HRH PRINCESS MAHA CHAKRI SIRINDHORN GRACES AIT's 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

AIT Presidents Forum Explores Social Impact with Innovation

AIT 60th Anniversary Celebration Ceremony: 24 October 2019

AIT 60th Anniversary Thai-Style Gala Dinner: 23 October 2019

AIT Alumni Open House: 25 October 2019
AIT 60th Anniversary Celebrations (More Events and Celebrations)
AIT Career Fair: 30 October 2019

AIT Alumni Association China Chapter Contribute Towards the AIT Belt and Road Research Center

Many Alumni Donate to AIT during the 60th Anniversary Celebrations (23-25 October 2019)

Global Engagements and Partnerships

Agreements and Partnerships

Seminars, Workshops, and Conferences

Book by AIT Authors

AIT's New Corporate Video

Follow AIT

Credits

HRH PRINCESS MAHA CHAKRI SIRINDHORN GRACES AIT's 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

From the small batch of students who began studying engineering in a quaint corner of Bangkok in 1959, over the past six decades, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has emerged as a premier international institution, focusing on engineering, environment, and management. Honoring AIT's success story on the occasion of its 60th anniversary was Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who graciously presided over the celebrations on 24 October 2019.

Princess Sirindhorn is AIT’s first royal alumna, having obtained a certificate in Remote Sensing Technology from AIT in 1984. She was greeted by Dr. Subin Pinkayan, Chair, AIT Board of Trustees; Dr. Sahas Bunditkul, Chair, AIT Executive Committee; Dr. Eden Y. Woon, President, AIT; and Mrs. Maria Fe Nuestro Ferriols, President, AIT Alumni Association.

As the first inductee into AIT’s Hall of Fame, Princess Sirindhorn also awarded certificates of appreciation to nine new inductees into the Hall of Fame: Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Dr. Somchet Thinaphong, Dr. Lon-Gyi Chen, Dr. Prasarn Trairatvorakul, Dr. Bindu Nath Lohani, Mr. Somprasong Boonyachai, Mr. W. J. L. S. Fernando, Dr. Tong-Ki Woo, and Prof. Kam-Tim Chau, in whose honor a Hall of Fame exhibition was organized.

Given the critical role Colorado State University (CSU) played in the formation of the SEATO Graduate School of Engineering, AIT’s precursor, befittingly, CSU President Prof. Joyce McConnell delivered the keynote address. President Woon said:“Every organization must move forward, and no organization will succeed in a sustainable manner by standing still and basking in past glory.” He stated that Innovation, Internationalization, Enterprise, Entrepreneurship, Stakeholders, and Support (I2E2S2) are the Strategic Focus as we “Transform AIT.”

AIT Presidents Forum Explores Social Impact with Innovation

How have universities injected innovation into your research in social impact areas? How do university collaborate globally with academia, governments, multinationals, and nonprofit organisations in social impact research? How do university maintain a sustainable campus both in teaching and in campus operations?

These three core questions towards innovation, globalisation, and sustainability were the focus of the 16 University Presidents and Vice Chancellors who assembled at AIT

to share their prescient thoughts at the Presidents’ Forum held on 24 October 2019. As the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) celebrates sixty years of existence, it realizes that tectonic shifts are underway in the field of higher education. Global changes make it mandatory for universities to change and transform themselves.

Transforming AIT under the overarching umbrella of “Social Impact with Innovation” was the topic posited before the speakers by AIT President Dr Eden Y Woon. Continuing

with traditional ways can no longer ensure sustainability, and universities have to be entrepreneurial in nature, President Woon emphasized the interconnectedness among innovation in social impact research, internationalisation and sustainable campus are the key to the success of higher education institutions in the 21st century.

“How university collaborates globally with academia, governments, multinationals, and non-profit organisations in social impact research” was the first theme with the session being chaired by Prof. Bundhit Eua-arporn, President, Chulalongkorn University. Sharing their thoughts in this session was Prof. Zhou Yu, President, Harbin Institute of Technology; Prof. Kazuya Masu; President, Tokyo Institute of Technology; Prof. Umran S. Inan; President, Koç University; and Prof. Mahmoud Nili Ahmadabadi,

President, University of Tehran.

Dr. Denis Simon, Executive Vice Chancellor, Duke Kunshan University, chaired the second panel on “How university collaborates globally with academia, governments, multinationals, and non-profit organisations in social impact research?”. He was joined by an illustrious panel comprising of Prof. Julia Buckingham, Vice-Chancellor and President, Brunel University London; Prof. Ram Kantha Makaju Shrestha, Vice-Chancellor, Kathmandu University; Prof. Kil-Choo Moon, President, University of Science and Technology, Korea; Prof. Hideo Ohno President, Tohoku University; and Prof. Mohamed Ibrahim bin Abdul Mutalib, Vice Chancellor, Universiti Teknologi Petronas.

Following innovation and collaboration, which was discussed in the first two sessions, sustainability was the theme of the third session with the topic being: “How university maintains a sustainable campus both in teaching and in campus operations?” Chaired by Prof. Jaak Aaviksoo, Rector, Tallinn University of Technology; and the august panel included Dr. Roger Chen, President, I-Shou University; Prof. Tan Eng Chye, President, National University of Singapore; Datin Dr. Anita B Z Abdul Aziz, Vice-Chancellor,

Universiti Brunei Darussalam;and Prof. Kyosuke Nagata, President, University of Tsukuba.

AIT 60th Anniversary Celebration Ceremony: 24 October 2019

AIT 60th Anniversary Thai-Style Gala Dinner: 23 October 2019

AIT Alumni Open House: 25 October 2019

AIT 60th Anniversary Celebrations (More Events and Celebrations)

AIT Career Fair: 30 October 2019

A record fifty-four (54) organizations joined the AIT Career Fair on 30 October 2019 at the AIT Conference Center. Thirty students also exhibited their research posters.

AIT Alumni Association China Chapter Contribute Towards the AIT Belt and Road Research Center

During the 60th Anniversary celebration the AIT Alumni Association China Chapter contributed 10 Million Thai Baht for the future AIT Belt & Road Research Center, to be established later this year. Prof. Biliang Hu, President of AITAA China Chapter signed the agreement with AIT President Dr. Eden Y Woon on 25 October 2019. Prof Hu was accompanied by almost 70 Chinese alumni. This donation is to support future AIT Belt & Road Conferences, AIT Alumni China Chapter Belt & Road Masters Fellowships and AIT Alumni China Chapter Belt & Road Post-Doctoral Fellowships, as well as for some research funding.

AIT President Eden Y. Woon thanked Prof. Biliang Hu and the Chinese alumni present for the initiative taken in raising funds towards the establishment of the AIT Belt & Road Research Center.

Many Alumni Donate to AIT during the 60th Anniversary Celebrations (23-25 October 2019)

During 23 – 25 October 2019, many alumni returned home to celebrate AIT’s 60th Anniversary at their Alma Mater. A number of them took this occasion to contribute to the operation of AIT. Just during those three days, AIT received donor commitments of 17 Million Thai Baht as well as in kind contributions. These generous donation comes from the Alumni Chapters, individual alumni, Board of Trustees member, 2019 Hall of Fame inductee, Private Sectors, Government, staff and friends.

AIT would like to acknowledge and thank the following donors who used the occasion of the 60th Anniversary homecoming to contribute:

• AITAA Bangladesh Chapter

• AITAA Bhutan Chapter

• AITAA China Chapter

• AITAA Hong Kong & Macau Chapter

• AITAA ROC Chapter

• AITAA Sri Lanka Chapter

• AITAA Vietnam Chapter

• Mr. Anthony S.F. Chiu

• Mr. Bun Wong

• Mr. Chen Ren Chung

• Government of Nepal

• Mr. Michael and Mrs. Queenie Chan

• Dr. Rafiul Ahad and Mrs. Frances Kasala Ahad

• Mr. Shih-Yi George Chen

• Mr. Suk-oh Kim

• Mr. Susanto Halim

• Dr. Tong Ki Woo

• Mr. Tsai, Yau-Tang

• Dr. Varaporn Jaovisidha

Global Engagements and Partnerships

INCOMING

Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency, Dr. Pun-Arj Chairatana

7 October 2019

Prof. Mahmoud Nili Ahmadabadi, President, University of Tehran

23 October 2019

Delegation from Harbin Institute of Technology, China

24 October 2019

Delegation from TusHoldings Co. Ltd, China

30 October 2019

OUTGOING (President's Visit to China)

Meeting at USTB President Prof. Renshu Yang

18 October 2019

Reception by China Scholarship Council

18 October 2019

IGSF: International Graduate Scholarships Fair

19 October 2019

Agreements and Partnerships

MoA Signing with Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), China, for International Unified Bachelor and Master Degree Program

18 October 2019

MOU with Tra Vinh University of Viet Nam for Professional Master’s in Environment and Sustainable Development

15 October 2019

MoU Signing with University of Wollongong (UOW) in Australia

21 October 2019

MoU Signing with Brunel University

23 October 2019

MoA Signing with Kathmandu University, Nepal, for International Unified Bachelor's and Master's Degree Program

24 October 2019

MoU Signing with Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia

24 October 2019

Seminars, Workshops, and Conferences

Seminar on “Data Science Use Cases for Lifestyle Banking” by Dr. Boontawee Suntisrivaraporn

2 October 2019

Talk on "The Role of Science and Technology in Solving the World's Biggest Problems" by Mr. Ludovic Sinet, Technology Research Lead, Good Tech Lab

8 October 2019

Lecture on "Decision Making: How to Make Sense of Complex Problems" by Ragil Ratnam, Executive Coach and Strategic Leadership Consultant

9 October 2019

Talk on " Bridging the Tech Talent GAP in Asia " by Djoann Fal, CEO & CoFounder of GetLinks

15 October 2019

Seminar on "MEMS for Bio Medical Application" by Prof. D.V.Rama Koti Reddy, AU College of Engineering, Andhra University, India

16 October 2019

International Symposium on Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation: Asian Perspective

16-18 October 2019

First Lecture of AIT Executive Masterclass Series 2019-2020 on “How to Make Better Decisions” by Chris Lobello

18 October 2019

AIT Executive Masterclass Series Lecture on "Innovation in Healthcare" by Susie A. Ruff

28 October 2019

Seminar on "Ethics and Privacy in NPL" by Arthit Suriyawongkul

30 October 2019

Book by AIT Authors

A Book titled "An Interdisciplinary Approach for Disaster Resilience and Sustainability" was released by President Dr. Eden Y Woon on 28 October 2019. Co-edited by Dr. Indrajit Pal and Dr. Sangam Shrestha of AIT, the book focuses on the multidisciplinary and multisectoral nature of disaster risk reduction. It includes selected papers presented at the international expert forum on “Mainstreaming Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction in Education,” held at AIT from 1–2 December 2017.

AIT's New Corporate Video

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Credits

Editor: Bajinder Pal Singh bajinder@ait.ac.th

Designer: Nadhika Mendhaka

Photos:

Paitoon Tinnapong

Samphat Semathong

Contact: Office of Public Affairs opa@ait.ac.th