Milestones

1957

The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), initiate establishment of a regional graduate school of engineering, with principal support to be provided by SEATO member countries (Australia, France, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S.), with additional support from other regional member countries (Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand).

1958

The SEATO Graduate School of Engineering project is approved by the SEATO Council of Ministers at a meeting in Manila.

1959

The SEATO Council of Ministers' Meeting in Wellington, New Zealand, in April, approves the establishment of the school by September 1959.
On 30 July, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand signs the Royal Decree establishing the SEATO Graduate School of Engineering. The school opens on 8 September.

1961

The first graduation ceremony is held in March.

1967

The Constituent Assembly of Thailand approve legislation for the Charter of the newly named Asian Institute of Technology in October.

The Asian Institute of Technology Enabling Act is published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette in November. AIT becomes independent of SEATO as an institution of higher learning empowered to grant degrees.

1968

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand graciously presides over the Eighth Annual Graduation in May, the first for the newly named Asian Institute of Technology.

1973

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand graciously presides over the opening of the new campus in Pathumthani in February.

1979

The 20th anniversary is celebrated with a donors meeting. Financial support is provided by 27 governments and over 20 organizations, foundations, and industries.

1984

The Institute marks its 25th anniversary in September with a donors' meeting, where the 1985-88 Academic Plan is unveiled, aimed at achieving a balance between classical engineering and management fields. The plan emphasizes consolidating thirteen existing priority fields of study and research that meet the criteria of relevance to Asian needs and of practicability.

1989

The Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding is granted to AIT.

1993

AIT and the Government of Vietnam signs an M.O.U. in February to establish the AIT Centre Vietnam in Hanoi.

The Institute undergoes academic re-structuring in which smaller academic units are grouped together in Schools toward achieving greater synergy.

1999

The 40th anniversary is celebrated with numerous special events including the AIT Stakeholders Forum 9-10 September, focusing on the challenges ahead. A round-table discussion is held including AIT's trustees, donors, faculty, staff, students, and alumni in addition to representatives of international organizations, NGOs, and the private sector.

2009

AIT's 50th anniversary is celebrated not only in Thailand, but also in various other countries.