New AIT partnership with Thai giant TEAM Group fosters student internships and co-research

New AIT partnership with Thai giant TEAM Group fosters student internships and co-research
The deal signed on 3 June 2015 between AIT President Prof. Worsak
Kanok-Nukulchai and TEAM Group Chief Executive Officer, International
Sector, Mr. Chawalit Chantararat – as part of a ‘Technical Exchange
Seminar 2015’ co-organized by AIT Consulting and TEAM Group – will
foster cooperation over the next five years.

Under the MoU, AIT undergraduate and postgraduate students will now
have a chance to intern at the leading conglomerate of Thai-based
consulting firms, during the summer months of June and July.

The agreement also paves the way for significant co-research
collaboration with some of AIT’s leading faculty members in the fields
of water resources engineering, transportation engineering, building
and infrastructure engineering, construction engineering and
infrastructure management, and geotechnical and tunnel
engineering.

AIT experts Prof. Mukand S. Babel, Dr. Noppadel Phien-Wej, Dr.
Surachet Pravinvongvuth, Prof. Pennung Warnitchai and Dr. Djoen San
Santoso will now spearhead specific research collaboration from AIT in
scientific fields where TEAM Group has significant business
interests.

“Highly qualified non-Thai students may even have a chance for a job
with TEAM Group in their home countries,” Dr. Prasert said, outlining
the multinational company’s ongoing efforts to increase its
international understanding, as it operates across the Asian
region.

The company founder, who is an AIT alumnus (M.Eng ’71 & D.Eng ’73)
and 2010 AIT Hall of Fame inductee, said he was pleased to partner with
his “beloved institution”, explaining that the company was launched in
1978 by himself and several AIT alumni.

President Worsak welcomed the fact that TEAM Group currently has over
60 AIT graduates on its payroll.  Thanking the CEO for TEAM
Group’s longstanding relationship, President Worsak expressed his hope
that even more AIT graduates will gain good jobs at the company,
through the internship program.

The half-day seminar opened by AIT Vice President for Research Prof.
Kanchana Kanchanasut brought together 22 senior TEAM Group officials,
AIT faculty members, and students.

AIT Consulting Executive Director Dr. Naveed Anwar noted the
significance of the seminar, which was designed to strengthen mutual
understanding and involvement of each organization’s research focuses,
capabilities, and projects.

He said AIT Consulting provides the bridge between AIT’s technical
capabilities and industry and society through a wide array of
consulting services.

“All our goals have been achieved,” he said, in terms of accelerating
professional relationships and cooperation between AIT and TEAM Group,
and establishing real ways to collaborate for joint research and
projects.