Prof. Bakar stated that AIT can contribute towards enhancing the
educational skills of UiTM’s
faculty. “About 40 per cent of UiTM’s 10,000-strong faculty possess a
doctorate degree, and we are seeking to upgrade the skills of our
faculty,”
Prof. Bakar said. He remarked that UiTM proposes to send five
Master’s and five Doctoral students to AIT in the January 2012 session.
UiTM is one of the largest public funded universities in Malaysia with
200,000 full-time students. He added that four Deans from UiTM would
visit AIT shortly to formalize other agreements.
Prof. Bakar, who is a graduate from the Colorado State University (CSU), recalled his association
with AIT in the nineteen eighties, when he spent a considerable amount
of time at the AIT campus to pursue his research in the field of water
engineering.
Prof. Said Irandoust, while welcoming Prof. Bakar apprised him of the
latest activities at AIT, and invited him to join activities in the
recently launched AIT’s Asian Water Research and Education (AWARE)
Center. The AIT President stated that AIT is keen that Malaysia should
join the new AIT Charter, and sought Prof. Bakar’s help in this regard.
Prof. Bakar was accompanied by Prof. Sohaimi Zakaria, Special Officer
to the Vice Chancellor. Others who met the visiting delegation included
Dr. Mukand Singh Babel, Director, AWARE; Dr. B Harimurti W Hadikusumo,
Coordinator, Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure Management
(CEIM) field of study; Dr. Pritam Krishna Shrestha, Head, External
Relations and Communications Office (ERCO);. Ms. Tiamkare
Thitithamtada, Program Officer, ERCO; and Mr. Vickrant Gurung, Program
Associate, School of Management (SOM).
From left to right: Prof. Sohaimi Zakaria,
Dato’ Prof Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar, Prof. Said Irandoust, Dr. B Harimurti
W Hadikusumo, Dr. Pritam Krishna Shrestha and Mr. Vickrant
Gurung.