As part of an official orientation, on August 14th AIT
welcomed almost 500 of the 626 confirmed incoming students for the
August 2008 semester. The School of Engineering and Technology (SET)
will be home to 261 new students while the School of Environment,
Resources and Development (SERD) welcomed 221 new faces. The School of
Management (SOM) also welcomed a new batch of 128 students. Admissions
officials report that approximately forty students are anticipated to
register before the deadline on August 29th, which will
bring the total number of new incoming August semester students at a
par to that of last year's intake.
welcomed almost 500 of the 626 confirmed incoming students for the
August 2008 semester. The School of Engineering and Technology (SET)
will be home to 261 new students while the School of Environment,
Resources and Development (SERD) welcomed 221 new faces. The School of
Management (SOM) also welcomed a new batch of 128 students. Admissions
officials report that approximately forty students are anticipated to
register before the deadline on August 29th, which will
bring the total number of new incoming August semester students at a
par to that of last year's intake.
AIT Orientation Day was a full-day event with three distinct but
inter-related segments designed to provide new students with
information on the key “ins” and “outs” of studying and living at
AIT.
inter-related segments designed to provide new students with
information on the key “ins” and “outs” of studying and living at
AIT.
During the morning session, the students were briefed by President
Said Irandoust and members of the administration on various facets of
AIT, tackling topics such as how an AIT degree can transform them into
a professional for leading further development of the region. The event
was graced by Dr. Pornsak Suppataratarn, one of the many distinguished
AIT alumni from Thailand. Dr. Pornsak, who is currently the Managing
Director of ASDECON Co., Ltd., obtained his master and doctoral degrees
at AIT in the field of Water Resources Engineering in the early
1990s.
Said Irandoust and members of the administration on various facets of
AIT, tackling topics such as how an AIT degree can transform them into
a professional for leading further development of the region. The event
was graced by Dr. Pornsak Suppataratarn, one of the many distinguished
AIT alumni from Thailand. Dr. Pornsak, who is currently the Managing
Director of ASDECON Co., Ltd., obtained his master and doctoral degrees
at AIT in the field of Water Resources Engineering in the early
1990s.
The afternoon session began with a briefing on a number of AIT
services and practices including the academic code of conduct, the
English proficiency requirement and the Institute’s harassment policy.
There was a collective and palpable excitement on the prospect of
laptop subsidies for all students. The day ended with a very
entertaining get-together organized by the Student Union. The event was
highlighted by a series of cultural presentations warmly welcoming the
new students to the multicultural family that they now belong to.
services and practices including the academic code of conduct, the
English proficiency requirement and the Institute’s harassment policy.
There was a collective and palpable excitement on the prospect of
laptop subsidies for all students. The day ended with a very
entertaining get-together organized by the Student Union. The event was
highlighted by a series of cultural presentations warmly welcoming the
new students to the multicultural family that they now belong to.
A quick look at some of this year’s new students (below)
exemplifies the great diversity of culture, backgrounds, professions,
and talents that come together to make up our always intriguing,
progressive and highly internationalized student body.
exemplifies the great diversity of culture, backgrounds, professions,
and talents that come together to make up our always intriguing,
progressive and highly internationalized student body.
Mr. Hajime Kikumura (60), Japan
Telecommunications
Mr. Kikumura retired after 34 years of working with NHK-Japan
Broadcasting Corporation as a broadcasting engineer. At certain points
in his career, he was funded by JICA to work overseas as a broadcasting
expert, helping to establish the Televisi Republic Indonesia, the Asia
Pacific Institute Broadcasting Development in Malaysia and most
recently, the Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation. When asked why
he went back to school, he shared that he simply wanted to be among
young people again, to gain a more international perspective, to
further his skills in broadcasting and to learn how Asian countries can
be better served.
Broadcasting Corporation as a broadcasting engineer. At certain points
in his career, he was funded by JICA to work overseas as a broadcasting
expert, helping to establish the Televisi Republic Indonesia, the Asia
Pacific Institute Broadcasting Development in Malaysia and most
recently, the Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation. When asked why
he went back to school, he shared that he simply wanted to be among
young people again, to gain a more international perspective, to
further his skills in broadcasting and to learn how Asian countries can
be better served.
Father Pablo Merina Salengua (55),
Philippines
Philippines
Gender and Development Studies
A Ford Foundation scholar, Fr. Salengua is a full-time Catholic
Parish Priest. Alongside his vocation, he is also a farmer and
continues to contribute to his community to uplift the lives of
subsistence level farmers, and also politicians working to improve the
situation of indigenous peoples. Through AIT, he said he has high aims
to learn more about the acquisition and application of extensive tools
for rural development work, for application in the indigenous
communities in the Philippines.
Parish Priest. Alongside his vocation, he is also a farmer and
continues to contribute to his community to uplift the lives of
subsistence level farmers, and also politicians working to improve the
situation of indigenous peoples. Through AIT, he said he has high aims
to learn more about the acquisition and application of extensive tools
for rural development work, for application in the indigenous
communities in the Philippines.
Miss Nisita Khongpaitoon (25), Thailand
Environmental Engineering and
Management
Management
Physically-challenged, Nisita said she chose AIT because she was
convinced that it is “more than just a university”. She feels this is
the best place for her to cultivate her knowledge in her chosen
field.
convinced that it is “more than just a university”. She feels this is
the best place for her to cultivate her knowledge in her chosen
field.
Mr. Aziz Shrestha (25), Nepal
Business Administration
Business Administration
With graduate studies from New York, USA under his belt, Aziz
became interested in pursuing an academic career at AIT due to its
proximity to his home country and its shining reputation. Aziz firmly
believes that a degree in AT will help him reach his goals upon
graduation.
became interested in pursuing an academic career at AIT due to its
proximity to his home country and its shining reputation. Aziz firmly
believes that a degree in AT will help him reach his goals upon
graduation.