Norway 's government gives boost to SE Asia sustainable development
The government of Norway is furthering its support of sustainable development in Southeast Asia with a NOK 20,000,000 (approximately US$3.1 million) contribution to the Asian Institute of Technology.
The money will be used to fund scholarships, Gender and Development Studies and academic networking between Norwegian and regional institutions.
The objective of the program is to enhance capacity building in such South and Southeast Asia countries as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, East Timor, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, such Mekong Region low-income countries as Lao PDR and Cambodia, and other less developed countries in Asia.
“This is a very happy moment for AIT,” said the institute's president, Prof. Said Irandoust. H.E. Ms. Merete Fjeld Brattested, Norwegian ambassador to Thailand , noted that the agreement between her government and AIT was just the latest in a “long and warm relationship.”
Both were present for a signing ceremony in the board room on 27 April 2006.
AIT and Norway have a relationship that dates to 1978. Since 1986 the Norwegian ambassador to Thailand has been a member of the board of trustees. Forty-two current students and 415 alumni have received scholarships from Norway.
Funding is specifically slated for: 65 master's and eight doctoral degree scholarships; one full-time Gender and Development Studies faculty position from 2006 to 2009; one visiting faculty member/editor-in-chief during 2006; support for the publication of the Gender, Technology and Development Journal for one managing editor, one editorial assistant, two-week yearly visits of three chief editors and some miscellaneous costs related to the journal; support for Gender and Development Studies networking with Norwegian institutions; experts from industries and universities to conduct lectures, joint seminars and training workshops; resources for faculty and student exchange program between AIT and Norwegian universities/institutions; secondment of Norwegian faculty in the School of Environment, Resources and Development.