News

New Asia Pacific business book features writings by AIT professors and president
AIT News08 August 2007A pair of past and present AIT professors recently combined to co-author a chapter in a major new book on Asia Pacific business management issues to be unveiled this week in Japan.

Local disaster preparedness gets AIT boost in India and Sri Lanka
AIT and USAID collaborate on disaster management training When disaster strikes, it is often the local response that dictates the degree and impact of the tragedy. Recognizing this fact, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), recently collaborated with the USAID Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS) to conduct workshops in India and Sri Lanka on “Local Institutions’ Response towards Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation”.

This initial workshop, held from 23-24 July, in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, India, evaluated the role played by local institutions, such as government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), panchayati raj institutions and community-based organizations (CBOs), in the area of disaster management.

Installation of new Academic Senate Chair
Professor Ram Shrestha, of the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD), was recently elected as the next Chairman of the Academic Senate. Professor Shrestha was officially installed at the Academic Senate meeting convened on 25 July 2007, succeeding Professor Stephen Ogunlana, who was praised by the AIT President for his enthusiasm, commitment, and leadership during his term as Chairman of the Academic Senate.

Management article by SOM graduates and faculty the most popular view in Journal

An article, written by two School of Management (SOM) MBA graduates and Dr. Singha Chiamsiri of SOM, which has appeared in the Journal of Research and Practice in Human Resource Management since December 2005, was the most popular article viewed during the past twelve months (July 2006-June 2007). See results at:
http://rphrm.

AIT faculty member invited as reviewer for project research proposal submitted to Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada

Congratulations to Prof. Vilas Salokhe of the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) for being invited to serve as a reviewer for the project research proposal submitted for funding to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC). NSERC relies on the knowledge of national and international experts to make its funding decisions.

AIT welcomes new French Ambassador

On 24 July 2007, AIT welcomed the new Ambassador of France to Thailand, H.E. Mr. Laurent Bili, who has recently taken up his position in Thailand. His visit provided the ambassador with an opportunity to tour the campus, and learn more about AIT through interactions with members of the administration and faculty.

President participates at dinner reception by Ambassador of Indonesia
AIT President Said Irandoust, on 25 July 2007, participated at a dinner reception hosted by AIT Trustee, H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Yusuf, Ambassador of Indonesia to Thailand, in honour of Professor Dr. Din Syamsuddin, President, Central Board of Muhammadiyah.

Visit by Pakistan's SUPARCO leads to possible collaboration

AIT and Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) recently discussed collaboration on faculty development programs, such as two-stage master's degree programs, doctoral and master's degree programs, and short-term faculty visits by the National Institute of RS and GIS to AIT, during the visit of Major General (Retd) Raza Hussain, Chairman of Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) on 23 July 2007. He was accompanied by AIT trustee H.E. Lt. General (Retired) Khateer Hassan Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to Thailand.

Transportation Engineering welcomes Visiting faculty member

The Transportation Engineering field of study at the School of Engineering and Technology welcomes Dr. Pichai Taneerananon (right) as Visiting Associate Professor for a period of one year beginning 16 July 2007. He has been granted permission from the Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.

Professor Mario Tabucanon to assist AIT in partnerships and initiatives

Former AIT President (Interim), Prof. Mario T. Tabucanon, recently spent a week at AIT in connection with a workshop on 'Leadership Program: Business Strategies for Sustainable Development,' and met with AIT President Said Irandoust on 23 July 2007. Professor Tabucanon will be assisting AIT in the following partnerships and initiatives:

The United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) collaboration with AIT: AIT will be invited to a meeting of the heads of institutions of higher education to discuss the UNU-IAS initiative to establish a network of academic institutions in the Asia-Pacific region to promote sustainability in postgraduate education and research.