Delivering the graduation address during the morning session of the
graduation ceremony, H.E. Prof. J.B. Disanayaka, Ambassador of Sri
Lanka to Thailand, welcomed the students “from the groves of academe to
the world of reality.” The ambassador defined graduation as a landmark
and a turning point in life. Stating that knowledge is critical for
survival, he reminded all graduates that universities and academic
institutions like AIT not only impart knowledge but also create new
knowledge. He added that knowledge has its own limits and warned that
it could be abused. The ambassador described “wisdom” as a critical
faculty which is more powerful than knowledge.
Delivering the graduation address during the afternoon session, Dr.
Prasert Patramai, Chairman, TEAM group of companies remarked that AIT
had provided him “adequate knowledge for the development and use of
technology for solving many key problems in Asia”. An alumnus of AIT,
Dr. Prasert said AIT alumni are increasingly occupying key positions
within Asia and the Pacific.
AIT President, Prof. Said Irandoust congratulated the batch of
graduating students and remarked that AIT looks forward towards a
bright future full of opportunities for its graduates. The president
remarked that problems and challenges are not limited to the boundaries
of any particular country and have become more crossborder, regional
and global. “This convinces me even more strongly in the mission of
AIT,” he remarked.
Delivering the most outstanding student message at the morning
session, Ms. Merina Lohani Sitoula,spoke about the multiculturalism at
AIT. “On top of gaining academic excellence, we have learnt about how,
different people, from many different backgrounds and cultures, can
co-exist harmoniously,” she said. Ms. J Elaine J. Layug who delivered
the most outstanding student message at the afternoon session,
expressed the sadness of students at leaving the premises of AIT, but
added that this day should not be an end, but a new beginning for all
students.
Earlier Vice President for Academic Affairs, Prof Peter F. Haddawy
introduced the graduation ceremony to all. Dr. Pornsak Suppataratarn,
Executive Secretary of AIT Alumni Association Mother Chapter welcomed
AIT graduates into the alumni fold and remarked that the Alumni
Association is committed to helping students “work and network”.
Delegates and dignatories who attended the 113th Graduation Ceremony
included Dr. Tej Bunnag, Chairman, AIT Board of Trustees; Mrs. Kusum R.
Disanayaka; H.E. Mr. Sohail Mahmood, Ambassador, Embassy of Pakistan;
H.E. Mr. Kazi Imtiaz Hossain, Ambassador, Embassy of Bangladesh; Mr.
Michael S.Y. Yiin, Advisor & Director, Taipei Economic and Cultural
Office in Thailand; Mrs. Fola V. Aiyedun, Minister, Embassy of Nigeria;
Prof. Didik Sulistyanto, Attache (Education), Embassy of Indonesia; Mr.
Tadeusz Andrzej Ignasiak, Counsellor (Economic and Commercial), Embassy
of Poland; Mr. Maurice Siveton, Regional Counsellor (Cooperation),
Embassy of France; Mr. Tomoyuki Sakairi, First Secretary, Embassy of
Japan; Mr. Toufique Hasan, First Secretary, Embassy of Bangladesh; Mr.
Mehdi Kamyabi Pour, First Secretary, Embassy of Iran; Mr. Noorhaizamdin
Abdullah, Deputy Director (Programme and Development), SEAMEO; Ms.
Arunee Tippilar, Vice President of Thai-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce;
Prof. Peter Edwards, Emeritus Professor, AIT; Mr. Mahesh Pradhan,
Director, AIT/UNEP.RRC.AP; Ms. Thelma Kay, Board Member, School of
Engineering, Resources and Development (SERD), AIT; Mr. Bard Mikkelsen,
CEO of Stratkraft, Norway; Mr. Jaruwat Kiatiwongse, Program Officer,
Ford Foundation; Mr. Aung Myo Thaik, Managing Director, United Network,
Myanmar; Ms. Yin Myo Aye, Chief Editor, Scholarship Education Magazine,
Myanmar; Ms. Huynh Thi Nguyet Anh, Local Coordinator of IEMBA, Vietnam;
Dr. Pham Thi Kim Ngoc, Nation Coordinator of IEMBA, Vietnam; Dr.
Chainarong Na Lamphun, President & CEO, Index International Group
Co., Ltd.; H.E. Mr. Naveen Prakash Jung Shah, Ambassador, Embassy of
Nepal; H.E. Mr. Douglas H.M. Gibson, Ambassador, Embassy of South
Africa; H.E. Mr. Dashpurev Luvsandoo, Ambassador, Embassy of Mongolia;
Dr. Somchit Paseutsak, First Secretary (Education), Embassy of Lao PDR;
Dr. Chainarong Na Lamphun, President & CEO, Index Int’l Group Co.
Ltd; and Mr. Shane Muangkroot, Business Development Representative,
TEAM Consulting Engineering and Management, Thailand.
The Intermission saw individual and choir performances by students of
the AIT International School as well as a solo performance by a
graduating student from the School of Management (SOM), Mr. Aziz
Shrestha.
H.E. Prof. J.B. Disanayaka, Ambassador of
Sri Lanka to Thailand delivering the graduation address during the
morning ceremony of AIT's 113th Graduation.