AIT Delegation Visits Cambodia

Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe (second from left), AIT Director of Promotion Activities and Prof. Athapol Noomhorm (left), FEBT Coordinator, SERD discusses with Mr. Yang Yano (second from right) and Mrs. Kan Neary (right), Director and Deputy Director respectively of Cultural Relations & Scholarships Department, Ministry of Education, Youth & Sports, Cambodia

AIT Delegation Visits Cambodia

AIT recently made a mission visit to Cambodia. The delegation comprised Prof. Athapol Noomhorm, Coordinator, Food Engineering & Bioprocess Technology, SERD, Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Director of Promotion Activities, and Hnin Aye Lwin, Program Officer, Office of the President. The visit was held from 4 - 7 July 2004.

During the mission, detailed discussions were held with senior officials of the Ministry of Education, Youth & Sports, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal University of Agriculture, the Royal University of Phnom Penh, and five national and private institutes recognized by the Ministry of Education.

The delegation was able to finalize a memorandum of understanding for a new collaborative arrangement with the National University of Management, a state university recognized as the best management institute in Cambodia, for a non-residential PhD program for five to eight of their faculty members.

On the final day of the delegation's mission, an AIT Day was held at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC). Participating in the opening were Prof. Ludovic Protin, Director of ITC; Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, AIT Director of Promotion Activities and Professor Athapol Noomhorm, SERD faculty. The event was attended by Mrs. Kan Neary, the Deputy Director of Cultural Relations & Scholarship Department, Ministry of Education, Youth & Sports, Cambodia, who delivered an inspirational address.

Participants attending the event came from major universities and institutes.

After opening remarks and a viewing of the Introducing AIT video, there was a question-and-answer session. The delegation answered participants' questions on admissions, scholarships available and the various fields of study at AIT. The event also provided an opportunity to receive direct feedback from interested applicants. AIT alumna Ms. Hnin Aye Lwin also spoke eloquently on student life at AIT.

More than a hundred participants attended the event. A large number came from major universities and institutes, including the National Institute of Education, the Institute of Technology of Cambodia, the National Institute of Management, the Royal University of Phnom Penh, the Royal University of Agriculture, and the Institute of Technology and Management. Participants from the Royal University of Law & Economics and other private institutions also attended the event.

Also participating were officials of various government ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Information, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Social Affairs, Labor, Vocational Training & Youth Responsibilities, the Royal Academy of Cambodia and Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

Particular interest was shown in studying natural resources management and the environment, and AIT 's MBA programs also aroused considerable interest. A significant number of students were also interested in computer science.

The event received the wholehearted and generous support of Mr. Chea Sarin, AIT Alumni Association Cambodia Chapter President; Mr. Prach Minea, ITC Alumni President and many other AIT alumni, who provided their time to ensure that the event was well attended and known to Cambodians likely to be interested in studying at AIT. The delegation was particularly grateful also to the Royal Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok for its assistance, and also to Mrs. Kan Neary, Deputy Director of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Cambodia.

For further information please contact Ms. Hnin Aye Lwin, Program Officer, Office of the President.
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