The AIT President said that ever since its establishment in 1959, AIT
has been attracting students, teachers, trainers and educational
partners from all over the world. Since that day when AIT was
established as the SEATO Graduate School of Engineering, AIT has acted
like a magnet for international students who want to study in an
international institute of higher education based in Thailand.
“AIT has helped Thailand emerge as a regional hub of higher education
and learning, and this is no small contribution,” President Irandoust
remarked. He added that with the reestablishment of AIT as an
International Intergovernmental Institute, AIT’s role and stature has
been enhanced considerably.
He added that Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has
studied at AIT and continues to be an honorary faculty member. AIT’s
alumni have acquired ministerial positions not just in Thailand, but in
many countries in South and South East Asia, he added. They have risen
to positions of CEOs of major companies, contributing to economic
progress in the region.
The President elaborated on AIT’s achievements stating that it has
been honoured with the Magsaysay Award in 1989 and the Friendship Order
of the Government of Vietnam in 2006. AIT is Thailand’s top per capita
research institute of higher learning, according to the Thailand
Research Fund. It has also been identified as a Research Center of
Excellence by the Rockfeller Foundation.
However, AIT will not rest on its laurels, and will embark on a
vigorous expansion plan to capitalize on its International
Intergovernmental status. “This will ensure that not just AIT, but
Thailand and the entire South-East Asian region establishes itself as a
premier destination for students desirous of pursuing quality higher
education,” he added.
The President was speaking at a ceremony organized to mark the AIT’s
Fifty-second year celebrations at Hotel Renaissance, Ratchaprasong,
Bangkok, on 5 September 2011.
Delegates who attended the AIT
Day celebrations included H.E. Mrs. You Ay, Ambassador, Embassy of
Cambodia; H.E. Mr. Naveen Prakash Jung Shah, Ambassador, Embassy of
Nepal ; H.E. Mr. Joao Freitas de Camara, Ambassador, Embassy of
Timor-Leste; and H.E. Mr. Ngo Duc Thang, Ambassador, Embassy of
Vietnam. Representatives of diplomatic missions included Mr. Mehdi
Kamyabi Pour, First Secretary, Embassy of Iran; Mr. Ola Moller, First
Secretary, Embassy of Sweden; Mr. Alejandro B. Deimundo Escubal,
Minister, Embassy of Argentina; Mr. Ilan Weitzman, , First Secretary,
Embassy of Israel; Mr. Tadeusz Andrzej Ignashiak, First Counsellor,
Embassy of Poland; Mr. Adel Slimani, Embassy of the State of Qatar; Mr.
Thongchai Phuengkanthai, Asst. Consul-General, The Consulate-General of
the Republic of Maldives; Mr. Mohammed Ouaoua, Counsellor, Embassy of
Morocco; Mr. Bob Felix Tobing, Counsellor, Embassy of Indonesia; Dr.
Thomas Multhaup, Counsellor, Economic and Commercial Affairs, Embassy
of Germany; Mr. Ali Lotfi, Second Secretary (Economic Affairs Officer),
Embassy of Iran; Mr. Denis Abrashin, Second Secretary, Embassy of
Russia; and Mrs. Zamiah
Haliluddin, Second Secretary, Embassy of Brunei Darussalam.
Academic institutions,
universities and international organizations were represented by Dr.
TongchatHongladaromp, Chairman of the University Council, KMUTT; Mr.
Preungboon Chakkaphak, Vice President for International Affairs,
Kasetsart University; Prof. Sansanee Chaiyaroj, Mahidol University; Dr.
Mathana Santiwat, President, Bangkok University; Dr. Supong
Limtanakool, Vice President, External Affairs, Bangkok University; Dr.
Ninnat Olanvoravuth, Secretary-General, Association of Southeast Asian
Institution of Higher Learning (ASAIHL); Ms. Yhing Sawheny,
International Liaison Officer, Siam University; and Mr. Apichai
Sunchindah, Policy Advisor, German International
Corporation;
AIT alumni who graced the
occasion included Dr. Subin Pinkayan, Honorary Advisor, GMS Power
Public Company Ltd. ; Prof. Dr. Srisakdi Charmonman, AIT Alumnus; Mr.
Thanin Bumrungsap, Vice President, Italian-Thai Development Public
Company Ltd. ; AIT Alumnus;
Mr. Oravit Hamachudha, Deputy Director-General, Traffic and
Transportation Department, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration; AIT
Alumnus; Dr. Chatchawal Simaskul, Plan & Policy Analyst, Office of
Transport & Traffic Policy and Planning; AIT Alumnus and Mr.
Chaovalit Ekabut, Vice President, Finance and Investment, CFO, The Siam
Cement PLC.
Prof. Said Irandoust addressing
delegates on the occasion of AIT Day 2011.