2024/09/30
From Jokes to Triumph My PhD Journey in Open Innovation
Hadji, who graduated in September, has written an essay reflecting on the Research Presentation from his perspective.
As Japan was sweating from another extended summer season, I was getting ready to finally get my doctorate from Nagoya University. To say it was a long journey was an understatement. I’m in my mid-40s already. At this age, many would have been doctors for decades already. But I have my own pace…. every 12 years, I get a graduate degree. I got my bachelor's degree in 2000, my master's degree in 2012, and my doctoral degree in 2024. I have to thank the NU Asian Satellite Campus Institute for the opportunity, especially at my age when scholarships for graduate study started to dwindle. The graduation day was on the 27th of September 2024, coincidentally the same day I got my master's degree also in Japan 12 years prior.
I attended three ceremonies that day and the last one was hosted by ASCI. I was doubly excited because my family was there to witness the ceremony and it was my wife’s birthday the day after graduation. Also, a proud moment for me because I graduated together with another Filipino - Dr. Darwin Landicho who happens to be a former student of mine at the University of the Philippines College of Public Affairs and Development where I work as a researcher and was an affiliate faculty.
The ceremony had a light-hearted mood which was very fitting as we were there to memorialize our achievements, reminisce about our challenges, and celebrate my triumphs. There was a research presentation with an open forum which almost gave me a “heart attack” but fortunately everyone was in a celebratory and not in a thesis defense mood. I presented my doctoral research which was supervised by Prof. TOKUDA Hiromi of the Food Economics Lab. My study explored the open innovation activities and capabilities of vegetable farmers in the CALABARZON Region, Philippines. It emphasized the importance of innovation in agriculture, contrasting the traditional closed innovation model with the more collaborative open innovation approach. The latter is seen as a potential solution to the sector’s challenges, promoting economic development and sustainable intensification. The study recommended establishing localized innovation platforms, adopting a co-designed agricultural innovation approach, enhancing local extension systems, and providing incentives for collaboration between research institutions and farmers. Overall, the study underscored the importance of small vegetable farmers as active participants in the innovation process.
A simple cocktail ensued after the ceremony where graduates and their families were able to interact with the ASCI staff. While it would be my last activity as a student of NU ASCI, I was happy. I was happy I finished my studies on time. I was happy I did not disappoint the people who helped me get into the doctoral program especially people in the ASCI Philippines. I was happy the opportunity my sensei gave me bore fruit. I was happy my family was there with me during these happy moments. More importantly, I was very happy because I wanted this and I got it. Thank you very much! - Hadji
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As Japan was sweating from another extended summer season, I was getting ready to finally get my doctorate from Nagoya University. To say it was a long journey was an understatement. I’m in my mid-40s already. At this age, many would have been doctors for decades already. But I have my own pace…. every 12 years, I get a graduate degree. I got my bachelor's degree in 2000, my master's degree in 2012, and my doctoral degree in 2024. I have to thank the NU Asian Satellite Campus Institute for the opportunity, especially at my age when scholarships for graduate study started to dwindle. The graduation day was on the 27th of September 2024, coincidentally the same day I got my master's degree also in Japan 12 years prior.
I attended three ceremonies that day and the last one was hosted by ASCI. I was doubly excited because my family was there to witness the ceremony and it was my wife’s birthday the day after graduation. Also, a proud moment for me because I graduated together with another Filipino - Dr. Darwin Landicho who happens to be a former student of mine at the University of the Philippines College of Public Affairs and Development where I work as a researcher and was an affiliate faculty.
The ceremony had a light-hearted mood which was very fitting as we were there to memorialize our achievements, reminisce about our challenges, and celebrate my triumphs. There was a research presentation with an open forum which almost gave me a “heart attack” but fortunately everyone was in a celebratory and not in a thesis defense mood. I presented my doctoral research which was supervised by Prof. TOKUDA Hiromi of the Food Economics Lab. My study explored the open innovation activities and capabilities of vegetable farmers in the CALABARZON Region, Philippines. It emphasized the importance of innovation in agriculture, contrasting the traditional closed innovation model with the more collaborative open innovation approach. The latter is seen as a potential solution to the sector’s challenges, promoting economic development and sustainable intensification. The study recommended establishing localized innovation platforms, adopting a co-designed agricultural innovation approach, enhancing local extension systems, and providing incentives for collaboration between research institutions and farmers. Overall, the study underscored the importance of small vegetable farmers as active participants in the innovation process.
A simple cocktail ensued after the ceremony where graduates and their families were able to interact with the ASCI staff. While it would be my last activity as a student of NU ASCI, I was happy. I was happy I finished my studies on time. I was happy I did not disappoint the people who helped me get into the doctoral program especially people in the ASCI Philippines. I was happy the opportunity my sensei gave me bore fruit. I was happy my family was there with me during these happy moments. More importantly, I was very happy because I wanted this and I got it. Thank you very much! - Hadji