Accompanied by Board of Trustees member Dr. John D. Nelson, AIT
Interim President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, and Vice President for
Resource Development Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto, the chairman met with AIT
Deans and faculty members as he reviewed detailed presentations on
research conducted at the three AIT Schools, and AIT Research
Centers.
During his meetings at the School of Engineering and Technology,
School of Environment, Resources and Development, and School of
Management, Dr. Subin surveyed faculty on the scope of their research
programs, target beneficiaries, and sources of support. “I want to help
you if I can,” he said.
Chairman Subin explained his larger goal was to make AIT sustainable
by achieving efficiencies and maximizing opportunities in its research
activities. To do so, he said “AIT must think of itself as a service
provider that can provide maximum benefit to its stakeholders.”
Answering questions from the schools’ faculty, Dr. Subin also
explained the Board’s position on issues such as the current
undergraduate program and his vision for a new program. Touching on the
campus rebuilding efforts, he suggested connecting potential private
sector or government donors with planned projects, such as the library
redevelopment, so as to benefit both parties.
The chairman also announced that he would soon lead a senior-level AIT
delegation on a fact-finding and learning mission to a number of top
universities across America, including Colorado State University, New
Mexico State University, University of Pennsylvania, MIT, Olin College,
California Institute of Technology, Harvey Mudd College, Stanford
University, and the University of California at San Diego.
Each university stop will have a specific learning purpose for the
delegation, the chairman said. The University of Pennsylvania is a
recognized leader in combining its business, leadership and engineering
programs, he explained. World-class distance education programs
conducted by MIT and Stanford University are something the team will
study in detail, as is the renowned postgraduate-undergraduate model of
higher education existing at Cal Tech.
According to the chairman, cutting-edge alternative energy programs,
research and private sector linkages existing at New Mexico State
University and UC San Diego are of particular interest to the team.
Exploring possibilities for research partnerships with AIT will by a
constant thread at all the university visits, in particular the first
leg at the chairman’s very own alma mater Colorado State
University.
Dr. Subin informed that he would be accompanied to the United States
from July 28-August 8 by AIT President Worsak, Dr. Matthew Dailey,
Computer Science and Information Management, and Coordinator of
Undergraduate Programs; Dr. Gregory Chiu, Offshore Technology and
Management; and Dr. Ongsakul Weerakorn, Energy. Dr. Gabrielle Groves
Punyaratabandhu, Head of the External Relations and Communications
Office, organized the special visit by the chairman and Dr.
Nelson.
A Photo Gallery from the visit is available at these
links:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152583868174709.1073741951.102952369708&type=1
Google + :
https://plus.google.com/photos/113705895909660110340/albums/6036498016026916945
