AIT-Sri Lanka relations flourishing
A delegation from AIT visited Sri Lanka 16 and 17 February 2006 to follow up on the already well establish links AIT currently enjoys with the Sri Lankan government, ministries, universities and private sector as well as to have discussion on the proposed establishment of the AIT Center in Applied Biotechnology with the partnership of the University of Colombo and University of Peradeniya.
AIT's contingent included Prof. Said Irandoust, AIT president, together with Prof. Sudip Rakshit, vice president for research and Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, head, External Relations and Communications Office.
With the assistance of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, whose membership includes blue-chip private companies in Sri Lanka, a workshop on 'Biotechnology for Industrial Development in Sri Lanka' was held on 16 February. More than 80 industrialists attended this workshop and the keynote address was given by Prof. Tissa Vitarana, minister of Science & Technology. Prof. Irandoust gave an address on 'Introduction of AIT Post graduate Program' and Prof. Rakshit's presentation was on 'The Potential for Academic and Ph.D. efforts in Biotechnology in Asia.'
Presentations were also made by such partners as the director of the Institute of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology (where AIT Center will be housed) and the director of the Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, faculty of agriculture, University of Peradeniya. The chairman of the University Grants Commission outlined the fast development of the concept, which just started in September 2005. By October 2005, the secretary of the Ministry of Education formally invited AIT to open a center in Sri Lanka through a partnerships model.
Hon. Minister of Science & Technology Prof. Tissa Vitarana addresses the participants of the biotechnology seminar.
The AIT center will be in partnership with the universities of Colombo and Peradeniya whereby the AIT degree in applied biotechnology will be offered to industrialists in Sri Lanka. Funding for the master's program will come from both the government of Sri Lanka (50 percent of all the scholarships for the first 3 years at the rate of US$20,000 per scholarship) and the balance 50 of the costs to be borne by the private sector industrialists.
It is envisaged that at least five industrialists will commit to send two employees every year for the next three years at the rate of US$20,000 per candidate. A minimum one year will be spent at AIT completing all coursework paying AIT rates. The second year, candidates hav the option of remaining in AIT and doing thesis work, or doing it in Sri Lanka.
On 7 February 2006, Prof. Irandoust and Mr. Jayasinghe met with Mr. Dinesh Gunawardene, minister of Urban Development and Water Supply to discuss the status of the AIT proposal on 'Post-Tsunami Sustainable Communities Program' which was submitted to the minister in October 2005. The minister informed Prof. Irandoust of the latest developments that have taken place at the ministry after the general election in November 2005.
In light of this the minister requested AIT to revise its proposal with emphasis to be placed on geographic information systems and remote sensing, and water and sanitation. The ministry will now focus on this, and money is available for this from the ministry. The minister requested that the revised proposal be sent to him by early April for consideration. There is a very high chance that AIT could secure this income generating project.
Prof. Irandoust meets with Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply Mr. Dinesh Gunawardene.
Prof. Irandoust also met with members of human resources development for Sri Lankan Airlines. The airline has a very good reputation not only within South Asia countries but also in the United Arab Emirates and the Persian Gulf region. It is envisaged that Sri Lankan and AIT Extension will confirm a training program pertinent to the aviation industry.
Sri Lanka will soon be opening an aviation academy to train all airline related personnel in the region, and AIT would jointly conduct such training programs with the aviation academy. The AIT logo will be on all letter heads of the aviation academy and vice versa. AIT would through this venture receive global publicity. Details of the agreement will be worked out shortly with AIT Extension and Sri Lankan Airlines in coordination with AIT's External Relations and Communications Office.
A meeting was arranged for Prof. Irandoust with the secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Chairman Central Environment Authority, and officials to discuss proposed a three-month certificate program for the training of trainers on environmental management and protection to be conducted by AIT Extension. Also the secretary handed over a drafted concept paper on establishing a environmental center to offer both short-term and master's degree programs in collaboration with AIT. This concept will be reviewed by the School of Environment, Resources and Development for further action.
Prof. Irandoust also met with the manager of the National Data Centre, presidential secretariat. The Government of Sri Lanka has provided funding of up to US$50,000 for the manager and his assistant in the Data Centre to follow a tailor-made, work-related master's program to help with the activities of registering on a national level the names and addresses of the tsunami-affected families and next of kin. The proposed study program is being reviewed by faculty in the School of Engineering and Technology.
President also had meetings with the deputy head of mission, Norwegian Embassy; Sri Lankan AIT alumni; the chairman of the Urban Development Authority; and the director of the Industrial Technology Institute.
Through these efforts and new collaborations, the partnerships with Sri Lanka continue to increase and the support of Mr. J.D.A. Wijiwardena, Sri Lanka ambassador to Thailand is gratefully acknowledged.
AIT Alumni Association, Sri Lanka Chapter, Executive Secretary Mr. Piyal Henanayake (second from left) meets with AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust, Prof. Sudip Rakshit, vice president for research and Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe.