On the tenth of October, the formal inauguration of the AIT-Balkh
University (BU) project office took place at AIT. Acting Chairperson of
the AIT Board of Trustees, H. E. Mrs. Merete Fjeld Brattested (fourth
from left) , Ambassador of Norway to Thailand, who was the guest of
honor, was invited to perform the honorary and symbolic ribbon cutting.
Other dignitaries included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Thailand, and the Ambassadors of Bangladesh, Canada, Japan and
Sri Lanka.
Representatives from the embassies of Indonesia, Cambodia, Iran,
Korea, Laos, Pakistan, Turkey, Vietnam and Qatar also participated in
the event. Aside from the faculty members and staff of AIT, several
Afghan students also attended the event despite their mid-term
examination schedules.
During her address Ambassador Brattested noted that the inauguration
of the AIT-Balkh University Project Office symbolizes the fact that AIT
has expanded its services to Afghanistan through capacity building
efforts for higher education development in the country. Ambassador
Brattested commended AIT for its courage and interest in sharing and
contributing to the people of Afghanistan the Institute’s 50 years of
expertise in science, technology and management - in essence
sustainable development. She added that with the close collaborations
AIT has developed with Afghanistan through the strengthening of higher
educational institutions project, AIT was confident and very much
looking forward to Afghanistan, also becoming a signatory to the new
AIT Charter. She concluded her speech by congratulating AIT on this
milestone achievement in collaborating successfully with academic and
research institutions in Afghanistan.
Several faculty members from various Afghan universities are currently
pursuing their certificate and master’s degree programs at AIT. AIT
currently has 20 alumni from Afghanistan. Today, AIT is currently
home to 20 Afghani students pursuing higher degrees in various
programs. On the occasion of the AIT-BU Project Office opening, an
Afghan student representative, Engr. Mohammad Sharif, who is also the
Vice Rector of BU, also delivered a statement. Engr. Mohammad Sharif
thanked AIT and the institute's partners on this noble initiative. He
also expressed his satisfaction in how the project is being conducted
and the academic programs that he and his colleagues are pursuing at
AIT.
This cooperation is only the beginning of AIT’s contribution to the
new Afghanistan. AIT is determined to make a difference in the lives of
the people of Afghanistan, as a partner and an agent for change.
Acting Chairperson of the AIT Board of Trustees, H. E. Mrs. Merete
Fjeld Brattested, Ambassador of Norway to Thailand addressing the
inauguration participants.
Prof. Habibulla Habib, Balkh University Chancellor delivers a
speech.
Watch the
inauguration ceremony on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6kYFmyaIl4