Back in Thailand after leading a senior-level AIT
delegation on a recent two-week learning mission to many top
universities in the United States, the chairman described his ambitious
agenda in an email to the AIT community.
The AIT team visited and studied operations at Colorado State
University, New Mexico State University, University of Pennsylvania,
MIT, Northeastern University, Olin College, California Institute of
Technology, Harvey Mudd College and Stanford University.
Dr. Subin’s vision is hinged on revamping AIT’s educational offerings
in engineering and management to produce top-notch graduates who
possess the necessary attributes to become “Asia’s next generation of
leaders.”
“Our engineering programs must aim to turn out graduates who will
eventually become senior professionals and administrators across every
Asian enterprise sector,” Dr. Subin said. To get there, the institute
needs to focus its efforts on developing master and doctoral programs
that supply graduates with the needed characteristics, he urged.
The chairman stressed that in addition to AIT’s rigorous foundation in
engineering principles and practices, the institute’s educational
programs must change to emphasize the development of high-end
leadership, entrepreneurship, and research and innovation skills.
Prioritizing on-campus residential student life and student activities
to stimulate creativity, innovation, and intellectual development was a
key takeaway from the AIT delegation’s visits to nine of America’s most
prestigious universities.
He also identified a number of proposals for the AIT administration to
pursue. First would be designing and launching new integrated Master of
Engineering Management and Master of Engineering Business degree
programs.
Also high on the agenda will be the introduction of an engineering
leadership program at AIT that would be developed in consultation with
highly regarded engineering leadership programs found at both MIT and
Northeastern University, he said.
Finally, the chairman said AIT is now keen to unveil an engineering
entrepreneurship program in consultation with Stanford University's
Center for Professional Development and the Stanford Technology
Ventures Program, both within Stanford’s School of Engineering.