AIT Newsletter July 2012

AIT holds 117th Graduation, first under International Intergovernmental Organization Era
Sri Lanka President inquires about satellite campus
AIT supports Nakhon Nayok to be Thailand’s ‘Smart Province’
Viet Nam joins AIT Council
Ambassador inaugurates Timor-Leste program
International Professional Master’s Program in Urban Management in Vietnam
Newest AIT Vietnam EMBA grads and others donate to SOM’s recovery
Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology ties up with AIT
AIT workshop deliberates on Urban Flooding Management
AIT alumnus chosen best CFO in Thailand
Book by AIT faculty
117th Graduation: Highlights in Pictures
AIT President awarded for outstanding contribution to education
News You Can Use
Follow AIT
QR for download
Credits

AIT holds 117th Graduation, first under International Intergovernmental Organization Era

117th Graduation
Students in front of the AIT Landmark after the 117th Graduation.

AIT celebrated its 117th Graduation Ceremony on 1 June 2012 in a vivid display of internationality. It was the first commencement ceremony since AIT renewed its status as an international intergovernmental organization. A total of 425 students representing 25 countries. in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America were conferred with postgraduate degrees, including 28 Doctoral degrees. This increased AIT’s postgraduate-level alumni to more than 19,000. AIT’s alumni now hail from 88 countries, living and working in 108 countries and territories.

Photo feature is available here:

Sri Lanka President inquires about satellite campus

Sri Lankan President with the AIT President
From left: Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Prof. Said Irandoust, H.E. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, H.E. General Shantha Kottegoda, and Mr.Akram Saroof.

Sri Lanka President H.E. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa has expressed interest on the status of AIT’s plans to open a branch campus in his country. AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust updated Sri Lanka’s President Rajapaksa about the Institute’s progress on exploratory efforts to establish a satellite campus in Sri Lanka.

Keen to see AIT have a presence in his country, President Rajapaksa indicated his support for international campus projects which can assist the island nation to become a major regional hub for higher learning. H.E. General Shantha Kottegoda; Mr.Akram Saroof, Vice President of the Thai-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Director, Fundraising, AIT, also attended the meeting.

AIT supports Nakhon Nayok to be Thailand’s ‘Smart Province’

Dr. Surachai Srisaracam (left) with Prof. Said
Dr. Surachai Srisaracam (left) with Prof. Said Irandoust.

AIT has partnered with the Province of Nakhon Nayok to support its bid to become Thailand’s first “smart province” and intelligent community prototype for the fast-emerging ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.

Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 26 June 2012 with AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust, Nakhon Nayok Governor, Dr. Surachai Srisaracam, said it was important for his province to utilize ICT to achieve sustainable development, and he was happy to have the contribution and involvement of AIT in the ambitious project. “The AIT President remarked that Nakhon Nayok can be AIT’s second home in Thailand. He was responding to a generous overture made by Governor in May 2012 when he offered 100-rai site free of charge.

Viet Nam joins AIT Council

H.E. Mr. Ngo Duc Thang
H.E. Mr. Ngo Duc Thang, Ambassador of Vietnam to Thailand.

Socialist Republic of Viet Nam has become the eighth country to join the AIT Council. According to an official communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Royal Thai Government, the AIT Charter comes into force for Vietnam from 8 June 2012.

Viet Nam became the first ASEAN country to deposit the Instrument of Accession with the Government of Thailand on 10 May 2012. With this, the strength of the AIT Council has risen to eight countries including Kingdom of Sweden, Japan, Republic of India, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, and Republic of Bangladesh.

Ambassador inaugurates Timor-Leste program

H. E. Mr. João Freitas Camara, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Thailand
H. E. Mr. João Freitas Camara, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Thailand

Students from Timor-Leste in AIT
Students from Timor-Leste in AIT

Twenty-two students from Timor-Leste arrived at AIT to participate in the University Foundation Program. Recipients of a scholarship from the Human Capital Development Fund of Timor-Leste for pursuing post-graduate studies, they are participating in this bridging program jointly organized by the AIT Language Center and AIT Extension. After completion of
the program all 22 students are expected to pursue their respective Master program in universities in and around Bangkok.

The opening ceremony on 19 June 2012 was attended by H. E. Mr. João Freitas Camara, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Thailand, who, in his welcome remarks thanked AIT for hosting this program. The chosen subject areas of the students range from Teachers’ Training to Urban and Rural Planning and MBAs.

International Professional Master’s Program in Urban Management in Vietnam

Launch of PM-UM program.
Launch of PM-UM program.
AIT has introduced a new AIT International Professional Master’s Program in Urban Management (PM-UM) program, to be launched in September 2012. This is a joint-program between Urban Environmental Management (UEM) field of study, School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD), AIT; University of Architecture of Ho Chi
Minh City (HCMUARC), Vietnam, and AIT Vietnam. The program was unveiled at a seminar on “International Education for Urban Management Professionals in Vietnam” at the University of Architecture, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Newest AIT Vietnam EMBA grads and others donate to SOM’s recovery

At the recent 117th AIT Graduation Ceremony, the School of Management received a surprise group donation of 32,000 THB from some of its newest graduates – the 2012 Graduating Batch of AIT Vietnam’s EMBA program.The donation included individual pledges from 27 new graduates of the EMBA Dongnai Vietnam program. Each contributed between 1000-1700 THB to assist the School of Management’s flood recovery efforts.

Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology ties up with AIT

Prof. Said Irandoust (left) with Dr. K. Alagusundaram.
Prof. Said Irandoust (left) with Dr. K. Alagusundaram.

Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT) has tied up with AIT to facilitate student and faculty mobility, and initiate joint academic and research programs. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate these activities was signed on 25 June 2012 by Director, IICPT, Dr. K. Alagusundaram, and the AIT President, Prof. Said Irandoust.Dr. Alagusundaram, who is an AIT alumnus (Master’s in Agricultural and Food Engineering in 1985), also expressed the desire to launch a joint student exchange program.

AIT workshop deliberates on Urban Flooding Management

Dr. Philippe Gourbesville
Dr. Philippe Gourbesville

Experts deliberated on needs and challenges of urban flood at a workshop on “Urban Flooding Management” jointly organized by AIT; Polytech Nice-Sophia,University of Nice - Sophia
(UNS) Antipolis, France; Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore (NUS); and DLR Germany Space Agency, Germany on 28-29 June 2012.

Delivering a talk on needs and challenges of urban flooding, Dr. Philippe Gourbesville of Poltyech Nice Sophia, stated that sophisticated models which simulate flooding are already in existence.

AIT alumnus chosen best CFO in Thailand

Mr. Chaovalit Ekabut
Mr. Chaovalit Ekabut
AIT alumnus and former President of AIT Alumni Association (AITAA) Mother Chapter, Mr. Chaovalit Ekabut (has been selected as the best Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in Thailand. Mr. Chaovalit received his Master’s degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME) in 1982. The award was announced on 11 June 2012 by Alpha Southeast Asia which revealed the results following their second annual poll conducted among Southeast Asia’s top companies.

Book by AIT faculty

Dr. Philippe Doneys
Dr. Philippe Doneys
A book titled “Mainstreaming Human Security: Asian Perspectives” edited by a team including Dr. Philippe Doneys of the Gender and Development Studies (GDS) field of study at AIT’s School of Environment Resources and Development (SERD) has been released.

Spanning 17 chapters, the book contains theoretical discussions and case studies from Asia. The book envisages a human security framework interpreted and situated in the Asian context. It examines how the concept, as defined by the UN Commissioners, has been integrated into existing structures of governance in the Asia Region. One of the chapters on Timor Leste was written by a recent GDS Doctoral graduate, Dr. Gabrielle Eva Carol Groves.

117th Graduation: Highlights in Pictures

Graduating students.
Graduating students.
Students from AIT International School.
Students from AIT International School perform at the 117th Graduation.
Mr. Goanpot Asvinvichit
Former President and CEO of Government Savings Bank (2004-2007), Thailand, Mr. Goanpot Asvinvichit, delivered the Graduation Address.
Prominent alumnus Mr. Herbert Vongpusanachai.
Prominent alumnus Mr. Herbert Vongpusanachai.
Ms. Shruti, outstanding student
Ms. Shruti, outstanding AIT student.
Prof. Said Irandoust, AIT President
Prof. Said Irandoust, AIT President.
H.E. Mr. Bhubaneswar Kalita (right)
H.E. Mr. Bhubaneswar Kalita (right), Member of Parliament, India, Chairman, House Committee, Rajya Sabha, India, and father of later Mr. Sandeep Kalita joined the graduation ceremony to receive the MBA degree (pothumus) for his son.
117th AIT Graduation
Students at AIT's 117th Graduation.
AIT's 117th Graduation
Students at AIT's 117th Graduation.

AIT President awarded for outstanding contribution to education

Prof. Said Irandoust (left) with Mr. Sandip Ghose
Prof. Said Irandoust (left) after receiving award from Mr. Sandip Ghose, Chief General Manager-HRD, Reserve Bank of India.

AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust was honored at the First World Education Congress 2012 held at Mumbai, India. Prof. Irandoust was conferred the “Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education” by the Congress at Mumbai on 29 June 2012. The citation states that the leadership and contribution of Prof. Irandoust in the field of education is well known. “The position that you occupy in the fraternity is strategic and iconic. As a thinker and doer you are a role model and a believer in change,” the citation says.

Thanking the organizers for honoring him with the award, Prof. Irandoust delivered an address on “The University in a Globalized World,” under the theme “New paradigms and models for Education.”

News You Can Use

Future lies in open access publishing: Finch report

The Finch Report made headlines in UK when Professor Dame Janet Finch in her report stated that “In the longer term, the future lies with open access publishing.”
The Guardian wrote:
“Making all the UK’s publicly funded scientific research free for anyone to read could cost up to £60m per year, according to an independent study commissioned by the government. Professor Dame Janet Finch, who led the work, said “open access” was the future for academic publishing and that the short-term transition costs she had identified should reduce over time as more articles became freely available and the journal subscription costs currently paid by university libraries fell.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/jun/19/open-access-academicpublishing-finch-report
Reuters (http://tiny.cc/6m4hgw) and BBC (http://tiny.cc/so4hgw) also followed the report closely.
The entire report can be downloaded from this link: http://tiny.cc/np4hgw.

Follow AIT at

• Facebook www.facebook.com/aitasia
• Twitter www.twitter.com/aitasia
• Youtube www.youtube.com/aitasia

QR for download

Credits

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