Lack of reliable and accurate information; conflicting reports from government, social media and news media; coupled with relative lack of information in the English language were some of the major challenges that emerged during the Great Thailand Flood of 2011. Further, lack of advance flood preparedness aggravated the situation, since most places had little or no history of tackling floods.
A delegation from KL University, Andhra Pradesh, India, has shown interest in forging a partnership with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). Chancellor of K L University (KLU), Mr. K. Satyanarayana, and Dr. B V A Rao, Professor Emeritus, and Advisor Human Resources and International Relations visited AIT’s temporary office location at Two Pacific Place at Bangkok, and sought a tie-up between the two.
University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, India, has evinced keen interest in a formal partnership with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).
Quick Response (QR) codes for the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) have been officially unveiled. QR code is a type of matrix barcode or two-dimensional code which facilitates quick readability, primarily by handheld devices.
Chiba University, Japan is keen to initiate a formal partnership with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). A delegation headed by Prof. Fumio Yamazaki of the Department of Urban Environment Systems, Graduate School of Engineering, remarked that Chiba University is particularly keen on a student exchange program.
An AIT Student, Mr. S.M.Najmul Hoque, who was working on the issue of rural electrification in Bangladesh, shared his findings with Nobel laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus recently. Mr. Hoque, who was working with Grameen Shakti Bangladesh in connection with his thesis, discussed his research findings to the Nobel laureate.
Thirty-nine alumni from the Republic of Korea have contributed USD 20,118 towards the AIT Flood Emergency Fund for cleansing and rehabilitation of the AIT Mother campus. The donation was handed over to the AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust on 21 January 2012.
EBARA Corporation have donated one million Yen to the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) to help AIT in its reconstruction and rebuilding efforts. The donation was made by a delegation of EBARA Corporation comprising of Mr. Kiyoshi Hirono, Executive General Manager; Mr. Katsufumi Nakano, Managing Director; and Ms. Kornkanok Naprasertjkul, Administrative and Office Manager at the AIT temporary office at Pacific Place Tower, Bangkok.
Today, Monday, 30 January 2012, was a milestone in AIT’s history, as it marked the coming into force of AIT’s international intergovernmental Charter. At the outset, AIT wishes to thank members of the AIT Board of Trustees and Executive Committee, past and present, who have dedicated so much of their time and effort in the process leading up to today, and all of our other stakeholders, especially alumni who helped pursue this matter, with their respective governments.