AIT Newsletter October 2011
AIT celebrates its fifty-second anniversary
Afghanistan delegation expresses admiration of AIT’s work
ADB Country Director assures “full support”
AIT students receive scholarship certificates from DAAD
AIT welcomes new undergraduate students
AIT Vietnam expands its presence in Ho Chi Minh City
Global Water Partnership lauds AIT
Universiti Teknologi Mara signs MoU
Sweden’s KTH discusses dual degree tie-up
Towards creating an innovative economy in Thailand
AIT Day 2011
Uzbek troupe enthralls AIT
News You Can Use
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AIT celebrates its fifty-second anniversary

President Prof. Said Irandoust on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary celebrations of AIT.
President Prof. Said Irandoust on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary celebrations of AIT.

The fifty-second anniversary celebrations of AIT were marked by the Nanotechnology Portfolio Release, coupled with an expert talk on “Incubating Minds to Markets,” by Prof. Prabuddha Ganguli, CEO, Vision-IPR, besides ample fun and festivities at the Renaissance Hotel, Ratchaprasong, Bangkok.

“For over five decades, AIT has contributed towards empowerment of Asia, and this will continue with renewed vigour,” the AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust announced to a gathering that comprised of dignitaries including ambassadors, academics, corporate leaders, media, and members of the AIT community including students, faculty, staff and alumni. The celebrations also witnessed participation by the AIT Student Union who arrived dressed in their traditional national costumes, reinforcing the flavour of internationality at the event.

Afghanistan delegation expresses admiration of AIT’s work

Afghanistan delegation at AIT.
Afghanistan delegation at AIT.

A delegation from Afghanistan has expressed admiration of the work done by AIT stating that it was “very impressed with AIT’s academic environment.” The delegation also sought a framework agreement with AIT, and invited the Institute’s representatives to visit Kabul to formalize the agreement.

Led by Mr. Rohullah Osmani, Director General, Programs Design and Management, Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the delegation also included Mr. Vakhtang Svanidze, Deputy Country Director, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Afghanistan, and Mr. Sultan Hajiyev, Chief Capacity Development Advisor, National Institution Building Project, UNDP Afghanistan. During their visit to AIT on 21 September 2011, Mr. Osmani
remarked that AIT’s contribution towards capacity building in Afghanistan is impressive and sought continuation of the endeavour. Mr. Svanidze stated that UNDP would be very happy to facilitate AIT’s work in Afghanistan.

ADB Country Director assures “full support”

Mr. Craig M. Steffensen
Mr. Craig M. Steffensen

ADB Country Director (Thailand Resident Mission), Mr. Craig M. Steffensen, assured AIT of “full support,” stating that the Institute could count on ADB as a key supporter. He made these remarks during a visit to AIT on 12 September 2011.

“ADB is very pleased with AIT’s engagement in Vietnam, particularly the training activities in Hanoi,” Mr. Steffenson said. He added that ADB will be willing to associate with AIT in furthering the cause of development in the Mekong Sub Region. The ADB Country Director evinced interest in AIT’s Poverty Reduction and Agricultural Management (PRAM) program. Stating that his personal association with AIT traces back to the time when Prof. Alastair North was the President of the Institute, Mr. Steffensen
remarked that AIT’s greatest asset is its alumni.

AIT students receive scholarship certificates from DAAD

H.E. Mr. Rolf Schulze
H.E. Mr. Rolf Schulze

Twelve students of AIT were felicitated by the Ambassador of Federal Republic of Germany to Thailand, H.E. Mr. Rolf Schulze, at a function held at the Embassy of Germany on 15 September 2011. Recipients of the Germany Academic Exchange Service scholarships, the students are from Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.

“I express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Asian Institute of Technology for ensuring an excellent academic environment for these students,” the Ambassador said. Dr. Carolin Mülverstedt, Representative of Deutscher Akademishcher Austausch Dienst (DAAD), and Director of DAAD Information Center, and Ms. Annette Sévery, Counsellor, Press and Cultural Affairs, Embassy of Germany also participated in the ceremony.

AIT welcomes new undergraduate students

Undergraduate students at the AIT landmark.
Undergraduate students at the AIT landmark.

AIT welcomed the latest batch of undergraduate students at the Orientation Day function organized at the AIT Conference Center. Thirty-five students from Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam formed the cohort in the 2011 batch of undergraduate students. They were joined by 49 other students from Sri Lanka, who had already completed two years of undergraduate study in their home country.

Including the 47 continuing undergraduate students (admitted in September 2009 and September 2010), the overall number of undergraduate students on campus has now grown to 125.

AIT Vietnam expands its presence in Ho Chi Minh City

H.E. Dr. Tej Bunnag
H.E. Dr. Tej Bunnag

AIT Vietnam (AIT-VN) has expanded its facility in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to meet the rapidly growing demand for its higher learning professional programs and professional development short courses in the nation’s largest city.

The new office was unveiled at a ceremony graced by H.E. Dr. Tej Bunnag, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of AIT and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, who officially opened the facility. “The sheer growth in the number of programs we offer has required us to increase our number of classrooms and offices,” AITVN director Dr. Amrit Bart said.

Global Water Partnership lauds AIT

GWP SEA Meeting at AIT.
GWP SEA Meeting at AIT.

The steering committee of the Global Water Partnership South East Asia (GWP SEA) lauded the role of AIT and sought to strengthen its partnership with the Institute. The steering committee along with representatives of the Thai Water Partnership (TWP) visited AIT on 20 September 2011 to acquaint themselves with new developments at the Institute, particularly the activities in the water sector.

Dr. Mercy Dikito Wachtmeister, Senior Network Officer, Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO), Stockholm, Sweden, stated that AIT has enhanced their networking capacity in this region. Dr. Le Vanh Minh, Chairman of GWP SEA stated that their steering committee consists of two representatives each from nine countries in South-East Asia. “We have over 240 partners in the region and our aim is promotion of integrated water resource management,” he added. Dr. Vinh was accompanied by Ms. Rini Natalia, program coordinator, GWP SEA Secretariat.

Universiti Teknologi Mara signs MoU

Dato’ Prof. Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar (left) with Prof. Said
Dato’ Prof. Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar (left) with Prof. Said Irandoust.

University Teknologi Mara, Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 27 September 2011 with AIT to foster cooperation between the two. Vice Chancellor of UTM, Dato’ Prof. Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar stated that his association with AIT dates back to the nineteen eighties. Signing the MoU with AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust, Prof. Bakar stated that UTM is also interested in offering Professional Master’s program along with AIT, in addition to sending UiTM faculty members for their Master’s and Doctoral studies at AIT.

Sweden’s KTH discusses dual degree tie-up

From left: Ms. Maria Rothzen, Mr. Peter Bjork and Prof. Anders Hult
From left: Ms. Maria Rothzen, Mr. Peter Bjork and Prof. Anders Hult.

Sweden’s prestigious Kungliga Tehniska Hogskolan (KTH) or Royal Institute of Technology has expressed interest in collaborating with AIT on international dual degree programs.

Leading a three-member delegation to AIT on 20 September 2011, Prof. Anders Hult, Director of International Affairs, South-East Asia, KTH, said that a bachelor’s level tie-up with AIT would be a good way to expose students to the best elements of Swedish and Asian education.

Prof. Hult was accompanied by Ms. Maria Rothzen, International Project Coordinator, KTH, and Mr. Peter Bjork, Executive Director, Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce. The visitors said the international composition of AIT’s student body was very attractive. “AIT draws students from all over the region, and from some countries we do not have,” Prof. Hult said, emphasizing the importance of South-East Asia for both KTH and Swedish enterprise.

Towards creating an innovative economy in Thailand

Dr. Chonchanok Viravan
Dr. Chonchanok Viravan

Thailand is moving towards a path of an innovative economy which encompasses creative, knowledge-based and green economies. The country’s eleventh plan envisions the creation of a happy society based on equality, fairness and resilience. This was stated by Dr. Chonchanok Viravan, Advisor, AMATA Science City Project, while delivering an extramural lecture on “Amata Science City: Creating New Opportunities to Foster Innovative Economy in Thailand” at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) on 15 September 2011.

She stated that it was important that Thailand should “find ways to keep AIT graduates who want to stay and work here in Thailand.”

AIT Day 2011

AIT Day 2011
Registration counter at AIT's 52nd anniversary celebrations.

AIT Day 2011
Prof. Said Irandoust (right) with delegates and dignitaries.

AIT Day 2011
Students of various nationalities at the 52nd anniversary celebrations of AIT.

AIT Day 2011
Prof. Joydeep Dutta, Vice President for Academic Affairs.

AIT Day 2011
Galaxy of delegates at AIT's 52nd anniversary celebrations.

AIT Day 2011
Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Vice President for Resource Development.

AIT Day 2011
Dr. Prabuddha Ganguli, honorary scientific consultant on innovation and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issues to Government of India, delivering the keynote address.

AIT Day 2011
AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust.

Uzbek troupe enthralls AIT

Uzbek troupe enthralls AIT
Dance troupe from the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Lilting melodies and graceful movements set to the tune of traditional folk instruments and a rhythmic drum beat marked the twentieth anniversary celebrations of the independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Organized by the Counsulate General of the Republic of Uzbekistan along with AIT, the famous Bukhara troupe from Uzbekistan kept a captive audience at AIT’s Conference Center auditorium spellbound for over an hour.

Performing 15 songs from their repertoire, the Bukhara group provided a glimpse of the musical heritage of Uzbekistan, which had reached its zenith in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The troupe comprising of seven artists, including two dancers, one vocalist and four strumentalists mesmerized the audience with songs about nature, peace, love, friendship and the beauty of the Uzbek people.

News You Can Use

St. Mary’s U. Finds That When It Texts, Students Come

Reports Alex Campbell in the Higher Education Chronicle

“A prospective undergraduate named Porsha got a text in January. “StMarysU: R u still interested in StMarys? A complete application includes an official transcript and test scores. Call 800-367-7868 with ?s about ur status.”

“My transcript has been sent along with my tests results,” Porsha quickly replied.

“Great!” said the text back, two minutes later. “We should get it soon, and we will be in touch with an admission decision.” For the second straight year, students who signed up were more likely to apply than those who didn’t, and, if they got accepted, they were more likely to matriculate."

Read the entire article at this link

http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/st-marys-u-finds-that-when-it-texts-students-come/33328

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