AIT President Said Irandoust along with Dr. Kunnawee Kanitpong, Transportation Engineering, field of study Coordinator and Dr. Mukand Singh Babel, Water Engineering and Management field of study Coordinator, from the School of Engineering and Technology, visited Indonesia during 3-6 February 2008, highlights of which are provided below.
3 February
The AIT delegation had an informal brainstorming meeting with Dr. Sugimin Pranoto, Director of the AIT Center in Indonesia (AIT-CI) and his team, on strategies as to how AIT-CI could further increase its visibility; enhance its networking using existing platforms with donor agencies, international organizations, industry, universities and ministries. Ir. Agoes Widjanarko, the new Secretary General, Ministry of Public Works, also participated in the meeting.
AIT-CI, in collaboration with UNITAR, is planning to conduct a number of workshops for local governments within the area of regional infrastructure development. Under the envisaged collaboration, AIT could play an important role in supporting national policies and in the implementation of the government's sustainable decentralization program in the development of an integrated infrastructure development program. As part of this scheme, AIT and UNITAR could conduct a series of workshops for autonomous local governments of the Republic of Indonesia. AIT-CI will follow up on this initiative, and is also considering other thematic workshops in collaboration with AIT in order to better introduce AIT in the Indonesian market. All of these are means to identify better the needs of the various involved actors.
4 February
Director-General of the Civil Aviation: AIT President along with Dr. Kunnawee, Dr. Babel, and the AIT-CI team met with Dr. Budhi Mulayawan Suyinto, Director-General of the Civil Aviation, Indonesia. The AIT delegation introduced AIT, the institute’s partnership with Sri Lankan Airlines through their aviation academy, and also the concept of airport planning and design for civil aviation. AIT will soon sign a general MoU with the Civil Aviation, and AIT-CI will help follow up on concrete training and degree programs relevant to civil aviation of Indonesia, which AIT and AIT-CI could jointly offer.
AIT Steering Committee Meeting: The AIT-CIT Steering Committee meeting was Chaired by H.E. Dr. Ir. Djoko Kirmanto, Minister for Public Works, and attended by Ir. Agoes Widjanarko, Secretary General, Ministry of Public Works; representative from the Ministry of National Education, and other participants. Dr. Sugimin presented AIT-CI's annual report of 2007 and also plans for 2008. The Minister expressed his and the Ministry's strong and continued support to AITCI. He emphasized the need for AIT-CI to be more proactive in networking with other agencies in Indonesia. The Minister also encouraged AIT-CI to forge closer ties with the private sector active in Indonesia, especially within the area of infrastructure development. The representative from the Ministry of National Education also reaffirmed the continued commitment and support of the Ministry to AIT-CI for 2008 and beyond. There are several opportunities for scholarships available for students attending the two-stage master’s programs of AIT-CI, as evidenced from the recent support to AIT by both the Ministry of Public Works and National Education.
AIT alumnus, Dr. Ahmad Lanti (WRE M.Eng.'83) who is the Chairman of the Jakarta Water Supply Regulatory Body, also attended the Steering Committee meeting, and informed the meeting of the good news that two faculty members from AIT will be invited to be part of the consultant team which will conduct the feasibility study for the flood control project based on the "Multi Purpose Deep Tunnel (MPDT) of the Jakarta Water Supply Regulatory Body".
Meeting with DG for Water Resources: AIT President Irandoust along with Dr. Babel and the AIT-CI team met with Ir. Iwan Nursyirwan Diar, Director General of Water Resources. The Deputy Director General and Advisor to the Minister were also present at the meeting. Dr. Babel made a presentation on the activities within the water engineering and management fields, experiences of AIT within these areas, and highlighted some of the regional projects conducted by AIT, the different types of short courses which AIT offers within this field, including internet-based modular programs, as well as the new concept of professional master’s programs in integrated water resources management. AIT will follow up through the AIT-CI in firming up the partnership through concrete collaboration.
5 February
State Islamic University: The AIT delegation met with Professor Dr. Komaruddin Hidayat, Rector of the State Islamic University (UIN), which is the first Islamic state university in Indonesia, with more than 23,000 students. They signed a general MoU, and UIN is interested to develop a two-stage masters program with AIT, which AIT-CI will follow up on.
BAPPENAS: The AIT delegation met with Dr. Dedy Priapna, Deputy Minister, Ministry of National Development Planning / National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS) and the Director Mr. Donny Azdan. During the discussions they presented AIT's broad range of activities of relevance to the ministry, some of the training models, and concepts of professional master’s programs. AIT will soon be submitting a concrete proposal for 20 students to undertake a professional master’s program in integrated water resources management for consideration by BAPPENA. During the visit, AIT signed a general MoU with the ministry and within four weeks plan to also sign a MoA to conduct training programs for the ministry within this field.
Informal Dinner with Ambassador of Azerbaijan: AIT President Irandoust was invited to an informal dinner by H.E. Mr. Ibrahim A. Hajiyev, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Indonesia on the evening of 5 February.
During his stay in Jakarta, President Irandoust also met with Mr. Nico Barito, Senior Fellow, UNITAR, who is a member of the Institute-level Advisory Board and the AIT Center in Indonesia Steering Committee. The President discussed the possible role for AIT in UNITAR's socialization program for the IT sector of Azerbaijan. As part of this concept AIT's role would be to partner UNITAR in developing a concept of IT infrastructure for the Republic of Azerbaijan under subcontract from UNITAR. Mr. Nico will be visiting AIT in the near future to discuss with interested colleagues the specifics of the project and partnership opportunities.
AIT President had a telephone conversation with Professor Hubert Gijzen, Director and Representative UNESCO Office, Jakarta, who is a member of the Executive Committee and AIT Board of Trustees, and requested his support in assisting our AIT-CI in its networking efforts. Professor Gijzen was most positive and assured the President that he would be in touch with AIT-CI and help with possible linkages and also explore other opportunities for partnership.