The English daily newspaper "The Nation" has reported from AIT's 119th
Graduation ceremony stating that "AIT operations back to normal
following return to 'old charter'."
The entire text of the news item is reproduced below.
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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/AIT-operations-back-to-normal-following-return-to--30206798.html
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AIT operations back to normal following return to 'old
charter'
Wannapa Khaopa
The Nation May 23, 2013 5:51 pm
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) said Thursday that the
difficulties surrounding its legal status had ended following a
decision in December to bring back its old charter.
The announcement meant 499 students from more than 30 countries will be
able to attend their graduation ceremonies, without worrying about the
validity of their degrees.
"We have now returned to normalcy after three main difficulties,"
Acting AIT President Prof Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai told reporters
Thursday at a press conference.
He said the legal problems included flooding on AIT's campus, its
public-private partnership (PPP) plan that led to a disagreement among
its alumni, and its legal status issue with the Thai government after
AIT issued a new charter in January 2012.
"We don't have any deals with private companies anymore. We've also
followed the Foreign Affairs Ministry's instructions to return to the
old charter which was ratified in 1967," Worsak said.
As a result, the AIT's Board of Trustees - appointed under the old
charter - has been reinstated. There are 26 members of the board,
however 11 of them are newly appointed, replacing those whose terms
have ended, according to Chawalit Chantararat, a board member.
"Now that we have returned to the older charter everything is back to
normal. It means the [499] students who graduated this year were given
recognised degrees - the same as those previously given to more than
20,000 other graduates from more than 50 years of education at the AIT.
However, those students who graduated in the two previous terms under
the new charter, must contact the AIT to change their degree
certificates," Chawalit said.
"We expect to have a new AIT president in six months after the
selection process to seek a new president is complete," Worsak
said.
Chawalit said financial support from the government had also returned
to normal and the AIT was in the process of requesting additional
places for scholarships from Parliament. Other countries, including
Norway and India, have also shown their confidence in the AIT and had
promised to provide financial support, said Chwalit.
