Discussing the establishment of a water center and network, Mr. Choi
stated that they were planning to sign an agreement during the World
Water Week celebrations in April 2015. The K-Water president said they
were keen to have a professional water-related Institute, and K-Water
was discussing the issue with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and
other organizations, including AIT.
Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, President, AIT assured K-Water of “strong
support” from AIT for this venture. Stating that the first field of
study at AIT was in the field of hydraulic engineering, Prof. Worsak
stated that AIT has always advocated a scientific approach to water
management in the region. He also thanked K-Water for the student
internship program offered to AIT students, and proposed that K-water
could depute seconded faculty to AIT.
The K-Water delegation also included Hae-Jin Yang, Vice President,
Overseas Business; Hyuk-Ho Kim, Director General, Southeast Asia
Department; and Hyung-Shin Kim, General Manager, Southeast Asia
Department. AIT was represented by Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto, Vice President
for Resource Development; Prof. C Visvanathan, Dean, School of
Environment, Resources and Development (SERD); Prof. M S Babel,
Director, Research Center on Sustainable Development in the context of
Climate Change; Dr. Sangam Shrestha of School of Engineering and
Technology (SET); Ms. Wannapa Pliansri, Coordinator, Royal Thai
Government Relations, External Relations and Communications Office
(ERCO); Ms. Sumana Shrestha of ERCO; Mr. Md. Zia Islam, Senior Academic
Officer, School of Management; and Ms. Joan Carla Gonzales,
Coordinator, Student Affairs Unit and Career Center.