Collaboration with Swedish organizations and institutes possible, says PresidentPresident’s Sweden Itinerary: Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova), Sida, Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI), Chalmers University, University College of Borås Safely home from his recent trip to Sweden from 15-22 August, President Irandoust reported this week that his many and varied discussions as part of the formal visit could lead to possible AIT collaboration with some of Sweden’s foremost organizations and academic institutes.

AIT promotes its graduate academic offerings at KMUTT and Chulalongkorn University
This month some of AIT’s senior external relations staff as well as promotions personnel took to the roads in Bangkok to promote the Institute’s graduate academic offerings to students of two of Thailand’s elite universities.

Siam Cement Group, Thailand, agrees to sign MoU with AIT

The Management Committee of Siam Cement Group (SCG) has agreed to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with AIT, which was a result of visit to SCG Head Office and meeting with senior officials, on 13 July 2007, by Professor Vilas Wuwongse, Vice President for External Relations, and Dr. Pritam K. Shrestha, Head, External Relations and Communications Office (ERCO).

The following areas of collaboration are being considered and will be further discussed:

SCG scholarships for existing / future SCG staff (including non-Thais) to pursue master's and doctoral studies at AIT
SCG executive education at AIT - EMBA and professional master's / doctoral programs
Customized training programs at AIT
Internships of AIT students at SCG
Joint AIT-SCG industrial research (for SCG R&D;)

AIT-UNITAR and ASEAN Regional Round Table on MDGs

In follow-up to discussions between the AIT administration and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), through Mr. Nico Barito, Senior Fellow, UNITAR (who is also a member of the AIT Center in Indonesia Steering Committee, and AIT Institute-level Advisory Board), UNITAR expressed very positive feedback regarding AIT's proposal to establish the Institute as a Center of Excellence for ASEAN countries regarding Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Education and Training.

SERD welcomes two professors

The School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) welcomes Professor Dr. Vikram Chadha, who joined the Regional and Rural Development Planning Field of Study as a Visiting Professor, and Prof. Yaw-Juen Wang, who is seconded by the Government of Taiwan as a Visiting Professor in Energy Field of Study for a period of one year.

Fiscal year 2007 Sumitomo Foundation Japan research projects announced

The Sumitomo Foundation provides research project grants to Asians (non-Japanese) in the field of Social Sciences and Humanities with total allocations of 40 million Japanese Yen. The approximate budget per project is 0.4 - 1.2 million yen.

Access to learning Award 2008 - BMG Foundation

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has issue a call for applications for the 2008 Access to Learning Award (ATLA).

Interested persons please can find more details at:
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/ATLA'>

Applications and requirements can be found at: http://www.

Progress on Draft AIT Charter

The latest version of the Draft AIT Charter, which was reviewed and considered by the Executive Committee at its 6 August 2007 meeting, and subsequently also by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, was provided to members of the Board of Trustees for their feedback and comments.

Visit of former seconded faculty member, Mr. Ragnar Soegaard
Mr. Ragnar Soegaard, a former seconded faculty member from Norway, and currently the senior Vice President of E-CO Energi, visited AIT on 14 August 2007. Mr. Soegaard, together with Dr. Fredric William Swierczek, Director AIT Center in Vietnam, has developed a concept paper on 'International Executive MBA, Vietnam with a specialization in Energy Management' under which Mr. Soegaard is also trying to mobilize some scholarships from the Norwegian hydropower sector.

Presentation on new AIT Website (PLONE)

On 14 August 2007, AIT President Said Irandoust attended the meeting of the central administration, reviewing the proposed new AIT website being developed using the PLONE content management system. Based on further comments and suggestions made at the meeting, the proposed website is being modified.