.
Mr. Fernandes stated that providing scholarships to students to
upgrade their education is a priority area for Timor-Leste and the
number of scholars from Timor-Leste to AIT are set to increase. Mr.
Paulino Henrique, Education Attache, who was accompanying Mr. Fernandes
stated that AIT alumni are holding senior positions in Ministries and
are considered as “pioneers” in their country. Currently 108 students
from Timor-Leste are studying in Thailand, and most of them have
undergone a foundation course at AIT.
The visiting delegation said that they are finalizing the agreement to
be signed with AIT, and a Minister from Timor-Leste will be visiting
Thailand soon to formally sign the agreement. Mr. Fernandes stated that
their country had an observer status in ASEAN, and it was looking
forward to ASEAN integration. "The country has to prepare for this
development, and we are working towards it, he added. AIT can be a
destination for education since it is a prestigious university in the
ASEAN region," he added.
Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Interim
President, AIT expressed his happiness at learning about the success of
AIT alumni. AIT has a very strong network, and it can help Timor-Leste
benefit from this network. The Interim President, while extending an
invitation for a Minister from Timor-Leste to visit AIT, added that the
Institute is happy to contribute towards capacity strengthening.
Dr. Sahas Bunditkul, former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, and
member of AIT Board of Trustees, remarked that during his visit to Sri
Lanka and Nepal, he had observed that AIT alumni were occupying senior
positions, and he was glad to learn that Timor-Leste had a similar
experience. He stated that AIT was one of the best places to study and
hoped that AIT would have more students from Timor-Leste.
Prof. Kanchana Kanchahasut, Interim Vice President for Research; Prof.
Voratas Kachitvichyanukul, Interim Dean, School of Engineering and
Technology; Dr. Theo Ebbers of Wetlands Alliance Program (WAP); and Dr.
Gabrielle Groves of External Relations and Communications Office also
participated in the meeting.
From left: Mr. Fracisco Dionisio
Fernandes, Dr. Sahas Bunditku, Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Mr.
Paulino Henrique, and Prof. Voratas
Kachitvichyanukul.