AIT Newsletter November 2011
AIT UNDER WATER
Scenes from a flooded campus
AIT sets up temporary office
ERP-Finance, Student SIS and the Staff HRIS systems are online
Donate to AIT
FAQ: Academic, Research and Accommodation issues
FAQ: Visa Issues (students)
We remain committed to our promises: AIT President
Global message by AIT President
Salvage Operations Procedure
How to reach us
News You Can Use
Follow AIT at
Credits

AIT UNDER WATER

AIT UNDER WATER

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) is completely inundated under almost 2 metres of flood water. Friday, 21 October 2011, was without doubt the darkest day in the history of AIT. For over two weeks AIT fought an unprecedented battle against the overwhelming force of nature. In the end, it was no longer possible to save its beautiful campus from inundation.

As flood waters breached the dykes and rushed in to the campus, the Royal Thai Army along with the AIT-Sodexo team fought valiantly but the forces of nature proved too strong. The AIT administration therefore de cided to evacuate.

President Prof. Said Irandoust was the last person to leave the campus after successfully overseeing the safe evacuation of all persons. The campus con tinues to remain under water.

Scenes from a flooded campus

Student dorms
Student dorms.

Building of AIT’s School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD).
Building of AIT’s School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD).

AIT staff housing under water.
AIT staff housing under water.

Faculty housing within AIT campus
Faculty housing within AIT campus.

The Royal Thai Army patrols in boats where people used to walk.
The Royal Thai Army patrols in boats where people used to walk.

AIT’s Conference Center
AIT’s Conference Center.

The AIT entrance
The AIT entrance.

AIT sets up temporary office

AIT Alumni officials visit Bangkok office
AIT Alumni officials visit Bangkok office.

Scene from AIT’s temporary office in Bangkok
Scene from AIT’s temporary office in Bangkok.

Within four days of its mother campus in Pathumthani facing unprecedented inundation, AIT began operations from a temporary office in central Bangkok. The office is located at the training headquarters of AIS Corporation, at 414 INTOUCH Tower 1, 25th Floor Phaholyothin Rd, Soi 8 (Sailom) - 500 meters north from Ari BTS,
Exit 4, Samsen Nai, Phayathai, Bangkok 10400.

All essential staff of the Administration and the three Schools reported for duty at AIT’s temporary office in central Bangkok.

All other support staff of the Institute are now working in close consultation with their supervisors and are working remotely, off-site, at various locations.

The Institute wishes to thank the former President of the AIT Alumni Association, Mr. Somprasong Boonyachai, CEO of Shin Corp, who has allowed AIT to set up its base at AIS Corporation.

ERP-Finance, Student SIS and the Staff HRIS systems are online

ERP-Finance, Student SIS and

Within a week of the campus inundation, key operation systems like the Student Information System (SIS), Staff Human Resource Information System (HRIS) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP-Finance) systems are operational. The three systems can be accessed at these links

SIS: http://www.ait.asia/academics.php
HRIS: http://www.ait.asia/human_resource.php
ERP: http://www.ait.asia/finance.php

Donate to AIT

In this hour of crisis, AIT needs your support. Please use the following account to provide support to AIT:
Thai Baht Account (for payment in Thai Baht)

BANK :  Bangkok Bank
ACCOUNT NAME :  AIT Flood Emergency Fund
SAVING ACCOUNT : 856 - 0 - 27600 -1
BRANCH  :  Taladthai
ADDRESS  :  31 Moo 9, Tambon Klongnung,  
Amphor Klongluang,   Pathumthani 12120
SWIFT CODE :  Bkkbthbk

FAQ: Academic, Research and Accommodation issues

When will the classes resume?
Currently, efforts are underway to resume classes from 1 December 2011. Updates will be provided through the AIT website. Emails will also be sent once the AIT web server is operational.

Where will Classes be held?
The classes may be held at alternate locations. AIT is exploring with its partner Institutes to ensure there are adequate teaching and residential facilities to accommodate all students. AIT’s three schools are working on possible locations and the new timetable. Details will be communicated to all students very soon.

When will the midterm (UG) exams be held?
AIT is working on the revised academic calendar and this will be communicated to all students very soon.

When can the students return to the AIT campus?
The expected date of student return will be communicated once the alternate venues of academic operations are finalized.

What about our belongings left in AIT?
AIT is working in close cooperation with the Royal Thai Army and its private security firm to ensure the security and integrity of its campus.

Is it possible to visit AIT during this time?
AIT has been designated “off-limits” to all members of the general public, including all persons associated with the AIT, unless otherwise authorized.

If our visa is going to expire, how can we come back?
Please send an email to wpliansri@yahoo.com, with CC to uma.pks@gmail.com, gru@ait.asia, aitemergency@ait.asia and aitemergency@gmail.com requesting a letter from AIT for a Thailand ‘entry visa’. Please use this letter to apply for a new visa from the Thai Embassy / Consulate in your respective countries.

What about the fees for dormitories?
The fees for the dormitories will not be charged for the period when the dormitories are not used.

If we want to access to AIT, whom should we contact? How to go to AIT? 
An announcement will be made through email as well as the AIT website once AIT is declared safe.

FAQ: Visa Issues (students)

Where and how can I extend my Permit of Stay and get a Re-entry visa before I depart Thailand?
Please do not wait for extending your Permit of Stay and obtaining a re-entry visa. We suggest that you  depart from Thailand immediately.
You can obtain a new entry visa from Thai Embassy/Consulate in your respective country based on a letter that AIT will send you. (Please see the answer to the next question below.) However, if you have a valid Permit of Stay, you can get a re-entry visa (for a fee of about Baht1,200) for the validity period of the Permit of Stay at the Suwarnabhumi airport (at Gate No. 6) after you check in and get a boarding pass. Please note that if you leave Thailand without a re-entry visa, the Permit of Stay will become invalid right away. For returning to Thailand, you must have a re-entry visa or a fresh entry visa. If you wish to get a re-entry visa at the airport, before departing from Thailand, please reach the airport with ample time before your departure time.

What if my visa expires when I am out of Thailand?
After you depart from Thailand, please send an email to wpliansri@yahoo.com, with CC to uma.pks@gmail.com, gru@ait.asia, aitemergency@ait.asia and aitemergency@
gmail.com requesting a letter from AIT for Thailand Entry visa. Use this letter you have to apply for a new visa from the Thai Embassy / Consulate in your respective countries.

We remain committed to our promises: AIT President

AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust has sent a message to all partners of AIT stating that although there could be a delay, AIT remains firm on honouring all commitments. The full text of the letter is reproduced here:

Dear Partners,

It has been very unfortunate that the main campus of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Pathumthani, Thailand was fully inundated with flood water on 21 and 22 October 2011. The depth of water across the campus averages around 2m. While the ground floors of all buildings – academic and residential – are full of water, the upper floors are also not accessible. All students, staff and faculty members were evacuated from the campus on 21 October to safe grounds.

The flood water has caused massive damage to the infrastructure of the campus, which would remain uninhabitable for quite some time. We are making efforts to assess the damage caused by the flood. The flood water has not receded, and more water is flowing in from the north of Thailand that is expected to flood the capital city of Bangkok as well.

Despite the uninhabitable main campus, we have been successful in establishing a temporary office in the heart of Bangkok from where we are trying to bring back our operations at the earliest – the target is 1 Dec. 2011. Most of the students have returned to their homes in respective countries, but we are making arrangements so that classes can resume on 1 Dec. 2011.

At this time of extreme hardship, we ask our partners for their understanding – we will be delayed in fulfilling our commitments. However, that does not mean that we will be shying away from them. We would also like to make a sincere request to our partners to support us in whatever ways they can.

Thanking you for your understanding, and working hard to resume major operations on 1 Dec. 2011.

Sincerely yours,
Said Irandoust
President
Asian Institute of Technology

Global message by AIT President

Global message by AIT President

The AIT President also issued a message to the entire AIT community, including students, faculty, staff, alumni and AIT partners. The message can be viewed at this link.
http://www.youtube.com/aitasia#p/a/u/0/pOKmBHHS-D8

Salvage Operations Procedure

As you all know, the Asian Institute of Technology has been declared a “No Trespass” area, and any person found trying to enter the campus premises will be arrested and prosecuted. To secure the AIT campus, arrangements were made with the armed soldiers of the Royal Thai Army’s 202 Engineer Battalion.

For everyone’s safety, AIT encourages strict compliance to these procedures. Arrangements with the Royal Thai Army allow for two trips to the AIT campus every day, with no more than six (6) people altogether in each trip.

1. All requests to retrieve items from the AIT campus are to be sent to Dr. Sun Sayamipuk, Head-CMO (sunsaya@gmail.com). Requests to retrieve official items should preferably be sent from the Unit Head (or should have the endorsement of the Unit Head). The request should include the following information:

further details are available at : http://ait.asia/salvage_operations.php

How to reach us

414 INTOUCH Tower 1
25th Floor
Phaholyothin Rd, [Soi 8 (Sailom) - 500 meters
north from Ari BTS, exit 4]
Samsen Nai, Phayathai
Bangkok 10400
Email: aitemergency@gmail.com,
aitemergency@ait.asia
Telephone: 02-687-4038
Fax: 02-299-5800
Important emergency contact details:
For general Student Affairs / Medical Insurance: ait.studentaffairs@gmail.com
For Admissions :  ait7admissions@gmail.com
For Scholarships : ait.scholarshipsunit@gmail.com
For Doctoral and CAS Students : ait.doctoralcas@gmail.com
For Undergraduate Students : ait.ugstudents@gmail.com
Visa Issue: wpliansri@yahoo.com with cc to uma.pks@gmail.com, gru@ait.asia
aitemergency@ait.asia, aitemergency@gmail.com
Details available at this link: http://www/ait.asia/contact_us.php

How to reach us

News You Can Use

During a Flood

Do not walk through moving water. As little as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, wherever possible, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you. Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the
car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.

After a Flood

Listen for news reports to learn whether the community’s water supply is safe to drink.

Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.

Avoid moving water.

Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car. Stay away from downed power lines, and report them to the power company. Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe. Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters.

Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible. Damaged sewage systems are serious health hazards.

Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwater can contain sewage and chemicals.

Source: U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency

Read the entire news at : http://en-vironment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/floods-safety-tips/

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Youtube     www.youtube.com/aitasia

Credits

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