The following day, the large group began a six-week intensive
English-language Bridging Program conducted by the AIT Language Center,
in advance of resuming their core studies in mid-August.
The young scholars form the second contingent of the 3-year Norwegian
MFA (NMFA) Scholarship Program launched last year. They join forty
current students from Myanmar already attending AIT under the
scholarship program.
Newly arrived in Thailand, the students were warmly welcomed to AIT by
the new Interim President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai; new Acting Dean
of the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) Prof.
Chettiyappan Visvanathan; new Acting Dean of the School of Engineering
and Technology (SET)
Dr. Nitin Kumar Tripathi and Mr. Erik Svedahl, Minister Counsellor of
the Norwegian Embassy, Bangkok.
“Your country needs you, your skills and expertise. You are the
future,” Mr. Svedahl told the Myanmar group, greeting the students in
their own language and later meeting with them individually and as a
group.
AIT External Relations and Communications Office (ERCO) Head Mr. Ahmed
Amjad Ali moderated the welcome event. Language Center Senior Language
Specialist Mr. Tylor Burrows introduced details of the Bridging
Program.
Noting that only 1 in 15 of the original 750 scholarship applicants in
Myanmar earned entry to AIT through the program provided by the
Government of Norway, President Worsak complimented the final selectees
for being amongst the best of their peers. “You are all very special
students,” he said.
The president thanked the Government of Norway for its generosity, Mr.
Erik Svedahl for his particular commitment to AIT, and everyone
involved in the process to make the program a success.
President Worsak invited the newcomers to participate in the special
international spirit of the campus, and to make best use of their
studies and experiences to one day return home and benefit their
country. “This generous program provided by the Government of Norway is
designed to improve the professional capacity and human resources of
your country,” he emphasized.
Mr. Svedahl expressed his pleasure that a large number of the NMFA
scholars were from various ethnic groups in Myanmar and that so
many of the students were female. Of the fifty scholars, 33
are women and 17 are men.
The senior diplomat emphasized that Norway is a strong friend of
Myanmar, and a keen supporter of its reform process and peaceful
development. “We want you to go back to Myanmar after graduation to
build a modern society in your country,” he told the students.
Later, throughout the week, thr NMFA scholars were already
spotted navigating the campus in small groups and confidently
approaching bystanders as they completed
English-focused assignments for their Bridging Program
classes. After one week, the newly-enrolled students were already well
on their way to an enriching life and academic career at AIT.
A photo album from the event is available at these links:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151685581529709.1073741843.102952369708&type=3
Google+:
https://plus.google.com/photos/113705895909660110340/albums/5897067077420791569
