Chairman Subin was accompanied by Interim President Prof. Worsak
Kanok-Nukulchai as he met face-to-face with staff, Student Union
representatives, and postgraduate and undergraduate faculty members in
separate meetings. Dr. Subin made the point to meet every individual
who attended each meeting.
“I want to see AIT as one happy international community,” the chairman
told a large gathering of staff at the Milton Bender Auditorium. “I
want us all to move forward,” he said, stressing the need to look to
the future, avoid previous divisions and national lines of thinking.
Attendees expressed admiration for the chairman’s personal outreach,
with some long-time staff members saying the gesture was unprecedented
in recent memory.
Dr. Subin explained his strategy for moving AIT forward, specifically
the development of a strategic ‘road map’ that will include vision,
objectives, and goals, for consideration by the Board of Trustees in
early 2014.
To assist with the plan, he invited direct input from the AIT
Community by the end of November. The Chairman would also meet directly
with the AIT alumni leadership when he attends the 42nd AITAA Governing
Board Meeting in Yangon, Myanmar on November 15-17.
Overall, AIT needs the very best faculty, students and administration
to secure a bright future, the chairman emphasized. Tapping available
funding sources in government, the private sector and foundations can
help finance the Institute’s way forward.
Answering questions from staff, the chairman stressed AIT's
internationality along with its scientific and engineering prowess as
overall strengths.
AIT can distinguish itself as a recognized center of excellence in
ASEAN, and by assisting a number of vital infrastructure mega-projects
planned for Thailand and the region, he advised.
It’s important that AIT confidently displays how it benefits the
region’s poorer countries through advanced education and training. “We
must show how AIT can help,” he said, “not as a competitor but by
complementing national universities with our valuable programs and
products.”
Modernizing campus infrastructure, such as laboratories and staff and
student accommodations, will be a priority, he said.
To the delight of many staff, the chairman said he was personally
working with landscaping professionals on the development of a
prominent new road entrance for the campus from the main highway.
Fairness, honesty, transparency, and frankness are words that must be
cornerstones for AIT management practices, he said.
A Photo Gallery from Dr. Subin's meetings with
faculty, staff and students is available at these links:
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