AIT receives largest-ever corporate grant to establish Bangchak Initiative and Innovation Center

AIT awarded Certificate of Appreciation by Indian President’s Secretariat

Bangabandhu Chair at AIT quoted as an example of bilateral relationship

AIT-Tiger Leong camp attracts student leaders and innovators

AIT hosts fourth International Academic ELLTA Conference

JFK Foundation donates 500,000 THB for Thanat Khoman Memorial Lecture

Weather News donates weather monitoring equipment

Advisory Board deliberates on key issues and opportunities

Timor-Leste Ambassador visits AIT

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App-based bicycle sharing service for AIT

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AIT receives largest-ever corporate grant to establish Bangchak Initiative and Innovation Center

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) received its largest-ever single corporate grant in the form of 50 million Thai Baht to establish the Bangchak Initiative and Innovation Center at AIT (BIIC@AIT) — a venture which will serve as a living laboratory and technology business incubator. BIIC@AIT will be an entrepreneurship incubator and it will  help create enterprises based on knowledge and innovation.

An agreement signed on 25 July 2017 by Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, President, AIT, and Mr. Chaiwat Kovavisarach, President, and CEO of Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited (BCP), paved the way for the creation of BIIC@AIT. “We are moving towards a new era of wonder and discovery remarked Mr. Chaiwat, as he stated that the mission is to groom green sustainable technology-based companies and businesses. Chairman, AIT Board of Trustees, Dr. Subin Pinkayan described the occasion as “historic.” AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai stated that the grant of 50 million THB from BCP is the largest-ever one-time grant received by AIT from the private sector.

BCP will provide 10 scholarships for Master’s students (five Thai and five international students), three doctoral and one postdoctoral scholarship (for both Thai and international students). The Center will promote entrepreneurship and advance knowledge-based innovation, with a focus on green sustainable technology, Prof. Worsak added.

AIT awarded Certificate of Appreciation by Indian President’s Secretariat

Certificate of Appreciation to AIT.

Former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurating the “Ashiana Annexe.”

India's Presidential Secretariat has awarded a Certificate of Apprecation to AIT for Its "exceptional dedication and duty in providing support towards the succesful completion of the "Technology Innovations Demonstration Project" at the President's Bodyguard Estate in Dehradun, India. Twelve dwellings, which were inaugurated by the then Indian President H.E. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee on 10 July 2017, have been constructed using the Onsite Sanitation Integrated Community Housing Technology Innovations developed at AIT.

The 12 dwellings will accommodate officers and staff during the Presidential visits to the Retreat at Dehradun, more popularly known as Ashiana. An official statement released by the Government of India mentioned AIT and elaborated on the technologies driving the project. The press release states that the dwellings comprise of unique blocks known as “compacted intermeshing” blocks which are made from local soil.

Bangabandhu Chair at AIT quoted as an example of bilateral relationship

Thailand’s Foreign Minister Mr. Don Pramudwinai and Bangladesh Prime Minister H.E. Sheikh Hasina Wajed.

Thailand’s Foreign Minister Mr. Don Pramudwinai and Bangladesh Foreign Minister A. H Mahmood Ali.

The establishment of the Bangabandhu Chair by the Government of Bangladesh at AIT was quoted as an example of bilateral relationship during the Bangladesh-Thailand 7th Joint Commission.

The event, which was described as “a major milestone and a harbinger for a vibrant chapter in bilateral relations,” saw the establishment of Bangabandhu Chair at AIT being mentioned in the joint official communiqué issued after the meeting of the Bangladesh Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali and his Thai counterpart Mr. Don Pramudwinai. A press release issued by the Government of Bangladesh added: “The Bangabandhu Chair in Thailand’s prestigious Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) under the endowment of the Bangladesh Government, to promote higher level applied research in innovative technologies in the energy sector of Bangladesh, was discussed at length.”

AIT-Tiger Leong camp attracts student leaders and innovators

The second “AIT-Tiger Leong International Innovation and Leadership Camp” brought budding leaders from nine countries to its pristine campus, as the young leaders immersed themselves in two weeks of intensive learning, exploring and experimentation.“The purpose of this camp is to nurture young minds and provide them with an exposure to the latest developments, innovation and leadership in a multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural setting,” Dr. Naveed Anwar, Executive Director of AIT Solutions remarked.

AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai stated that AIT’s mission is to produce global citizens, and the camp provides a platform for young students to acquire these skills. In future iterations, the camp will be expanded to include students from all over the world. AIT alumnus Tiger Leong reminisced his days at AIT, crediting the institute for his achievements and success. Tiger Leong, who is the President of Ellipse Enterprises, Malaysia, graduated with a Master’s in Engineering from AIT in 1992.

The second batch of AIT-Tiger Leong camp participants has 25 students from nine countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

AIT hosts fourth International Academic ELLTA Conference

From left: Dr. Jonathan Shaw, Mrs. Leowania Leow Sui Yin, Prof. Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid, H.E. Mrs. Donica Pottie, and Mr. Faraz Hussain Zaidi.

AIT was the venue of the fourth International Academic Conference of “Exploring Leadership and Learning Theories in Asia” (ELLTA) from 25-27 July 2017. Based on the theme ‘Perspectives on Leadership, Learning and Social Enterprise in Asia’ – Sharpening Focus on Research Collaborations and Publications, the three-day event had 260 participants from 45 countries attending the event.

A highlight of the Conference was the Ambassador’s Roundtable where Ambassador of Canada of Thailand H.E. Mrs. Donica Pottie, Counsellor of Embassy of Pakistan Mr. Faraz Hussain Zaidi, Second Secretary of Embassy of Malaysia Mrs. Leowania Leow Sui Yin, and Executive Director of AIT Extension Dr. Jonathan Shaw shared their experience and insights. Key themes deliberated at the conference included leadership, organizational learning, enterprise-led development, social business and transformation, context-based research, and learning and change.

Keynote addresses were delivered by Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid, President, Malaysian Association for Education (MAE), Prof. Anders Örtenblad of Nord University, Norway, Dr. Nguyen-Phuong-Mai of Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands, Mr. Yodphot Wongrukmit of Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited, HA Zamre of ALAMTOLOGI, and Tanatat Puttasuwan of AIT.

Thai alumni and Siam Yamato Steel donate for new Clock Tower

The Thailand chapter of the AIT ALumni Association and Siam Yamato Steel (SYS) have donated for the new AIT Clock Tower. The donation of 800,000 THB was handed over by Manat Supasirilux, Executive Secretary, AITAA (Thailand) on behalf of Dr. Verapong Chaiperm, President of AITAA (Thailand) to AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai on 4 July 2017. He also donated another 200,000 THB from AITAA-Thailand to sponsor a new “Campus Street Map” which will be installed near the Guard House.

Apart from AITAA (Thailand), the other sponsor of the Tower Clock is Paitoon Jiranantarat, CEO of Siam Yamato Steel (SYS) who donated the structural steel used in the construction.

JFK Foundation donates 500,000 THB for Thanat Khoman Memorial Lecture

From left: Ms. Doris Wibunsin, Dr. Subin Pinkayan, and Dr. John Nelson.

A cheque of 500,000 THB was handed over to AIT by the John F Kennedy Foundation of Thailand for organizing the Thanat Khoman Memorial Lecture Series.Dr. Subin Pinkayan, Chairman, AIT Board of Trustees received the cheque from Ms. Doris Wibunsin, Honorary Treasurer of the John F Kennedy Foundation of Thailand for Thai-American Friendship on 18 July 2017.

Attending the cheque handover ceremony were Dr. John Nelson, Vice Chairman of the Board, AIT; Mrs. Darlene Nelson; and Mr. Karma Rana, Institute Secretary,

AIT.

A former Chairman Emeritus of the AIT Board of Trustees, Dr. Thanat served as the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand. The first lecture is expected to be organized at AIT’s Milton E. Bender Jr. Auditorium in February 2018.

Weather News donates weather monitoring equipment

Mr. Jiro Miyabe

Weather News Inc (WNI) WxBunka Foundation has donated equipment to set up three weather data observation stations at the State Railway of Thailand. Valued at 2 million THB, the donation was made by Mr. Jiro Miyabe, President, WNI WxBunka Foundation to AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai on 6 July 2017.

The weather observation stations will help in monitoring the weather to prevent possible threats to railway operations. AIT students in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (RS-GIS) will benefit from these facilities. Mr. Yasushi Shiga, Senior Managing Director; Mr. Masachika Nishibayashi, Bangkok Manager; Weather

News Inc., Dr. Sarawut Ninsawat of RS-GIS, and Prof Kanchana Kanchanasut, former Vice President of Research, AIT attended the event.

Advisory Board deliberates on key issues and opportunities

ILAB meeting at AIT.

AIT’s Institute-Level Advisory Board (ILAB) met on 7 July 2017 to reflect on the current state of the Institute, analyze the academic, financial and development resources of AIT, and deliberate on focus areas and new opportunities.

Issues under consideration included both an analysis of the present as well as discussing possibilities that could help AIT in the future. Four issues under consideration included the desirability of the 5-year Unified Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs; progress on the transformation of AIT’s School of Management (SOM); partnering opportunities as well as the possibility of starting a short-term course on “Understanding Asia”; and an analysis of academic offerings at the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD).

Attending the meeting were Prof. William C Webster, Chairman, ILAB; Prof. Tissa Illangasekare, Dr. P J Lavakare, Prof. Tso-Chien Pan, Dr. Suchita Punyaratabandhu, and Mr. Ragnar Soegaard (all ILAB members). Dr. Subin Pinkayan, Chairman, AIT Board of Trustees also joined the deliberations.

Timor-Leste Ambassador visits AIT

Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai (left) with H.E. Mr. Joaquim Amaral.

Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Thailand, H.E. Mr. Joaquim Amaral visited AIT on 31 July 2017 to formalize the partnership between the Government of Timor-Leste and AIT. AIT has signed two MoU’s with the Ministry of Education  and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Timor-Leste respectively. Currently, five students from Timor-Leste are studying in AI, with four pursuing a Master’s degree and one pursuing a doctoral degree. Two students are enrolled in the School of Environment, Resources and Development, while three are studying in the School of Management.

The Ambassador was accompanied by Ms. Elisa Maria da Silva, Counselor, and Mr. Paul Ribeiro, Attache of Education. The visiting delegation also visited the laboratory facilities of Water Engineering and Management (WEM) and Environmental Engineering and Management (EEM).

PEOPLE

Appointed

AIT alumnus General Boonsrang Niempradit

Head of Police Reforms Committee, Thailand.

Dr. Yuosre Badir

Faculty Director, PhD/DBA , School of Management, AIT.

Dr. Vimolwan Yukongdi

Faculty Director, MBA/EMBA, School of Management, AIT.

App-based bicycle sharing service for AIT

oBike has launched Thailand’s 1st Station less Bike Sharing Service in AIT. The app-based bicycle service is available at a discounted rate to AIT students.

AIT Annual Report 2016

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Coming Up

Orientation Day: 4 August 2017

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Credits

Editor: Bajinder Pal Singh bajinder@ait.asia

Photos: Paitoon Tinnapong, Samphat Semathong

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