans for the new fiscal year. Some projects and on going research initiatives were also presented at the demonstration farms of the Centre.

SEAMEO Regional Open Learning Centre (SEAMOLEC)

SEAMEO SEAMOLEC convened its 12th Governing Board Meeting on 7-8 October 2009 at Sunway Hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. On the second day, the Centre hosted an international seminar dubbed as "Acceleration and Improvement of the Quality and Quantity of Education through ICT-based Educational Schools/Universities Partnerships" with the Governing Board Members as resource persons.

SEAMEO Regional Centre for Education in Science and Mathematics (RECSAM)

The 40th Governing Board Meeting of SEAMEO RECSAM was convened at Felda Residence, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia from 12-14 October 2009. Among the key points discussed at the three-day meeting were updates on the Centre's research projects and activities, plans and budget for the new fiscal year, and other organizational concerns.

SEAMEO Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education and Training (VOCTECH)

The 20th SEAMEO VOCTECH Governing Board Meeting was held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam on 13-14 October 2009. The Centre presented reports to the Governing Board on the implementation of programmes and activities in the fiscal year 2008/2009, including regular training programmes, research initiatives, publications, ICT-related activities and administrative concerns.

SEAMEO Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)

The Ministry of Education, Brunei Darussalam hosted the 57th Governing Board Meeting of SEAMEO SEARCA on 19-21 October 2009 at the SEAMEO VOCTECH, Gandong, Brunei Darussalam. Yang Mulia Awang Haji Suhaila bin Haji Abdul Karim, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Higher Education of Brunei Darussalam's Ministry of Education graced the opening ceremonies as the keynote speaker.

The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources of Brunei Darussalam works with SEAMEO SEARCA in the production of a primer on Brunei Darussalam's agriculture which will form part of SEAMEO SEARCA's Southeast Asian Agriculture and Development Primer Series which provides comprehensive reference on agriculture in Southeast Asia.

Related article: SEAMEO Centres Hold Governing Board Meetings (August Batch)