(File photo) From left, Prof. Said Irandoust, H.E. Dr. Tej Bunnag.
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) today (30 January 2012)
became an international intergovernmental organization as its New
Charter came into force. The Institute becomes the sole institute of
higher learning in the region to achieve this legal status.
became an international intergovernmental organization as its New
Charter came into force. The Institute becomes the sole institute of
higher learning in the region to achieve this legal status.
The New Charter replaces the AIT Charter of 1970, which was
instituted under the South-East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). It
now accords AIT the status of a full-fledged international
organization, enabling the higher learning institute to assume a
greater global role from its home base in Thailand. It invites
countries and international organizations to collaborate with AIT as a
neutral platform.
instituted under the South-East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). It
now accords AIT the status of a full-fledged international
organization, enabling the higher learning institute to assume a
greater global role from its home base in Thailand. It invites
countries and international organizations to collaborate with AIT as a
neutral platform.
So far Sweden, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and
Nepal have deposited their instruments of ratification of the New
Charter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, and now
constitute the new governing Council of AIT.
Nepal have deposited their instruments of ratification of the New
Charter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, and now
constitute the new governing Council of AIT.
AIT is confident that Thailand, as the Institute’s host country,
along with ten other countries and one international organization which
have already signed or confirmed to sign the New AIT Charter – namely
Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Germany, Indonesia, the Philippines,
Seychelles, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and the United Nations
Development Fund for Women, East and Southeast Asia (UNIFEM) - now part
of UN Women) – will join the new AIT Council in the near
future.
along with ten other countries and one international organization which
have already signed or confirmed to sign the New AIT Charter – namely
Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Germany, Indonesia, the Philippines,
Seychelles, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and the United Nations
Development Fund for Women, East and Southeast Asia (UNIFEM) - now part
of UN Women) – will join the new AIT Council in the near
future.
The New Charter culminates many years of work under the leadership
of Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to define AIT’s legal status
according to international law. The New Charter is recognition of AIT
as a regional international platform of higher education, research,
capacity building and outreach, AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust
said.
of Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to define AIT’s legal status
according to international law. The New Charter is recognition of AIT
as a regional international platform of higher education, research,
capacity building and outreach, AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust
said.
The New Charter was pursued by the current Administration, and is
considered to be the crowning achievement of Chairman of the AIT Board
of Trustees and former Foreign Minister of Thailand, H.E. Dr. Tej
Bunnag, who spearheaded the process and leaves his position as Chairman
today (30 January 2012) on the same day the New Charter comes into
force.
considered to be the crowning achievement of Chairman of the AIT Board
of Trustees and former Foreign Minister of Thailand, H.E. Dr. Tej
Bunnag, who spearheaded the process and leaves his position as Chairman
today (30 January 2012) on the same day the New Charter comes into
force.