AIT’s internationality was very much evident on the occasion of the
115th graduation, when students from Asia, Africa, Europe, North
America and Oceania went to the podium to be honored with degrees.
Students from Nepal (36), India (27), Myanmar (23), Sri Lanka and
Indonesia (16 each), Pakistan (13), Afghanistan and Bangladesh (11
each) formed the other large contingents.
Female students accounted for 42 per cent of the graduates at AIT.
Thirty seven graduates were honored with the doctoral degree.
Dr. Madhav Karki, Deputy Director General of the International Center
for Intergrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), who read the graduation
speech on behalf of Dr. Andreas Schild, Director General of ICIMOD,
exhorted students to take risks, and experiment in their young
professional life. Stressing on the paradigm of the green economy and
sustainable development, the speaker described it as the “first
professional challenge” for graduates.
“For Asian countries, green economy should be achieved in the context
of sustainable development and poverty eradication,” the speaker said,
while adding that growth has to be achieved by conserving resources for
future generations. We have to move towards a low carbon economy,
resource management efficiency and social inclusion, he added.
AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust remarked that global challenges and
economic realities validate the case for institutions of higher
learning to collaborate in addressing these common problems. He added
that the twenty first century has been widely proclaimed as the Asian
century, and as new graduates, all of them will be playing an important
role in ensuring that this proclamation holds true.
Delivering the graduation speech in the afternoon session, Prof. Dr.
Chira Hongladarom, Secretary-General, Foundation for International
Human Resource Development, asked students to remember the issues of
‘reality’ and ‘relevance’ while dealing with the real world. Stressing
on the need for lifelong learning, Prof. Hongladarom said graduates
should always reinvent themselves all the time.
Conducted by Prof. Joydeep Dutta, Vice President for Academic Affairs,
the graduation also saw the conferment of Emeritus Professor titles on
Prof. Ram Manohar Shrestha of Nepal, Prof. Ashim Das Gupta of India,
and Prof. Mario T. Tabucanon of The Philippines.
The AIT Alumni Association (AITAA) was represented by Mr. Chaovalit
Ekabut, President of AITAA, who congratulated the students on their
graduation and asked them to network with AIT’s strong alumni network.
In the afternoon session, Dr. Pornsak Suppataratarn represented the
AITAA and welcomed the students to the alumni fold.
Mr. Bikendra Shamsher Thapa of School of Management delivered the
“Most Outstanding Student” speech on behalf of students of School of
Management (SOM) and School of Environment, Resources and Development
(SERD); while Mr. Nuwan Suresh Ferdinand delivered the “Most
Outstanding Student” speech on behalf of students of the School of
Engineering and Technology (SET).
Ms. Plama Gioreva of Bulgaria, a Mezzo soprano, provided intermission
numbers at the graduation.
AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust
addressing graduands at AIT's 115h graduation.