“You may come from overseas, but at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), no student is treated as a foreigner. Here, everyone is treated equally and Thailand serves as a host for AIT.” These were the welcome remarks of Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, AIT President, while greeting students hailing from 20 countries spread across Asia, Europe and South America at the AIT Orientation organized on 5 January 2018.
“When AIT was founded in 1959, it’s was to develop this region,” Prof. Worsak said, as he traced the history of the institute. The AIT President added that AIT serves as a neutral platform for international cooperation. Only twenty-seven percent of the AIT alumni come from the host country, and the rest come from all over the world, he remarked The focus of the Institute is to create responsible global citizens, Prof. Worsak said, as he enumerated the five defining characteristics of global citizens — international perspective, industrial relevance, ICT fluency, innovative mindset, and interdisciplinary competence.
Orientation Day at Asian Institute of Technology
The largest cohort of students enrolled at AIT for the January 2018 semester came from India, followed by Nepal, Pakistan, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. A lone student from Ecuador represents South America; while Europe is represented by students from France, Germany, Finland, and Hungary.
Incoming students were introduced to AIT by the three Vice Presidents Prof. Sivanappan Kumar (Academic Affairs), Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto (Administration), and Mr. Surendra Shrestha (Development); the three Deans - Prof. Voratas Kachitvichyanukul of School of Engineering and Technology (SET); Prof. Rajendra Shrestha of School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD); and Prof. Lawrence S. Abeln of School of Management (SOM); AIT Students’ Union President, Mr. Ashok Lamichanne; and Ms. Laarni Roa, Director, Office of Student Affairs.
Students were informed of AIT practices and procedures by by Dr. Tenzin Rabgyal, Coordinator, Admissions, Scholarships/Invoicing Unit on Academic Regulations, Services and Facilities; Dr. Freek Olaf de Groot, Director, Language Center (Language Center Services and English Language Requirements); by Dr. Naveed Anwar, Director, AIT Solutions (Innovation and Startup Opportunities); Ms. Laarni Roa, Director, Office of Student Affairs (Academic Requirements and Practices); Ms. Carla Gonzales, Coordinator, Career Center and Student Welfare Unit, (Career Center and Student Welfare); Dr. Harianto, IT Consultant - IT Services, Visa and Institute Facilities (Campus-wide IT Services and Policies); Mr. Wanchai Sophonsakulrat, Director, Office of Facilities & Assets Management (Facilities Management/Accommodation Policies); and Ms Suda Inta, Senior Government Officer, Government Relations Unit, Office of Host Country Relations (Educational Visa and Government Relations Services).
New students pose for a photograph at the Asian Institute of Technology landmark on 5 January 2018.