Prof. Jean-Louis Armand, AIT President bestows the honorary doctoral hood to H.E. Prof. Nguyen Minh Hien while Prof. H. N. Phien (right), Dean SAT looks on
AIT Confers Honorary Doctorate Degree to H.E. Prof. Nguyen Minh Hien
On the occasion of the 18th Meeting of AITCV Council of Advisors which took place on 24 September 2004, the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam and AITCV organized a special ceremony marking two memorable events: Conferment of the honorary doctorate of the Asian Institute of Technology upon His Excellency (H.E.) Professor Nguyen Minh Hien, Minister of Education and Training of Vietnam and Bestowal of Award For the Cause of Education to Prof. Mario T. Tabucanon and Dr. Willi Zimmermann. This auspicious occasion coincides with the celebration of AIT's 45th anniversary.
Prof. Jean-Louis Armand , AIT President delivers the conferment speech.
H.E. Prof. Nguyen Minh Hien delivers his acceptance and acknowledgement speech..
Prof. Hien is recognized for his importance in strengthening the Agreement between AIT and the Government of Vietnam, giving the Institute's branch in Vietnam distinct privileges and greater opportunities. His support has been instrumental in the Institute's achieving growth in and enhancement of institutional collaboration and partnership with universities in Vietnam. Along with AIT's mission of supporting human resources for development purposes in countries in the region, thus enhancing their potentials in areas of development, the two Centers, namely the AIT Center in Vietnam (AITCV), also known as AIT in Vietnam and the Swiss-AIT-Vietnam (SAV) Management Development Program have allowed the Institute to offer professional post-graduate upgrading programs to a much wider audience than could be reached through the Bangkok campus alone, and also serve as international gateways for technology transfer into Vietnam. So far the number of 1,416 Vietnamese alumni together with 462 students currently enrolled at AIT from Vietnam have made the second largest country represented among the student body. AIT can be proud of the contributions it has made so far to the development of human resources in Vietnam - this achievement having been made possible in large measure, thanks to the guidance and support provided by H.E. Prof. Nguyen Minh Hien.
During the ceremony, on behalf of the entire AIT community, Prof. Jean-Louis Armand, President of AIT expressed his deep gratitude to H.E. Prof. Nguyen Minh Hien and addressed the audience in the following terms: 'I am confident that through the excellent cooperation between the Institute and the Government of Viet Nam, through the Ministry of Education and Training, and the valuable support extended by Your Excellency which we gratefully acknowledge, we shall continue to make significant contributions to Vietnam' technological and economic development; continue to advance the promotion of higher education for sustainable development in the region, and with a concerted effort foster a culture that is in keeping with the spirit of international friendship and mutual understanding'.
In his citation of the conferment, Prof. Mario T. Tabucanon, AIT's Provost said: 'Professor Hien's support for institutional partnership with universities in Vietnam has become a cornerstone in the Institute's development pursuits. The provision of scholarships and other forms of generous support of the Government of Vietnam to AIT have enhanced the Institute's capability to carry out its mission and have enabled it to maintain high quality teaching and research'.
Prof. Jean-Louis Armand , AIT President bestows the honorary doctoral certificate to Prof. Nguyen Minh Hien (second from right) while Prof. H. N. Phien, Dean SAT looks on
Donning his academic gown and hood to receive AIT's highest Degree of Doctor of Technology (honoris causa), Prof. Hien has become the first Vietnamese being bestowed this prestigious degree. His outstanding services and contributions have marked a long-standing and fruitful relationship between the Asian Institute of Technology and the Government of Vietnam.
Following through this honorary doctorate conferment the award For the Cause of Education was bestowed on two AIT's faculty members, Prof. Mario T. Tabucanon and Dr. Willi Zimmermann. 'This is the honorable and most noble medal of the sector of education and training in Vietnam reserved to those who have made many contributions to the cause of education and training of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam', said Prof. Hien.
H.E. Prof. Nguyen Minh Hien congratulates the awardees, Prof. Mario T. Tabucanon (2nd from left) and Dr. Willi Zimmermann (left)
Indeed, Professor Tabucanon was one of the first persons who helped in the establishment at AITCV - the only overseas branch of AIT- in Vietnam. He notably contributed in the elaboration and development of the curricula and syllabi of the Two-Stage Master Program in Industrial Systems Engineering - the bridge that has spanned the transfer of technology from AIT to Vietnam. He has made special contribution to educating and training highly qualified human resources for Vietnam through his teaching and supervising many Vietnamese students and scholars at AIT as well as helping many Vietnamese receive scholarships to do their Master's or PhD studies and research at AIT. Prof. Tabucanon has produced a good number of qualified students who became lecturers at high-quality universities in Vietnam. He serves on the Council of Advisors of AITCV and also on the Steering Committee of the Swiss-AIT-Vietnam Management Development Program. The work of both high-powered groups provides directions for AIT's role in the advancement of the education sector of Vietnam, and the high-level training of outstanding young Vietnamese professionals in particular.
At the awarding ceremony, from left: Prof. Jean-Louis Armand, AIT President; Dr. Willi Zimmermann, Coordinator, SAV PhD Program, Vietnam; Prof. Mario T. Tabucanon, Provost and H.E. Prof. Nguyen Minh Hien, Minister of Education and Training.
Dr. Zimmermann, in his capacity as a lecturer of the AIT School of Management (SOM), has taught and supervised many Master's and PhD students at the AIT. As member of steering committees of the SAV PhD Program, Dr. Zimmermann has assured the academic quality of lecturers from four universities, namely the National Economics University Hanoi, the College of Economics of the National University in Ho Chi Minh City, the University of Technology Hanoi and the College of Engineering of the National University Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. He has also actively participated in many international cooperation programs between Vietnamese institutions and their foreign partners.
H.E. Prof. Nguyen Minh Hien, Minister of Education and Training pins the national medal 'for the Education Cause' to Dr. Willi Zimmermann (second from left), Coordinator, SAV PhD Program, Vietnam
Making significant contributions towards advancement of the AIT-Vietnam relations, mainly for the development of Vietnam's education sector, and development of high-level Vietnamese human resources, Professor Tabucanon and Dr. Zimmermann have built a vital education foundation, thus paved the way for new generations of Vietnam to further their knowledge.