The Secretary, Foreign Affairs referred to AIT as one of the most
prestigious institutions of higher learning in Asia that can serve as a
driving force in the development of institutions of higher learning in
the Philippines.
The AIT delegation met Dr. Emmanuel Y. Angeles, Chairman of the
Commission of Higher Education (CHED). The CHED Chairman also confirmed
the commitment of the Government of the Philippines of becoming a
signatory to the AIT Charter – this issue already being discussed with
the President of the Republic of the Philippines with a positive
outcome. It was conveyed during the meeting that the Philippines
intends to host a full-pledged AIT campus in the Philippines in its new
University Town, a new project which will be developed in Clark Special
Economic Zone, Pampanga. In the meantime, CHED has proposed an
immediate start of the AIT-Philippines joint venture through the
offering of a doctoral program in information technology for a
consortium of nine universities in the Philippines. The course could
begin from December 2009 and AIT faculty has been invited to deliver
the courses. The meeting was also attended by CHED Executive Director
Atty. Julito D. Vitriolo, and Prof. Ricardo P. Pama, former AIT Vice
President, who serves as Advisor to the Office of the President in the
Philippines.
Earlier the AIT delegation was received by H.E. Mr. Kulkumut Singhara
Na Ayudhaya, Ambassador of Thailand to the Philippines on its arrival.
The Board Chairman had a meeting with Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco,
Former Ambassador of the Philippines to the United Nations and
Presidential Advisor on Foreign Affairs. The AIT delegation also met
H.E. Mr. Reynaldo Arcilla, former Philippine Ambassador to Thailand and
member of the AIT Board of Trustees, and currently the Dean of the
College of International Relations of the Lyceum of Philippines
University; Prof. W. Scott Thomson, Professor Emeritus of International
Politics, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and Senior Fellow of the
Asian Institute of Management; as well as members of Team Thailand, who
are Thai representatives in the business sector.