Asian Institute of Technology September 2010

INSIDE ISSUE.. .

AIT attains status of International Intergovernmental Organization landmark in Thailand’s higher learning was reached when the MinisterofForeignAffairs,H.E.Mr.KasitPiromya,signedthenewCharteroftheAsianInstituteofTechnology(AIT)onbehalfoftheRoyal Thai Government, thereby initiating the process to grant it thestatus of an International organization. AIT becomes the first institution of higher learning of its kind to gain international intergovernmentalstatus.

Times have changed, says Foreign Minister........ 2“New AIT Charter is a landmark document” ........ 3

Photo Gallery ............................ 4Backpage................................... 6

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H.E. Mr. Kasit Piromya

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H.E.Mr.KasitPiromya,ForeignMinisterofThailanddescribedAIT as a center of excellence in researchandknowledgeinSoutheastAsia.TheForeignMin-isterstatedthisduringtheadoptionandsigningcer-emonyoftheNewAITCharteron25August2010.

Recent news / happenings at ait

Theforeignministerremarkedthat“fromthebegin-ningAIT tookon an international, independent andnon-politicalcharacterandhasactivelysoughtpart-ners inAsia and beyond.Times have changed, andAITneedstochangeaswell.”Werealizedsometimeago that, forAIT to furtherprosperandcontinue tocontributetooureconomicgrowth,ithastobeableto operate effectively, with the flexibility to search for and cooperate with new partners and stakeholders,andwithareachthathastobenotonlyregionalbutalsoglobal,theMinisteradded.

While announcing that theRoyalThaiGovernmentfullyendorsesthenewAITCharter,hestatedthatAITcontinuestocontributetotheregion’sdynamismandprosperity.“AIT’srolewillbeevenmore importantasourgrowingeconomyisevermorereliantonourcapacity to harness knowledge and creativity,” theMinisteradded.

Times have changed, and AIT needs to change as well: Thai Foreign Minister

From left to right: Prof.Said Irandoust, President,AsianInstituteofTechnology;Mr. Sven Malmberg,Minister(Chargéd’affaires),EmbassyofSwedeninThailand;H.E. Prof. J.B. Disanayaka,AmbassadorofSriLanka;H.E. Mr. Sohail Mahmood,Ambas-sadorofPakistan;H.E. Mr. Naveen Prakash Jung Shah,AmbassadorofNepal;H.E. Mr. Kazi Imtiaz Hossain,AmbassadorofBangladesh;H.E. Mr. Kasit Piromya,ForeignMinisterofThailand;H.E.Dr.Tej Bunnag, Former Foreign Minister of Thailand andChairman,BoardofTrusteesofAIT;H.E. Mr. Kyoji

Komachi, Ambassador of Japan; H.E. Mr. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, Ambassador of India; H.E. Mr. Philippe Le Gall, Ambassador of Seychelles;H.E. Ms. Ling Lingay F. Lacanlale,AmbassadorofPhillippines;H.E. Mr. Joao Freitas de Camara,Am-bassadorofTimorLeste;Ms. Moni Pizani,Repre-sentativeinThailandandRegionalProgramDirectorofUNIFEM;Mr. Ouk Sophoin,Counsellor (Char-gé d’affaires) of Embassy of Cambodia; Dr. Subin Pinkayan,formerForeignMinisterofThailand.

On 25 August 2010, representatives of 12 countries and one International organization (UNIFEM) signed the new AIT Charter.

Prof. Said Irandoust (left) greets H.E. Mr. Kasit Piro-mya (right).

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New AIT Charter is a landmark document: Dr Tej Bunnag

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ThenewCharteroftheAsianInstituteofTechnology(AIT)isalandmarkdocumentanditrenewsthelongtrustedpartnershipthatexistsbetweentheInstituteanditsstakeholders,respectivegovernmentsandinternationalorganizations.ThiswasstatedbyH.E.Dr.TejBunnag,formerForeignMinisterofThailandandChairman,BoardofTrustees ofAIT, during the adoption andsigningceremonyofthenewAITCharterattheVitesSamosornRoomintheMinistryofForeignAffairsofThailand.

Dr. Tej Bunnag stated that the new AIT Charter is a highly signifi-cant development in the five-decade long history of AIT. It marks another stage in the fulfillment of the dream of AIT’s founding fathers.“ThisintergovernmentalCharteristheproductofaverylaborious and challenging process, but also very constructive,processofconsultationsandnegotiationsbetweentheparticipatingbodiesoverthepastfouryearsorso,”Dr.Tejremarked.

Galaxy of delegates, invitees and guests at theVites SamosornRoom,MinistryofForeignAffairsofThailandduringtheadoptionandsigningceremonyofthenewAITCharter.

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Galaxy of dignitaries at the signing ceremony of the new AIT Charter.

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1. H.E. Mr. Kasit Piromya Foreign Minister of Thailand2. H.E. Mr. Kazi Imtiaz Hossain Ambassador of Bangladesh3. Mr. Ouk Sophoin Counsellor (Chargé d’affaires of Cambodia)4. H.E. Mr. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty Ambassador of India5. H.E. Mr. Kyoji Komachi Ambassador of Japan6. H.E. Mr. Naveen Prakash Jung Shah Ambassador of Nepal7. H.E. Mr. Sohail Mahmood Ambassador of Pakistan8. H.E. Ms. Ling Lingay F. Lacanlale Ambassador of Philippines9. H.E. Mr. Philippe Le Gall Ambassador of Seychelles10. H.E. Professor J.B. Disanayaka Ambassador of Sri Lanka 11. Mr. Sven Malmberg Minister (Chargé d’affaires) of Sweden12. H.E. Mr. Joao Freitas de Camara Ambassador of Timor Leste 13. Ms. Moni Pizani Representative in Thailand and Regional Program Director of UNIFEM

Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Kasit Piromya addressing a press conference after the signing of the new AIT Charter.

Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Kasit Piromya talking to AIT President Prof. Said Iran-doust.

ThE SIgNATOrIES

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Dr. Sandro Calvani hasjoinedasDirectoroftheASEANRegionalCentreofExcellenceonMillenniumDevelopmentGoals(ARCMDG)atAITfrom01September2010.AsidefromhismainresponsibilityastheDirectoroftheASEAN Regional Center of Excellence ofMDGs,Dr.CalvaniwillalsobeassistingtheAITYunusCenter,CSRAsiaCenteratAIT,fundraisingeffortsofAIT;and inAIT’s re-gionalexpansionplans through theconductofpilotstudiesofprioritycountriesaspartoftheexaminationofanewfundingmodelforAITbeingconducted,undertheauspicesandoveralldirectionoftheAITExecutiveCom-mitteeandBoardofTrustees.

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hrh graces AIT booth at Science Fair

HerRoyalHighnessPrincessMahaChakriSirindhornvisited theboothsetupbytheAsianInstituteofTechnology(AIT)on11Au-gust2010attheScienceandTechnologyFairorganizedattheBi-TechBang-NaConferenceCenter.Afterinauguratingthefair,HerRoyalHighnessvisitedtheAITBoothwhereProf.AthapolNoon-hom,Coordinator, FoodEngineering andBioprocessTechnologyFieldofStudy,presentedvariousresearchprojectsundertakenbytheSchoolofEnvironment,ResourcesandDevelopment(SERD)andtheSchoolofEngineeringandTechnology(SET).HRHPrin-cessMahaChakri Sirindhornwill be the inaugural inductee intoAIT’sHallofFameonAITDayon7September2010.

France reaffirms commitment to sign new AIT Charter during Ambassador’s maiden visit

AmbassadorofFrancetoThailandH.E.GildasLeLidec,duringhismaid-en visit to the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) reaffirmed the commit-mentofFrancetosignthenewAITCharter.TheAmbassador,whileinter-actingwiththeAITseniormanagement,statedthattheFrenchversionofthenewAITCharterwillhavetobeendorsedandoncethisrequirementismet,Francewouldalsobecomeasignatory.

Prof.SaidIrandoust,AITPresidentwhilewelcomingtheAmbassadorex-pressedtheimportancetohaveFrancebecomingasignatoryunderthenewAITCharter,consideringthatFrancehasbeenanactivemembersincethefoundationofAITin1959.HealsobriefedtheFrenchAmbassadorandthedelegationaboutthenewfundingmodelcurrentlybeingexploredbyAITwhichwillhelpAITscaleupitsoperations.

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AIT DayCelebrationsSep 6-8Sep7events:• HRHPrincessMahaChakri SirindhornpresidesoverAIT Daycelebrations

•LaunchofAITHallofFame

• LaunchofFriendsofAIT Heritage(FAITH)Foundation

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AIT is more than a universityAsian Institute of Technology(AIT) is not just a university,butaplacewherestudentslearn,discussanddebateinaninterna-tionalenvironment.AITismorethan a university as it helps astudent tonetworkandgrowasan individual. This was statedbytheAITPresidentProf.SaidIrandoust,whilewelcomingnewstudentstheoccasionofAITOrientationon11August2010.TheAITPresidentremarkedthatdiversitywasacrucialelementinAIT,andthattheinstituteisveryproudofitsinternationality.Apartfromeducationandhigher learning,AITisactivelyinvolvedin trainingandcapacitybuildinginpost conflict societies. “This way AIT makes a difference to the life of millions ofpeopleallacrosstheworld,”Prof.Irandoustremarked.Heaskedstudentstochallengetheirprofessorsandtakeonproventruths.“Thosewhoarecreativeandinnovativewillbewinnersinthefuture,”Prof.Irandoustadded.

Editor:BajinderPalSingh

MediaSpecialist,AITbajinder@ait.asiaGraphic Design:

ChittrawineeWichiansonPhotos:

PaitoonTinnapong

Forfeedback,contactMediaandCommunications

UnitatAITmcu@ait.asia

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rent a book

With rising costs of education, some universities are now includ-ing a book rental option. Universities and bookstores are now offering books on a read and return basis for a fixed fee. Says “Sign on SanDiego”

Afull-timecollegestudentspendsanaverageof$500ontextbooksatthestartofeachsemesterbut if the textbook rentalmarketcatcheson, thatpricecouldfallbyatleast$100.BookstoresatSanDiegoStateUniversity,UniversityofSanDiegoandUCSanDiegohaveexpandedtheirinventorytoincludebooksstudentsrentandreturninsteadofbuyandsellattheendofthesemester.

Bookrentalisnothingnewthough.Onlinebookstoreshavebeenofferingsuchservicesforafewyearsnow.Readmoreathttp://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/aug/28/universities-offer-rental-book-option/http://www.panamericanonline.com/arts-life/rent-a-text-to-provide-possible-financial-relief-for-students-1.2310934

NewsY o uC a nU s e

School of Manage-ment at AIT offers a course on “Oil-less

Economy”.

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