A Drone Eye View of the AIT Campus

AIT secures eight top scores and maintains excellence in international orientation

Germany Ambassador makes a maiden visit to AIT

THPC grants scholarship for Laos student

AIT signs tripartite Agreement with Indonesia for Joint Education Program

AIT signs MoU with Khairun University

AIT 2015 Distinguished Researcher Awards announced

Dr Avishek Datta promoted to rank of Associate Professor

AIT Photography Competition

New AIT Institute Level Advisory Board constituted

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A Drone Eye View of the AIT Campus

Drone view of the AIT Campus

The verdant campus of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) is famous for its ‘clean green’ looks. The fact that all AIT buildings are dwarfed by taller trees is indicative of coexistence with nature - something that is also reflected in AIT’s academic, research and outreach offerings. The beauty of the campus clearly comes out in this drone footage of the AIT campus. While there are numerous AIT aerial and satellite photographs, this is the first drone footage of the entire AIT campus. The five-minute video is now available on YouTube and can be viewed at this link: https://youtu.be/GG4AmSkdGw8

AIT secures eight tops scores and maintains excellence in international orientation in 2016 rankings

AIT has bagged eight top scores in the 2016 U-Multirank, and it continues to shine in “International Orientation".

The 2016 U-Multirank results announced in April 2016, have AIT scoring five A’s in “International Orientation,” two in “Knowledge Transfer,” and one in the category of “Research.”AIT has also been profiled by U-Multirank as a “Top 25 Performer by selected indicators” in the field of continuous professional development.

In international orientation, AIT received 5 A’s in International Academic Staff, International Joint Publications, International Doctorate Degrees, and Foreign Language Bachelor and Master programmes. It earned a “B” grade in Student Mobility. In the category of “Research,” AIT got an “A” for External Research Income; while in terms of “Knowledge Transfer,” it earned two A’s in Income from Continuous Professional Development, and Income from Private Sources.

Germany Ambassador makes a maiden visit to AIT

Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai (left) and H.E. Mr.Peter Prügel.

H.E. Mr. Peter Prügel, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Thailand, visited the Asian Institute of Technology for the first time on 5 April 2016 . The ambassador was accompanied by Ms. Fanny Meusel, Press and Cultural Affairs, Embassy of Germany, Bangkok.

AIT President Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai welcomed the ambassador to the campus and chaired an AIT briefing meeting attended by senior management about Institute’s recent developments and overall collaboration with Germany.

At a separate event, Ambassador Prügel also met with fourteen AIT Master’s students from Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar who are current recipients of German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarships. In his lengthy interactions with senior officials and DAAD-supported scholars, Ambassador Prügel noted the unique regional development role of AIT, saying: “It is fantastic that such a high percentage of AIT graduates bring their knowledge back to their home countries.”

THPC grants scholarship for Laos student

From left: Mr. Robert R Allen Jr., Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai , and Ms. Laphongngern Thepphavong.

Theun-Hinboun Power Company (THPC) has granted a scholarship to a student from Lao PDR to pursue a Master’s degree program at AIT. Interacting with AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai on 25 April 2016, THPC’s General Manager, Mr. Robert R Allen Jr. complimented AIT for the work done in the field of higher education in the region. “I know that we do not have to worry about the student now that she is in AIT,” Robert Allen said.

Prof. Worsak expressed his gratitude and commended THPC’s “spirit of giving back to society and contributing towards human resource development.” Also present on the occasion was the scholarship recipient, Ms. Laphongngern Thepphavong, who is now pursuing her Master’s in

Energy Business Management at AIT.

AIT signs tripartite Agreement with Indonesia for Joint Education Program

Prof. Voratas Kachitvichyanukul (left) and Assoc. Prof. Agung M. Wibowo.

AIT has signed a tripartite agreement with Diponegoro University (UNDIP), and the Agency for Human Resources Development (AHRD), Ministry of Public Works and Housings (PUPR), The Republic of Indonesia, for offering a Joint Master’s Education Program.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed on 12 April 2016 by Prof. Voratas Kachitvichyanukul, Dean, AIT’s School of Engineering and Technology (SET); Assoc. Prof. Agung M. Wibowo, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, UNDIP; and Prof. Ir. Anita Firmanti, Head of The Agency for Human Resources Development, Ministry of Public Works. Under the agreement, a UNDIP-AIT-AHRD PUPR Joint Master’s Education Program will be offered jointly by UNDIP and AIT.

AIT signs MoU with Khairun University

Prof. Rajendra Shrestha (left) with Mr. Ahmad Abdmadjid Seng.

AIT has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Khairun University (Unkhair), Indonesia, to foster collaboration in the field of education, technology, research and management. The agreement also seeks to strengthen capacity building and contribute towards sustainable development of the region.

The MoU was signed on 20 April 2016 by Mr. Ahmad Abdmadjid Seng, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Khairun University, and Prof. Rajendra Shrestha, Dean, School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD), AIT. The MoU will facilitate admission of Unkahir lecturers and graduates into AIT’s graduate programs, and will help in exchange of lecturers, staff and students for studies, research and training. It also envisages joint research and project activities aimed at internationally funded projects.

AIT 2015 Distinguished Researcher Awards announced

Dr. Thammarat Koottatep

Dr. Kunnawee Kanitpong

Dr. Thammarat Koottatep and Dr. Kunnawee Kanitpong have been selected for the “AIT Distinguished Researcher Awards 2015” in the categories of Senior Research Leader and Junior Research Leader respectively. Both awardees will receive a full doctoral scholarship for one student each, and they will be presented with a certificate of recognition at the May 2016 AIT Graduation Ceremony.

Announcing this, AIT’s Vice President for Research, Prof. Kanchana Kanchanasut said: "The award is intended to motivate faculty and staff members in conducting sponsored research projects that benefit the Asian region, and provide solid research infrastructure for AIT graduate students. It also honors them for their indirect contributions to the institute that emerge from their projects." While Dr. Thammarat is from Environmental Engineering and Management (EEM) at AIT’s School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD), Dr. Kunnawee is from Transportation Engineering at AIT’s School of Engineering and Technology (SET).

Dr Avishek Datta promoted to rank of Associate Professor

Dr. Avishek Datta

Dr. Avishek Datta has been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor in AIT’s School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD). His promotion was announced by AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai following recommendations of the Faculty Evaluation Panel (FEP) and the SERD Professorial Board.

Dr. Datta joined AIT as an Assistant Professor in August 2012. He earned his Bachelor’s in Science in Agriculture (Hons) and Master’s in Science in Agronomy from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal, India, in 2000 and 2002 respectively. He completed his Ph.D. (Agronomy) from the University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia in 2008, and held a Postdoctoral Research Associate position at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), Nebraska, USA from March 2008 to July 2012. His research interests includes Agricultural Environments, Crop Productivity Management, Crop Ecophysiology and Modeling, and Advanced Agricultural Experimentation.

AIT Photography Competition

Photo by Kasvind Kulathunga titled Followment.

Photo by Manzari Singh titled AIT life.

Photo by Purinda Abeykoon titled the beginning.

Photy by Chetha titled Colourful AIT.

Photo by Pasindu Perera titled Greenery at AIT.

Photo by Sameera Liyanage titled Beauty In Bloom.

Photo by Solaiman titled Mesmerizing Yellow.

Photo by Phantipa Plangklang titled Turning time.

Photo by Tayzar titled Festive colors.

Photo by Yasiru Nilanga titled Nature has no goals, people invented them.

Photo by Senal Dinuka titled Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday.

Photo by Palaparti Sai Kumar titled Bird colorful AIT live to fly high.

Photo by Deshanee Liyanage titled Let your dreams fly high

Photo by Prasadi Gunawardana titled The Trap

Photo by Thusitha Rathnayake titled The One, Among Others

Photo by ThisuraMeewella titled Easter Fireworks

Photo by Kaung Si Thu titled Colours of emotion

Photo by Sameera Liyanage titled Beauty and the Beast

New AIT Institute Level Advisory Board constituted

A new 10-member AIT Institute-Level Advisory Board (ILAB) has been constituted to advise the Institute on strategic and policy related issues, including academic

activities, developing linkages with the corporate sector, strengthening partnerships, developing synergy with alumni, and enforcing genderrelated goals in research and academic activities at AIT.

The first meeting of the newly constituted ILAB will be held in October 2016. Members of the Board in alphabetical order are:

1. Professor Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar, Vice Chancellor, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia.

2. Professor Tissa Illangasekare, AMAX Distinguished Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Director, Center for Experimental

Study of Subsurface Environmental Processes, Colorado School of Mines, USA.

3. Dr. P.J. Lavakare, Senior Adviser, Institute of International Education (IIE-US) in India.

4. Professor Wang Li, Deputy Director, International Research and Training Center for Rural Education (INRULED), Beijing, China.

5. Dr. Za-Chieh Moh, Former Provost of AIT, Chairman of the Moh and Associates Group, Chinese Taipei.

6. Professor Tso-Chien Pan, Former Dean of the College of Engineering, Executive Director, Institute of Catastrophe Risk Management, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.

7. Mr. Ragnar Soegaard, Former Norwegian Seconded Faculty to AIT, Board Member and Senior Advisor, Clean Energy Group, Norway.

8. Professor Charas Suwanwela, Former President, Chulalongkorn University, Former Interim President, AIT, Former Council Chair, Chulalongkorn University, and Council Chair, Prince Songkla University, Thailand.

9. Professor William C. Webster, Former Vice Provost, Professor Emeritus, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, USA.

10. Professor Prida Wibulswasdi, Former Member of the AIT Executive Committee, Former President of Shinawatra University, Fellow of the Royal Institute of Thailand, Thailand.

Coming up

• AIT Graduation: 19 May

• Collaboration for Innovation: 12 - 13 May http://goo.gl/cW7Eer

• Press Conference: "Reinvented Toilet" 26 May

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Credits

Editor: Bajinder Pal Singh bajinder@ait.asia

Photos: Paitoon Tinnapong, and AIT Students' Union

Contact: Media and Communications Unit at AIT mcu@ait.asia