Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has a very impressive history and
has charted very significant achievements given its limited and uneven
sources of funding. AIT can now aim to be a clear leader in the ASEAN
region by 2020 and a recognized leader in its areas of focus worldwide
by 2025. This was stated by Mr. Douglas Becker, Chairman and CEO of Laureate Education Inc. while
delivering an extramural lecture on the topic “Public-Private
Partnerships (PPPs) in the Context of Higher Learning: A Future Model
for Collaboration”.
Laureate Education which operates in 20 countries has 45 institutions,
100 campuses and more than half a million students globally is very
excited by the prospect of partnering with AIT. It would be willing to
provide private sector equity to AIT, so that AIT can not only upgrade
and expand its campus in Bangkok, but also contribute towards
strengthening Bangkok’s status as an education hub, Mr. Becker
remarked. He added that the partnership between the two could provide
greater funding for research through greater enrolments and tuition
revenues.
Mr. Becker stated that traditionally there have been three sources of
capital for universities, namely tuition fees, endowment funds and the
government. However the PPP model brings about a fourth source of
capital. “Government resources are spread so thin, especially in the
developing world”, Mr. Becker remarked citing the case of Brazil, where
the government decided to concentrate its funding on elementary
education rather than on higher education. He added that higher
education is becoming very competitive, with more universities are now
offering multi degree programs to attract students.
Earlier Mr. Becker was welcomed by the AIT President Said Irandoust
who stated that Laureate is one of the potential partners with whom AIT
has had preliminary discussions on the PPP concept. The extra mural
lecture was followed by an interactive session of question and answers.
Among those who attended the extra mural lecture included members of
Board of Trustees of AIT, H.E. Naveen Prakash Jung Shah, Ambassador of
the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, and Dr. Tongchat Hongladaromp
President of the University Council, King Mongkut's University of
Technology (Thonburi).
Mr. Douglas Becker, Chairman and CEO
of Laureate Education Inc. delivering the extra mural lecture on
“Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the Context of Higher Learning:
A Future Model for Collaboration”.