The
Government of France has extended a financial grant totaling 379,000
Euros to the Asian Institute of Technology. The financial pledge for
this year was officially presented to the Institute on August 21 by Mr.
Hervé d'Oriano, Regional Counselor for Health at the French Embassy in
Thailand, who personally visited the campus to deliver the
grant.
The 2008 French Grant to AIT places specific emphasis on the
development of joint research activities within regional (ASEAN) and
French networks, and responds to AIT’s request for support to develop
its new thematic knowledge area on climate change and sustainable
development, while also keeping a focus on advanced technologies
(particularly ICTs) and sustainable development.
As part of its financial backing, France will support the upcoming
regional seminar on climate change and sustainable development,
following which a new call for proposals of the France-AIT Network
Programme of joint research projects will be launched. France will also
support the upcoming AINTEC08 Conference organized by Internet
Education and Research Laboratory (intERLab), which is located on the
campus of AIT. Completing this focus on research is a new programme of
jointly supervised doctoral studies between AIT and French
institutions.
Other key components of the grant include assistance for the enhancing
the mobility of ASEAN students attending AIT to join dual-degree
programmes with a French institution, support for the exchange of
experts between France and AIT in both directions, and French language
and culture teaching and promotion.
The visit of Mr. d'Oriano was also an occasion to discuss the possible
participation of AIT in health-related projects and activities
supported by the French cooperation. Mr. d'Oriano agreed to come back
to AIT in the coming weeks to conduct more extensive deliberations with
AIT officials and present the actions of France on health matters in
the region. He expressed his desire to interact with AIT faculty and
researchers interested in that domain, in order to map out possible
joint activities.
Joining Prof. Said Irandoust, President of the Asian Institute
of Technology (AIT) in welcoming Mr. d'Oriano were Dr. Pritam K.
Shrestha, Head of Exteral Relations and Communications Office
(ERCO), and Mr. Jean-Philippe Thouard, Coordinator of the French
Cooperation at AIT.