Linkages with Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia (CSR-Asia) discussed
AIT President Said Irandoust, on 27 July, together with VP-DR Dr Khin Ni Ni Thein, and AIT Extension Director, Dr. Jonathan Shaw, took part in a lunch meeting with Dr. Richard Welford, Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia (CSR-Asia) and Dr. Zinaida Fadeeva, UNU-IAS, discussing the possibility of a partnership wherein AIT could provide a platform and serve as a Center of Excellence for Leadership for Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). They agreed to discuss further the modalities of such a partnership.

Indonesian Ministry of Education considers sending more students to attend AITCI – UGM joint master's program on Transportation Engineering

The Ministry of Education of the Republic of Indonesia is considering sending 20-30 additional students to attend the AIT Center Indonesia (AITCI) – Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) joint masters program on Transportation Engineering, starting from August 2007. The program will be conducted at the AITCI and UGM campuses as agreed.

Former AIT faculty meet President on academic collaboration

Recently, AIT President Said Irandoust met with former AIT faculty members Professor Dr. Ir. Joost Duflou and Professor Roger Hosking. Professor Duflou is currently with the Center of Industrial Management at the Katholieke Universitiet, Lueven, Belgium, and Professor Hosking is a Professor of Mathematics at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). Prof.

Presentation on Integrated Facilities Management by Sodexho
Mr. Stuart Winters, Managing Director and CEO of Sodexho (
http://www.sodexho.com), which is a global organization specializing in integrated facilities management, and senior members of his organization visited AIT on 27 July 2007, and made a presentation to members of the President's Advisory Council (PAC), outlining their areas of expertise, and experiences in Thailand and worldwide.

ASEAN Affairs interviews AIT President

The Founder and CEO of ASEAN Affairs (http://www.aseanaffairs.com/), Mr. S. Roy, accompanied by its editor, Mr. John Walsh, visited AIT on 27 July and interviewed AIT President Said Irandoust. Their pair were interested in learning more about AIT's activities in the region, particularly in the context of ASEAN, and also on topics such as scientific research in ASEAN, and ways in which public discourse could be strengthened.

Appointment of Partner Relations Coordinator

Following the recruitment process for the position of AIT Coordinator – Partner Relations and Development, the selection / interview panel chaired by AIT President Said Irandoust recommended Ms. Naina Shakya for the position out of the 6 short-listed candidates who had been interviewed.

AIT-Afghanistan Task Force update

The AIT-Afghanistan Task Force agreed to hold two initial workshops in Afghanistan, one each in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh province, targeting the Kabul Polytechnic University (KPU) and the University of Balkh (UoB). The objectives of the workshop are to provide an opportunity for KPU and UoB faculty members to interact with AIT faculty, and to conduct a needs assessment of KPU and UoB in order to determine their capacity building capability, including curriculum and human resources development needs.

AIT President participates at SUT-AUAP Conference in Thailand
AIT President Said Irandoust on 25 July 2007 took part in the Suranaree University of Technology (SUT)-Association of Universities in Asia Pacific (AUAP) conference on 'University-Industry-Government Tripartite Cooperation in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific Region'. The conference was held in celebration of SUT's 17th founding anniversary of its campus located in Nakhon Ratchasima, 250-kms northeast of Bangkok.

AIT Extension hosts the 2007 Leadership Program: Business Strategies for Sustainable Development

The AIT Extension recently hosted the 2007 Leadership Program: Business Strategies for Sustainable Development, a collaborative effort between United Nations University (UNU) Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) and Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia (CSR Asia). The course was designed as a response to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, and aimed to equip future leaders with the necessary knowledge and tools to develop strategies for sustainable development and corporate social responsibility in their own organizations.

Student Union administration meeting
President Said Irandoust, on 23 July 2007, met with the executive officers of the Student Union led by SU President, Mr. Rathsayam Tiyarathtagarn, from Thailand. Mr. Rathsayam is supported by a diverse group of volunteers coming from different countries and backgrounds.