The offer was made on 10 June 2010 by Prof. Dr. Patrick De Ryck, Dean
of Group T’s Leuven Engineering College, during an exploratory meeting
with AIT chaired by President Said Irandoust. Prof. De Ryck
represented Prof. Dr. Johan De Grave, President Group T University, who
was unable to travel to AIT for the meeting. He was joined by
Prof. Prof. Khin NiNi Thein, Professor and senior strategic
officer, Office of the President of Group T and senior advisor to the
President of AIT.
of Group T’s Leuven Engineering College, during an exploratory meeting
with AIT chaired by President Said Irandoust. Prof. De Ryck
represented Prof. Dr. Johan De Grave, President Group T University, who
was unable to travel to AIT for the meeting. He was joined by
Prof. Prof. Khin NiNi Thein, Professor and senior strategic
officer, Office of the President of Group T and senior advisor to the
President of AIT.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a
proposed scholarship scheme for the double degree program
targeting the August 2010 intake, as well as to review Group T’s
plan to establish a new international master’s course in Sustainability
Science and Engineering in 2011.
proposed scholarship scheme for the double degree program
targeting the August 2010 intake, as well as to review Group T’s
plan to establish a new international master’s course in Sustainability
Science and Engineering in 2011.
Expressing his thanks to President Dr. Johan De Grave, President
Irandoust welcomed the offer, saying AIT looked forward to
discussing the modalities for establishing a formal agreement for this
type of English-language double degree program.
Irandoust welcomed the offer, saying AIT looked forward to
discussing the modalities for establishing a formal agreement for this
type of English-language double degree program.
President Irandoust suggested that the scholarships should be open to
candidates from all of AIT’s three schools, and selection criteria
could be based on the field of study at Group T in the second
year. The president advised that the eventual double degree
program should be of a general nature and be flexible to allow students
to pursue course work or research.
candidates from all of AIT’s three schools, and selection criteria
could be based on the field of study at Group T in the second
year. The president advised that the eventual double degree
program should be of a general nature and be flexible to allow students
to pursue course work or research.
Students under this proposed program would study their first year at
AIT. Since the academic program is engineering-related, it will be
focused on students from the School of Engineering and Technology (SET)
and the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD).
However, a separate agreement is expected to be made for an exchange
program for School of Management (SOM) students to take relevant
courses at Group T and receive a postgraduate certificate upon
completion.
AIT. Since the academic program is engineering-related, it will be
focused on students from the School of Engineering and Technology (SET)
and the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD).
However, a separate agreement is expected to be made for an exchange
program for School of Management (SOM) students to take relevant
courses at Group T and receive a postgraduate certificate upon
completion.
Explaining Group T’s interest in partnership with AIT, Prof. De Ryck
said his university was now focused on establishing bilateral
agreements in Southeast Asia to facilitate increase exchange of
international students. Twenty percent of the Engineering College’s
1400 students are international, he said, and the university encourages
its students work and study abroad to gain international perspectives.
Prof. Dr. Patrick De Ryck said a double degree program with AIT would
be mutually beneficial.
said his university was now focused on establishing bilateral
agreements in Southeast Asia to facilitate increase exchange of
international students. Twenty percent of the Engineering College’s
1400 students are international, he said, and the university encourages
its students work and study abroad to gain international perspectives.
Prof. Dr. Patrick De Ryck said a double degree program with AIT would
be mutually beneficial.
Prof. De Ryck described Group T as a non-classical engineering school
guided by a “5-E” vision summarized by the keywords “Engineering,
Enterprising, Education, Environment and Ensembling”.
guided by a “5-E” vision summarized by the keywords “Engineering,
Enterprising, Education, Environment and Ensembling”.
“Companies today require more than technical competency for young
engineers,” he said, explaining why Group T’s graduates are encouraged
to be visionary and entrepreneurial in their approach to study and
work.
engineers,” he said, explaining why Group T’s graduates are encouraged
to be visionary and entrepreneurial in their approach to study and
work.
He noted that the private sector expects engineers to be good
communicators as well as project problem solvers, and many employees
are asked to be mentors and to coach other engineers in small groups.
This requires a holistic ability for gauging context and nuance and for
understanding the complex environmental and ethical concerns involved
in the search for engineering solutions, he said.
communicators as well as project problem solvers, and many employees
are asked to be mentors and to coach other engineers in small groups.
This requires a holistic ability for gauging context and nuance and for
understanding the complex environmental and ethical concerns involved
in the search for engineering solutions, he said.
During the meeting, President Irandoust was also proposed to co-chair
with Group T's President the UNESCO-University Twinning and Networking
Programme (UNITWIN). The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme aims to
advance research, training and programme development in all of UNESCO’s
fields of competence by building university networks and encouraging
inter-university cooperation through the transfer of knowledge across
borders.
with Group T's President the UNESCO-University Twinning and Networking
Programme (UNITWIN). The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme aims to
advance research, training and programme development in all of UNESCO’s
fields of competence by building university networks and encouraging
inter-university cooperation through the transfer of knowledge across
borders.
The meeting was attended by Prof. Joydeep Dutta, Vice President
Academic Affairs; Dr. Weerakorn Ongsakul, Dean of SERD; faculty members
from SET and SERD; representatives from SOM, and senior administration
officials.
Academic Affairs; Dr. Weerakorn Ongsakul, Dean of SERD; faculty members
from SET and SERD; representatives from SOM, and senior administration
officials.
To learn more about Group T visit:
www.groept.be/www/
AIT President Prof Said Irandoust,
left, along with the delegation from Group T University of
Belgium.