Students requested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand
and the Commission of Higher Education could also be invited to the
meeting, along with the key player in the current conflict, the AIT
Alumni Association Thailand. The President welcome this suggestion
stating that all stakeholders should help to resolve the crisis. The
root of the impasse is the letter written by the AITAA, which
unfortunately has never been made public, he remarked.
and the Commission of Higher Education could also be invited to the
meeting, along with the key player in the current conflict, the AIT
Alumni Association Thailand. The President welcome this suggestion
stating that all stakeholders should help to resolve the crisis. The
root of the impasse is the letter written by the AITAA, which
unfortunately has never been made public, he remarked.
Students requested if the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand
and the Commission of Higher Education could also be invited to the
meeting, along with the key player in the current conflict, the AIT
Alumni Association Thailand, vis-a-vis., the letter of complaint they
submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand, which has been
the root of the current impasse.
and the Commission of Higher Education could also be invited to the
meeting, along with the key player in the current conflict, the AIT
Alumni Association Thailand, vis-a-vis., the letter of complaint they
submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand, which has been
the root of the current impasse.
Issues raised by students included validity of the degree in
Thailand, and other countries; issue of the AIT Board of Trustees
vis-a-vis the AIT Council; holding of formal and informal meetings of
the AIT Council; and academic quality issues.
Thailand, and other countries; issue of the AIT Board of Trustees
vis-a-vis the AIT Council; holding of formal and informal meetings of
the AIT Council; and academic quality issues.
"The AIT degree is valid globally," the President said. He added
that AIT degrees are valid not only in the nine members of the Council
of AIT but also in many other countries. Regarding Thailand, the
President said that it is a temporary problem and it should be resolved
soon.
that AIT degrees are valid not only in the nine members of the Council
of AIT but also in many other countries. Regarding Thailand, the
President said that it is a temporary problem and it should be resolved
soon.
The President highlighted that the validity of AIT degrees are
linked to the high reputation that AIT enjoys around the world and the
global recognition of AIT’s quality of education. The validity of AIT’s
degrees should not be linked to its governing structure. The President
appealed to all stakeholders to keep politics out of students' issues.
The interests of the students are paramount and AIT is making every
efforts to ensure that they do not suffer, he added.
linked to the high reputation that AIT enjoys around the world and the
global recognition of AIT’s quality of education. The validity of AIT’s
degrees should not be linked to its governing structure. The President
appealed to all stakeholders to keep politics out of students' issues.
The interests of the students are paramount and AIT is making every
efforts to ensure that they do not suffer, he added.
“AIT is the Asian Institute of Technology. There has been and
there will be only one AIT, whether under the former Board of Trustees
or under the current Council of AIT,” the President told the students.
“There is no question of there being two AITs. From its founding
governing documents of 1959 to the current charter, the functions and
objectives of AIT has remained the same, To contribute to human
resources development in Asia and beyond. A change in the governing
structure of AIT should in no way portrayed as a change in the
functions and basic core values of AIT. If such attempts are being
made, then they are misleading and false,” the President stressed.
Further, the President stated that it was not within his authority to
call a meeting of the Board or the Council. “I work under the Council,
and it is upto the Council to call its meeting,” he said. “If the
Council decides to have another governance structure, or decides to
handover authority to the Board, I will have to follow it,” he
added.
there will be only one AIT, whether under the former Board of Trustees
or under the current Council of AIT,” the President told the students.
“There is no question of there being two AITs. From its founding
governing documents of 1959 to the current charter, the functions and
objectives of AIT has remained the same, To contribute to human
resources development in Asia and beyond. A change in the governing
structure of AIT should in no way portrayed as a change in the
functions and basic core values of AIT. If such attempts are being
made, then they are misleading and false,” the President stressed.
Further, the President stated that it was not within his authority to
call a meeting of the Board or the Council. “I work under the Council,
and it is upto the Council to call its meeting,” he said. “If the
Council decides to have another governance structure, or decides to
handover authority to the Board, I will have to follow it,” he
added.
To a question about holding formal AIT Council meetings, the
President responded by stating that the AIT Council has been holding
informal meetings, as it wanted to wait for host country Thailand to
join the council before organizing a formal meeting. However, the
meeting where the AIT Council announced the award of degrees was
declared as formal.
President responded by stating that the AIT Council has been holding
informal meetings, as it wanted to wait for host country Thailand to
join the council before organizing a formal meeting. However, the
meeting where the AIT Council announced the award of degrees was
declared as formal.
Reacting to the issue raised by a Ph.D. student whose appointment
as a lecturer in a government university was being withheld pursuant to
clarification of his degree status, the President said that he himself
had taken the issue to the nine Council members and it had been
discussed during the informal council meeting.
as a lecturer in a government university was being withheld pursuant to
clarification of his degree status, the President said that he himself
had taken the issue to the nine Council members and it had been
discussed during the informal council meeting.
When asked about the reasons behind the current impasse involving
AIT, MOFA and Office of the Council of Higher Education, the President
blamed the current impasse to the letter of complaint written by the
Thailand chapter of the AIT Alumni Association to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. The letter has not been made public as yet despite
repeated requests by AIT and the Council of AIT, he added.
AIT, MOFA and Office of the Council of Higher Education, the President
blamed the current impasse to the letter of complaint written by the
Thailand chapter of the AIT Alumni Association to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. The letter has not been made public as yet despite
repeated requests by AIT and the Council of AIT, he added.
Students also raised questions of attestation of AIT degrees by
the authorities in Thailand before they return to their home countries.
Students asked whether the AIT administration had made an attempt to
establish contact with the AIT Alumni Association, and as to why the
AIT Alumni Association was not a member of the AIT Council. They also
inquired about the status of AIT governance, and whether it was
possible to revive the Board of Trustees. One student also asked
whether it was appropriate to name the country and ambassador who
signed the AIT degree, instead of signing it on behalf of all countries
that constituted the AIT Council.
the authorities in Thailand before they return to their home countries.
Students asked whether the AIT administration had made an attempt to
establish contact with the AIT Alumni Association, and as to why the
AIT Alumni Association was not a member of the AIT Council. They also
inquired about the status of AIT governance, and whether it was
possible to revive the Board of Trustees. One student also asked
whether it was appropriate to name the country and ambassador who
signed the AIT degree, instead of signing it on behalf of all countries
that constituted the AIT Council.
The President stated that his attempts to establish contact with
the Thailand Chapter and the Mother Chapter of the AIT Alumni
Association have not been successful. He added that it was MOFA which
drafted the new Charter and the AIT administration did not decide on
the membership of the Charter and the stipulations. He further added
that it was sad that the AIT Alumni Association is complaining about
transparency of AIT Administration when they themselves are not ready
to make public their own letter of complaint that they have filed
against their alma mater, which is the root cause of the current
impasse.
the Thailand Chapter and the Mother Chapter of the AIT Alumni
Association have not been successful. He added that it was MOFA which
drafted the new Charter and the AIT administration did not decide on
the membership of the Charter and the stipulations. He further added
that it was sad that the AIT Alumni Association is complaining about
transparency of AIT Administration when they themselves are not ready
to make public their own letter of complaint that they have filed
against their alma mater, which is the root cause of the current
impasse.
Regarding the issue of attestation of degrees, he would raise it
with the nine member countries and host country Thailand. On the issue
of signature, the President said he would convey this to the AIT
Council that the signatory should be a representative of the
Council.
with the nine member countries and host country Thailand. On the issue
of signature, the President said he would convey this to the AIT
Council that the signatory should be a representative of the
Council.
He repeated that the question of holding a Council or Board
meeting, or reviving the Board was not within his purview.
meeting, or reviving the Board was not within his purview.
Responding to a question on quality of education, Prof. Irandoust
said that AIT maintains its quality, but its operations have been
affected by the flood and by attacks from known and anonymous which
were circulated to the AIT community, as well as AIT’s supporters and
donors. He stated that his request to the 10 Governments (nine council
members and Thailand) is to find a solution to the problem at the
earliest, and the President sought the support of students’ on this
issue. “I am doing whatever I can, and I have already voiced your
concerns to the AIT Council,” the President added.
said that AIT maintains its quality, but its operations have been
affected by the flood and by attacks from known and anonymous which
were circulated to the AIT community, as well as AIT’s supporters and
donors. He stated that his request to the 10 Governments (nine council
members and Thailand) is to find a solution to the problem at the
earliest, and the President sought the support of students’ on this
issue. “I am doing whatever I can, and I have already voiced your
concerns to the AIT Council,” the President added.
Prof. I.M.Pandey, Vice President for Academic Affairs also
participated in the Institute Forum and elaborated on academic quality
at AIT. The Institute Forum was coordinated by the AIT Students’ Union
President, Mr.Rajeev R Sinha.
participated in the Institute Forum and elaborated on academic quality
at AIT. The Institute Forum was coordinated by the AIT Students’ Union
President, Mr.Rajeev R Sinha.
The President ended the event by eloquently echoing a statement
that we need to develop a mentality at AIT that theinstitution stands
first before any individual, when he said, "I am but an individual and
I do not count. It is AIT that counts."
that we need to develop a mentality at AIT that theinstitution stands
first before any individual, when he said, "I am but an individual and
I do not count. It is AIT that counts."
