AIT Newsletter July 2014
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The document summarizes news from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in July 2014. It discusses: 1) The arrival of 32 new Myanmar scholars at AIT, supported by a scholarship from the Norwegian government, to obtain two-year degrees. 2) Recent visits to AIT from delegations representing Pakistan, China, and France to explore potential partnerships in areas like accreditation, student exchanges, and research collaborations. 3) Updates on AIT alumni including an alumnus being appointed Dean of Engineering at a university in the US and another being named Managing Director of an Indian steel company. 4) New publications by AIT faculty including books on climate change and water
AIT Newsletter July 2014
- 1. 1JULY 2014 Asian Institute of Technology JULY 2014 T hirty-two students from Myanmar, the third tranche of scholars supported by the Norwe- gian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA), began their two-year journey at AIT on 27 January 2014 with their Orientation Program. Congratulating the students, Mr. Chatri Moonstan, Se- nior Programme Officer (Development Cooperation), Royal Norwegian Embassy stated thatAIT has an “im- portant role offering knowledge and skills to students all over Asia.” Delivering a message from the Norwe- gian Ambassador to Thailand, H.E. Ms. Katja Christi- na Nordgaard, Mr. Chatri stated that Norway was sup- porting the scholarship program so that the students could work towards sustainable development of their motherland, Myanmar. “You are the young generation and the future of your country,” the ambassador’s mes- sage said. “In return, Norway does not want anything in return, except that you work very hard,” the message added. AIT’s Interim President, Prof. Worsak Kanok- Nukulchai reiteratedAIT’s vision of continuing to pro- vide quality education and catering to the development needs of the region. Third batch of 32 Myanmar scholars arrive at AIT INSIDE ISSUE.. . Recent News / Happenings at AIT................................................. 2-3 People............................................................................................ 4-5 Photo Gallery.................................................................................. 6 Backpage....................................................................................... 6
- 2. 2JULY 2014 RECENT NEWS / HAPPENINGS AT AIT Pakistan Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Dr. Sohail Khan guided a senior level delegation from the Paki- stan Engineering Council (PEC) on its maiden visit to AIT on 3 June 2014 for exploratory talks on broad-based collabora- tion, including academic accreditation. Mr. Zhou Gaoyu (left) with Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai. Pakistan Ambassador to Thailand brokers meeting of Pakistan Engineering Council and AIT A number of leading Chinese uni- versities aim to establish partner- ship arrangements with well-known higher education institutions in Southeast Asia, including AIT. That was the message Chinese diplomats and senior university administrators brought to AIT during a visit on 20 June 2014. Led by Mr. Zhou Gaoyu, First Secretary for Education, China Embassy, Thailand, a large delega- tion representing the ASEAN-China Centre in Beijing and high-ranking officials from The Excellent Alli- ance of University (E9) consortium expressed a collective desire to work with AIT. The visitors included senior rep- resentatives from Harbin Institute of Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Southeast University, Northwestern Polytechnical Uni- versity, South China University of Technology, and Tianjin University. All members of The E9 rank highly in national and international univer- sity rankings. China’s The Excellent Alliance of University (E9) visits AIT in seek of partnerships France appreciates AIT’s role as regional platform From left: Mr. Stéphane Roy, Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, and Mr. Andre de Bussy. France appreciates the role played by AIT as a regional platform, particularly in the ASEAN region. This sentiment was expressed by Mr. Andre de Bussy, Regional Counsellor for Development, French Embassy in Indonesia and Mr. Stéphane Roy, Attache for Scientific and Higher Education Cooperation, From left: H.E. Dr. Sohail Khan, Mr. Syed Abdul Qadar, Mr. Mukhtar Ali Sheikh, and Mr. Zahid Arif. Ambassador Khan, who is a member of the AIT Board of Trust- ees, said the Institute is a highly suitable higher education partner for his country. At the meeting, PEC Chairman Syed Abdul Qa- dar Shah informed the ambassador that the body now represents Pakistan at the Washington Accord, which is a select international accreditation agreement for professional engineering academic degrees, between the national bodies responsible for accreditation in signatory countries. French Embassy, Thailand during their visit to AIT on 13 June 2014. They met with AIT’s Interim President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai and Head External Relations and Communications Office (ERCO), Dr. Gabrielle Groves Punyaratabandhu to explore possible areas of coopera- tion to further foster scientific linkages between France and AIT.
- 3. 3JULY 2014 RECENT NEWS / HAPPENINGS AT AIT Dr. Siripong Malasri, who completed his Master’s in Structural Engineering and Construction fromAITin 1977, has been appointed Dean of the School of Engi- neering at Christian Brothers University (CBU), Memphis, Tennessee, USA. An announcement by CBU stated that Malasri has already played a significant NIDA SU President Thanabat Aiamsakool (left) with Abhishek Bahadur Shah. AIT Alumnus Dr. Siripong Malasri named Dean of Engineering at CBU AIT wrested the annual sports trophy from the National Institute of DevelopmentAd- ministration (NIDA), Bangkok at the an- nual AIT-NIDA sports championship held on 15 June 2014. The annual competition, which is now in its thirty-sixth year, saw AIT winning four events ˗ volleyball, ta- ble tennis, tug of war, basketball. NIDA won petanque, badminton and chairball, while the football match ended in a draw. An elated Abhishek Bahadur Shah, Presi- dent of AIT Student Union (SU), said that it was heartening to win the trophy back. Complimenting the 80-member AIT sports team, Shah thanked the AIT SU sports committee chairperson, Joseph DKS, and the sports committee secretary, Darshana Abeyrathna. AIT students win AIT-NIDA trophy AIT and Bangkok University enter three-year partnership Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai (left) with Dr. Mathana Santiwat. AIT and Bangkok University (BU) have committed to work together over the next three years on a wide range of academic, research and promotional initiatives of mutual benefit. AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai and Bangkok University President Dr. Mathana Santiwat signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 24 June 2014 that allows for the development of joint degree programs and research activities, as well as the joint appointment of lecturers between the two universities. Also included in the MoU is a provision for joint promotional activities, such as technical meetings, international workshops, conferences, seminars, symposia and student activities. Dr. Siripong Malasri role during his 25-year tenure as a faculty member, department chair, program director, and a previous term as dean. Mr. Sridhar Krishnamoorthy, who grad- uated with a Master’s in Engineering from Energy field of study in 1987, has been appointed Managing Director of Indian operations of the NewYork Stock Exchange-listed Gerdau Steel. Prior to joining Gerdau, Sridhar was Vice-President, Project Development AIT alumnus Sridhar Krishnamoorthy to head Gerdau Steel India Mr. Sridhar Krishnamoorthy with SENAAT, an Abu Dhabi-based industrial group, which also owns and operates Emirates Steel Industries in the UAE. Sridhar has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras, a Master’s in Energy Technology from AIT, and MBA from Monash University Australia.
- 4. 4JULY 2014 PEOPLE AIT faculty edit book on Climate Change and Water Resources A book on “Climate Change and Water Resources,” jointly edited by Dr. Sangam Shrestha and Prof. Mukand Singh Babel, both fac- ulty at AIT’s School of Engineering and Technology (SET), has been released by CRC Press. Released in May 2014, the book has 11 chapters divided into four sections covering various aspects of water and climate change. The forewords of the book are written byAIT’s Interim President, Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai and Prof. Kuniyoshi Takeuchi, Direc- tor, International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM) and Professor Emeritus, University of Yamanashi. Prof. Athapol, Dr. Imran and Assoc. Prof. Anil release new book Three AIT academicians have combined to edit a novel new book titled “Functional Foods and Dietary Supplements.” Published by Wiley-Blackwell (UK), the seventeen-chapter compilation sub-titled “Processing Effects and Health Benefits” contains the latest findings on the health and disease prevention benefits of functional foods. Edited by Prof. Athapol Noomhorm, Dr. Imran Ahmad, and Assoc. Prof. Anil Kumar Anal of the Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology (FEBT) field of study at AIT’s School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD), the book FEBT students, faculty and staff with the new publication. AIT student wins scholarship award to attend International Horticultural Conference AITdoctoral student Mr. Krishna PrasadTimsina has been selected for a scholarship award by USAID, Horticulture Innovation Lab, and University of California, Davis, USA, for participation in the 29th International Horticultural Congress 2014. Krishna, who is pursuing his Doctorate in Agri Business Management under the supervision of Prof. Ganesh Shivakoti of AIT’s SERD, will be attending the 29th International Horticultural Congress from 17-22August 2014 in Brisbane,Australia. Krishna will showcase his research work based on his paper titled “Impacts of a New Post-harvest Drying Technology on the Horticultural Seed Value Chain in Nepal.” The scholarship award includes round trip air travel, lodging, full conference registration fees, visa and transportation. Mr. Krishna Prasad Timsina Dr. Sangam Shrestha (left) with Prof. Mukand Singh Babel. focuses on functional ingredients of Asian origin that are of interest globally, especially in Western countries.
- 5. 5JULY 2014 PEOPLE Dr. Rajendra Shrestha is AIT Senate Chair Dr. Rajendra Shrestha, As- sociate Professor in School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) has been appointed the new chair of the AIT Academic Senate. He succeeds Prof. Jayant Kumar Routray, who completed his tenure of two years. Dr. Shrestha’s Prof. Ganesh Shivakoti retires after 16 years of service Prof. Ganesh Shivakoti has retired from AIT after serv- ingtheInstitutefor16years. He was accorded a warm farewell on 26 June 2014 in an event attended by Vice President for Academic Af- fairs, Prof. Sivanappan Ku- mar and Dean, SERD, Prof. C. Visvanathan. A Ph.D. from Michigan State University (1991), Prof. Shivakoti worked extensively with Nobel laureate Eli- nor Ostrom, with whom he jointly published a book. He has been associated with AIT in various capacities since 1998, and was promoted to the rank of Professor in 2006. Prof. Shivakoti completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s from University of Udaipur, India in 1974 and 1979 respectively. He also studied for “TeacherTraining inAgriculture” from NationalAgricultural College, De- venter, The Netherlands. Prof. Shivakoti will continue to serve AIT as Adjunct Professor to guide his Master’s and Doctoral students. Prof. Ganesh Shivakoti Prof. Tripathi appointed Director, Office of Special Degrees Program Prof. Nitin Kumar Tripathi has been appointed as Director, Office of Special Degrees Program (SDP). The “Office of Special Degree Programs” replaces the earlier “Office of Unified Programs.” This office will be responsible Prof. Nitin Kumar Tripathi Dr. Rajendra Shrestha term has begun from 24 May 2014. Dr. Shrestha joined AIT as faculty member in the Nat- ural Resources Management Field of Study in SERD in 2003. Dr. Shrestha earned his Bachelor’s in Science from Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India in 1984. His Master’s and Doctoral degrees are from AIT, having completed his M.Sc. in Natural Resources Plan- ning and Management in 1993, and Doctorate in Natu- ral Resource Management in 1999. for the five-year International Integrated Master’s Degree Program (IIMDP), and similar partnership programs. As Director SDP, Prof. Tripathi will help the AIT Schools develop unified degrees programs (Bachelor+Master’s and Master’s+Doctoral), and other Joint/Dual Degrees Programs. The Office of SDP shall serve as contact point in the operations of all SDPs at partners’universities. CONDOLENCE Surapol Potisunghirun Mr. Surapol Potisunghi- run,Administrative Officer in the Government Rela- tions Unit, External Rela- tions and Communications Office (GRU/ERCO), passed away on 24 June 2014 after a valiant battle with lung cancer. The 1954-bornMr. Surapol served AIT for 36 years and was instrumental in helping AIT em- ployees with driver’s licenses, car registrations and work permits. He is survived by his immediate family, including his wife and three children. Mr. Surapol Potisunghirun
- 6. 6JULY 2014 Editor: Bajinder Pal Singh bajinder@ait.asia Designer: Nadhika Mendhaka Photos: Paitoon Tinnapong For feedback, contact Media and Communications Unit at AIT mcu@ait.asia PHOTO GALLERY / BACKPAGE News You Can Use “World has zero chance of hitting education targets” Follow AIT at • Facebook www.facebook.com/aitasia • Youtube www.youtube.com/aitasia • Twitter www.twitter.com/aitasia • Google+ https://plus.google.com/113705895909660110340/posts • LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/company/412079 UNESCO admits it will be impossible to achieve Millennium Development Goals for universal primary education by 2015. The Guardian reports; An estimated 58 million children worldwide are not going to school, meaning that there is “no chance whatsoever” that the millennium development goal of achieving universal primary education by 2015 will be met, the UN has admitted. Read the entire story at this link: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jun/26/ world-education-targets-schools-unesco AIT blood donation