AIT Newsletter February 2011
AIT Consulting opens for business
Republic of Indonesia becomes 14th signatory of the new AIT Charter
Norway assures continuous support to AIT
AIT President meets Bangladesh President
Can Tho University for more joint programs with AIT
LBU seeks AIT’s partnership
Pukyong University and AIT sign MOU
“I belong to the AIT fan club”
AIT is a very strong partner: JAXA
CASE Executive Director Asia-Pacific visits AIT
People
Nobel Laureate advocates new development path
Forge meaningful networks at AIT: President to new students
News You Can Use
Follow AIT at
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AIT Consulting opens for business

Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees, H.E. Dr. Tej Bunnag, and AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust
Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees, H.E. Dr. Tej Bunnag, and AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust
inaugurating AIT Consulting.

AIT Consulting, AIT’s latest professional services arm, officially opened its doors for business on 20 January 2011 at a formal launching ceremony graced by numerous
ambassadors, dignitaries, high-ranking officials, senior AIT administration staff and faculty members.

The Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees, H.E. Dr. Tej Bunnag, and AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the shiny new facility and usher    in a new era for consulting services at AIT. The ceremony was witnessed by a large number of the AIT Board of Trustees and other distinguished guests. “AIT Consulting is     AIT’s approach for professionalizing consultancy services in an integrative way,” said Dr. Naveed Anwar, Executive Director of AIT Consulting.

Republic of Indonesia becomes 14th signatory of the new AIT Charter

H.E. Mr. Mohammad Hatta
H.E. Mr. Mohammad Hatta

Republic of Indonesia has become the fourteenth signatory of the new AIT Charter. In a modest ceremony organized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Royal Thai   
Government on 20 January 2011, the ambassador of Indonesia to Thailand, His Excellency Mr. Mohammad Hatta signed the AIT Charter. Indonesia now joins 12 countries and one international organization in signing the AIT Charter.

The new AIT Charter was signed on 25 August 2010 by the Foreign Minister of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Kasit Piromya. Twelve countries, namely, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Kingdom of Cambodia, Republic of India, Japan, Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Philippines, Republic of Seychelles, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Thailand, Democratic Republic of Timor Leste and one international   
organization, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), signed the Charter that day.

Norway assures continuous support to AIT

H.E. Ms. Katja Christina Nordgaard
H.E. Ms. Katja Christina Nordgaard

Norway has been a long time strong supporter of Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), and it will continue to support AIT in the future. This was stated by Her Excellency Ms. Katja Christina Nordgaard, Ambassador of Kingdom of Norway to Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar during her visit to AIT on 11 January 2011. H.E. Ms. Katja was impressed by AIT’s achievements and progress since its inception and made detailed inquiries of the programs, strategy and funding pattern of the Institute.

Accompanied by Mr. Erik Svedahl, Minister Counsellor and Mr. Moonstan Chatri, Senior Programme Officer of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Ambassador stated that higher education, technology and climate change are priority areas for Norway. “Since the situation has changed ever since the  establishment of AIT, I am keen to know    how AIT views its role in the future,” H.E. Ms. Katja said. She remarked that her visit was intended to acquire more information about AIT.

AIT President meets Bangladesh President

Prof. Said Irandoust and
Prof. Said Irandoust and Prof . Muhammad Yunus (right).
Prof. Said Irandoust receiving a
Prof. Said Irandoust receiving a souvenir from President of Bangladesh, H.E. Mr. Mohammad Zillur
Rahman (right).

AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust met His Excellency Mr. Mohammad Zillur Rahman, President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh during his recent visit to Bangladesh.  Prof. Irandoust met him during the second convocation ceremony of Eastern University. The President took the opportunity of informing H.E. Mr. Rahman about AIT and its initiatives in Bangladesh.

The President also discussed the latest developments regarding the new AIT Charter with Her Excellency Hon. Dr. Dipu Moni, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. The Minister told Prof. Irandoust that Bangladesh wishes to be among the first five countries to ratify the AIT Charter. The President was accompanied by Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Director, Fund raising and Mr. S.M.H. Bokhari, President, Bangladesh Chapter of AIT Alumni Association (AITAA). Prof. Irandoust also called on Nobel Laureate Prof. Muhammad    Yunus and briefed him about developments at the Yunus Center at AIT.

Can Tho University for more joint programs with AIT

Prof. Dr. Le Quang Tri
Prof. Dr. Le Quang Tri

Can Tho University is deeply engaged with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and wishes to launch new programs along with AIT. This was stated by Prof. Dr. Le QuangTri, Vice Rector, Can Tho University, Vietnam during a visit to AIT on 14 January 2011.

“Can Tho University currently hosts an AIT-Vietnam office and it is looking towards organizing and offering more programs,” Prof. Tri said. He added that the delegation of    Can Tho University officials included heads of various units of the university, so that they could learn more about AIT, its management, administration and structure.

LBU seeks AIT’s partnership

The delegation from LBU visiting AIT.
The delegation from LBU visiting AIT.

Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (LBU), which is an Erasmus Mundus partner of Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) under the Erasmus Mundus Mobility with Asia (EMMAsia East project of the European Commission), is interested in extending its collaboration to other spheres. This was stated by Prof. Constantin Oprean, Rector of LBU during a visit to AIT on 21 January 2011.

“We are looking towards projects where we can cooperate with AIT, particularly in research,” Prof. Oprean told senior AIT officials. LBU, which is a 220 year old     university, is well known in the fields of  information technology, computer science and mechatronics. The University has strong    linkages with industry, and has initiated     academic programs in close collaboration with the private sector.

Pukyong University and AIT sign MOU

Dr. Yong-cheol Suh (left) and Dr. Nitin V. Afzulpurkar
Dr. Yong-cheol Suh (left) and  Dr. Nitin V. Afzulpurkar.

Pukyong National University (PKNU), Republic of Korea, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AIT to promote cooperation and advancement of academic and educational exchange. The MOU was signed on 13 January 2011 by Dr. Nitin V. Afzulpurkar, Dean, School of Engineering and Technology (SET) and Dr. Yong-cheol Suh, Head, Specialized Graduate School of Spatial  Information Engineering, Geoinformatic Engineering Research Institute, PKNU.

The MoU will facilitate faculty and student exchange; undertake cooperative research and education; and promote exchange of information. Initially the focus would be in the fields of Geographical Information System (GIS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Remote Sensing (RS), Location Based Service (LBS) and Geospatial Sciences.

“I belong to the AIT fan club”

Mr. Jadul Apichatabutrd (left) and Mr. Nicholas
Mr. Jadul Apichatabutrd (left) and Mr. Nicholas Rosellini.

“I belong to the AIT fan club and I admire AIT.” These were the comments of Mr. Jadul Apichatabutrd, Chief Inspector General, Ministry of Interior of Thailand, during an interview conducted on the sidelines of the Regional Workshop on the ASEAN Roadmap for the Attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” organized on 24-25 January 2011 at Bangkok.

Mr. Apichatabutrd appreciated the work done by AIT, particularly as a center of education among ASEAN nations. Mr. Nicholas Rosellini, Deputy Regional Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stated that it is important that AIT is working on issues to do with MDGs.The two-day workshop was organized by ASEAN secretariat, Ministry of Interior of Thailand and UNDP, with cooperation from ASEAN Regional Center of Excellence on MDGs (ARCMDG) of AIT.

AIT is a very strong partner: JAXA

Dr. Masanori Homma
Dr. Masanori Homma

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) considers AIT to be a very strong partner in terms of space technology related work and would continue its collaboration. This     was stated by Dr. Masanori Homma, Executive Director, JAXA during a visit to AIT on 26 January 2011. “Our association with AIT is not restricted to capacity building and  education alone, since AIT’s contribution extends to substantive issues,” Dr. Homma said. Dr. Homma was accompanied by Mr. Shinichi Mizumoto, Director, JAXA Bangkok Office. JAXA has been secording staff and faculty, apart from supporting research at AIT.

CASE Executive Director Asia-Pacific visits AIT

Ms. Chua Beng Hwee (left) and
Ms. Chua Beng Hwee (left) and Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nakulchai.

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) can avail of opportunities to participate in global-level professional development in communications and marketing, alumni relations     and advancement services, the Executive Director Asia-Pacific for the Council of  Advancement and Support Education (CASE), Ms. Chua Beng Hwee, told senior AIT officials.

Ms. Beng Hwee made the comments during a networking visit to the Institute on 21 January 2011, meeting with AIT’s Vice President for Resources Development (VP-RD), Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nakulchai, and other administration staff members.

People

Prof. Tabucanon to be Professor Emeritus

Prof. Tabucanon to be Professor

Prof. Mario Tabucanon will be honored with Emeritus Professorship by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). Prof. Tabucanon     served AIT as Acting President between January-June 2005. He has held senior positions at AIT, including that of Provost, Vice President, Dean and Chairman. He is currently Visiting Professor, Institute of Advanced Studies, United Nations University, Japan. Prof. Tabucanon earned his Doctorate of Engineering from AIT in Industrial Engineering and Management (1977) and Master’s in Systems Engineering and Management field of study (1974).

Prof. Ram Shrestha to be Professor Emeritus

Prof. Ram Shrestha to be Professor Emeritus

Prof. Ram Manohar Shrestha will be honored with Emeritus Professorship at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). Prof. Shrestha obtained his Doctorate of Engineering in    Resource Economics and Management (1986) and his Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering and Management (1982) from AIT, after which he served AIT in various positions. Prof. Shrestha also served as Chairman, Academic Senate, AIT, from August 2007 to September 2009.

AIT Professor honored as “Air Quality Hero”

AIT Professor honored as “Air Quality Hero”

Dr. Oanh Thi Kim Nguyen, Professor at AIT’s School of Environment, Resources and  Development (SERD), has been awarded the plaque “Air Quality Hero” at the Better    Air Quality (BAQ) Conference held at Singapore recently. Dr. Oanh was felicitated by the organizers for “consistent best presentation, most presentations and most number of 
abstracts submitted for BAQ over the years.”

MacArthur Foundation honor for AIT alumnus

MacArthur Foundation honor for AIT alumnus

The Royal Society for Protection of Nature (Bhutan), an organization headed by Dr. Lam Dorji, an alumnus of Asian Institute of  Technology (AIT), has won the MacArthur    Award  for Creative and Effective Institutions. Dr. Dorji is the executive director of The Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN). Reacting to the award, Dr. Dorji, who completed his doctorate in 2003 from AIT’s School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD), stated that the award is a result of “harmonious relationship   
and hard work” of all participants.

AIT student stars in prestigious journal

AIT student stars in prestigious journal

An AIT student, Mr. Junaid Alam Memon, will  have the rare distinction of his research paper having featured on the cover page of the journal Environmental Management. The February 2011 issue of Environmental Management, published by Springer will feature the article “Irrigation, Natural Resources and Community Occupational Quality in Pakistan” on its cover. Mr. Memon’s photograph of the Indus River basin has also been selected as the cover page picture. The article is coauthored by Mr. Memon and his supervisor Prof. Gopal Bahadur Thapa of AIT’s School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD).

Nobel Laureate advocates new development path

Nobel Laureate advocates new
Nobel laureate Prof. R K Pachauri addressing AIT studens via video-conferencing.

Novel laureate and Chairperson, IPCC, Prof. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri has advocated a  new development path, based on community resilience and creation of a sober society, where resources are valorized and consumption is reduced. The development path is based on the understanding that at mosphere, land, water, biodiversity and    human society are linked in a complex web of interactions and feedback.

Prof. Pachauri made these remarks while delivering a lecture via videoconference at the Asian Institute of Technology on 7 January 2011. Moderated by AIT Alumnus Dr.   
Srikantha Herath, Senior Academic Programme Officer, United Nations University, Tokyo, the lecture saw nine institutes and universities participate in an interactive session    with Prof. Pachauri.

Prof. Pachauri reflected on the sixteenth Conference of Parties (COP16) held at Cancun, Mexico, and projected the picture beyond COP16.

Forge meaningful networks at AIT: President to new students 

Forge meaningful networks at AIT:

AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust advised new students to forge meaningful networks  during their stay at AIT. Addressing the batch of 73 new students from 12 countries     across four continents on the occasion of  January Semester 2011 Orientation Day, Prof. Irandoust stated that AIT provides an  international experience, thereby helping     students attain a capability which distinguishes them from others.

In his welcome remarks, President Prof. Said Irandoust recognized a batch of 18 visiting undergraduate exchange students from Sweden’s University of Borås. This is the first such exchange from University of Borås, where Prof. Irandoust was formerly president. 

News You Can Use

Communication: a responsibility of all scientists David Dickon, in his year end editorial in SciDev.Net says that “the scientific community  should commit to communication as an integral part of a researcher’s professional role”.

To this effect he cites the “potentially  influential draft set of guidelines drawn up  by the Committee on Freedom and Responsibility  in the conduct of Science, of the International Council for Science (ICSU)”. The guidelines state “The effective communication of scientific  results and viewpoints to the public is an  important responsibility of the scientific  community. This is particularly so for science that has been publicly funded”. It further adds that “teaching and training in  communication skills should be an important part of science education”.

The editorial can be read at this link: http://www.scidev.net/en/editorials/communication-a-responsibility-of-all-scientists.html

while the set of guidelines can be read here: http://www.icsu.org/Gestion/img/ICSU_DOC_DOWNLOAD/3596_DD_FILE_ICSU_Sci_Commn_Adv_Note_Dec2010.pdf

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Editor: Bajinder Pal Singh    bajinder@ait.asia
Photos: Paitoon Tinnapong
Feedback: Media and Communications Unit at AIT mcu@ait.asia