The visitors, who were mostly Thai
nationals, filled the floor of the campus auditorium at a morning
information session as they learned about AIT and the postgraduate
study options available for the coming August 2014 Semester.
AIT Interim President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai welcomed the
students to the campus, and invited them to explore more on their own.
Calling AIT the “best kept secret in Asia”, the president explained
some of the institute’s illustrious history and the present-day
strategic advantages it offers its students and graduates.
Prof. Worsak emphasized AIT’s role to support the internationalization
of Thailand and the region by providing top-flight English capable
scientists, engineers, teachers, managers, entrepreneurs and
professionals for the coming ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
Other speakers included Dr. Gabrielle Groves Punyaratabandhu, Head,
External Relations and Communications Office (ERCO), Ms. Wannapa
Pliansri, Coordinator, Royal Thai Government Relations (RTG), Dr. Louis
Hornyak, Director, Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology and Dr.
Donyaprueth Krairit, Interim Dean, School of Management.
Open House participants quickly learned that there are “no Thais” or
“foreign students” at the institute, which operates as a completely
neutral, independent and international institution mandated to provide
world-class higher education with an Asian perspective.
In the afternoon, the visitors caught a glimpse of AIT’s rigorous
academics and ongoing research opportunities by visiting with the
deans, faculty, researchers and staff at laboratories and classrooms of
the School of Engineering and Technology (SET), School of Environment,
Resources and Development (SERD), and the School of Management (SOM).
Sixteen students also used the opportunity to visit the Language Center
to take the AIT English Test, which is a requirement for admission.
The AIT Open House attracted students graduating from Chiang Mai
University, Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, Khon Kaen
University, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL),
King Mongkut University of Technology North-Bangkok (KMUTNB), Mae Fah
Luang University, Mahidol University, Prince of Songkla University,
Rangsit University, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi,
Shinawatra University, Silpakorn University, Sripatum University, and
Thammasat University. Students also attended from Mapua Institute of
Technology, Philippines, Xavier Institute of Management, India,
University of the Philippines and University of Bohol, Philippines.
The program this year had a special twist as a number of Thai current
students delivered a lively presentation, which was followed by and
question and answer session. Volunteers Ms. Jidapa Boonruam, UEM, SERD;
Mr. Trai, CEIM, SET; and Ms. Saowapha Boonaiem, TRE, SET took the
guests though a 10-minute presentation on what to expect as an AIT
student, with snapshots of campus activities, facilities and
international opportunities. A large number of student volunteers also
accompanied the visitors to each of the three Schools.
AIT Open House 2014 was jointly organized by ERCO, MCU, RTG, SET,
SERD, SOM and the AIT Language Center.
