The CSU delegates were welcomed to the campus by H.E. Dr. Subin
Pinkayan, Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees, who organized the
visit. The chairman, who is himself a graduate of AIT and CSU, said the
Institute was “excited by the visit”. Dr. Subin stated that he would
try his level best to establish a good partnership.
Dr. John D. Nelson, CEO of Engineering Analytics, Inc., Professor
Emeritus of CSU and member of the AIT Board of Trustees, led the CSU
delegation.
Interim AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai chaired the board
room meeting where numerous ideas were presented for AIT-CSU student
exchanges, faculty secondments, internships, and dual degree programs,
particularly in the field of Master of Management Practice.
Explaining AIT’s strength as a neutral and independent international
institution with a regional mandate, the president said AIT was adept
at tackling cross-border regional issues ranging from climate change,
disasters, environment, sustainable business practices, water and
infrastructure, transportation, and gender, among others.
AIT is also ideally positioned to host top international scholars who
could then easily interact with thought leaders from all across Asia,
and gain an edge, he said. Dr. Nelson agreed, saying: “This is the best
place in the world for young academicians to begin their international
careers.”
President Worsak revealed that AIT is now focusing its research under
the themes of food, environment, energy, infrastructure and
informatics, and the institute looked forward to establishing
partnerships with top-flight American universities such as CSU.
More details about CSU are available at this link: http://www.colostate.edu
Chairman Subin said ample opportunities exist in the higher education
marketplace to combine good systems engineering programs with business
management. The American senior-level visitors, agreed, saying U.S.
employers want to recruit engineers who possess solid business acumen.
AIT’s “international engineering” focus and its English-language
profile is a competitive advantage in the region, they suggested.
Both sides agreed that opportunities existed for collaboration on
cross-cutting programs, blended learning and joint research in sectors
such as social entrepreneurship, biofuels, atmospherics, and
traditional and renewable energies.
Later, the CSU delegation held detailed follow-up meetings with the
deans and faculty of AIT’s School of Engineering and Technology (SET);
School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD); and the School
of Management (SOM).
Colorado State University was represented by Dr. David I. McLean,
Dean, College of Engineering; Dr. Ajay Menon, Dean, College of
Business; Dr. David S. Dandy, Department Head, Chemical and Biological
Engineering; Dr. Kenneth F. Reardon, Professor of Chemical and
Biological Engineering; Mrs. Audra Brickner, Executive Director of
Development for CSU; and Mr. Matthew Carlyon, Director of Development,
College of Engineering.
AIT was represented by Prof. S. Kumar, Interim Vice President,
Academic Affairs; Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto, Vice President, Resource
Development; Prof. Voratas Kachitvichyanukul, Interim Dean SET; Prof.
Donyaprueth Krairit, Interim Dean SOM, Assoc. Prof. Anil K. Anal,
Coordinator, FEBT, SERD; Assoc. Prof. Weerakorn Ongsakul, Energy, SERD;
Dr. Gabrielle Groves, Head, ERCO, and Shawn Kelly, Head, MCU.
A photo album from the event can be viewed at these
links:
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