Asian Institute of Technology

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Asian Institute of Technology
AIT
Asian Institute of Technology-Logo.png
Former names
 SEATO Graduate School of Engineering
Motto Learning beyond Boundaries
Established 1959
President Professor Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai
Academic staff
 About 100
Students 1,937
Location Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand Thailand
Affiliations LAOTSE, ASAIHL, GMSARN
Website www.ait.asia
Asian Institute of Technology

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), founded in 1959, is an international institution for higher education located in Khlong Luang, Thailand. It specializes in engineering, advanced technologies, and management and planning. Its aim is to "promote technological change and sustainable development" in the Asia-Pacific region, through higher education, research and outreach.[1]

History and mission[edit]

Founded in 1959 as SEATO Graduate School of Engineering with a mission to develop highly qualified and committed professionals who will play a leading role in the sustainable development of the region and its integration into the global economy, it receives funding from organizations and governments around the world (initially from SEATO members).

In 1972, it was described as "an excellent example of not only the initiative and organization of a technical university, but also of the success of a foreign aid program".[2] In 2006, AIT claimed that it "has become a leading regional post-graduate institute and is actively working with public and private sector partners throughout the region and with some of the top universities in the world". (See note presented at the Asia Commons conference, Bangkok, June 2006.) It also sees itself as being "recognized for its multinational, multi-cultural ethos." AIT celebrated its golden jubilee in 2009.[3][4] On October 21, 2011, AIT's campus was inundated by 2-meter-high floodwaters.[5] Since then, it has resumed operations at its campus.[6]

Governance[edit]

Due to its international standing and global support, AIT has been administered by a high-ranking Board of Governors since its very beginning. Traditionally a high-ranking Thai citizen has been the Chairman of its Board of Trustees. At present the Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees is former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, H.E. Dr. Subin Pinkayan. Ambassadors of 13 countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, France, India, Indonesia, Korea, Lao PDR, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sweden and Vietnam are members of the AIT Board of Trustees.[7] Ambassadors of two countries, Japan and Norway, along with Ambassador of EU have observer status in the AIT Board.

Ranking[edit]

AIT programs have been ranked both globally and regionally. Three of its programs were listed in the global top 100 by Eduniversal Best Masters Ranking, while five of its programs were among the top in Southeast Asia. All these eight programs have been ranked as best in Thailand.[8] With only 30 per cent local students from Thailand, and 70 per cent of its students coming from abroad, AIT has consistently ranked as the top institute in terms of its internationality. AIT tied for the title of the world’s top international university in the U-Multirank 2015 Institutional Ranking. It was the only university in Asia among the top 41 universities in the world to receive full scores under ‘international orientation’ earning straight “A” grades for its student mobility, international academic staff, international joint publications and international doctorate degrees.[9]

Location[edit]

AIT operates as a self-contained international community at its campus in Pathumthani province, some 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Bangkok, Thailand. Besides laboratories and academic buildings, the main campus includes housing, sports, and medical facilities, a conference center, and a library with over 230,000 volumes and 830 print and online periodicals.

AIT was hosted by the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, before it moved to its present campus in November 1973.

AIT has a remote campus in Vietnam called AIT Center in Vietnam. Asian Institute of Technology in Vietnam (AITCV) was established in 1993 under the MoA between The Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training and the AIT.[10] At that time AITCV was the first international institution in Vietnam and the first center of AIT out of its headquarters in Thailand.

Student Body[edit]

AIT student body has students from 58 countries with Thailand forming about one-third of the student body. It has always been international, with various international donors offering scholarships to AIT students for capacity building

Scholarships[edit]

AIT has been receiving scholarships [11] from various donors and countries. Current Scholarships include

  1. HM King's Scholarships and HM Queen's Scholarships
  2. Loom Nam Khong Pijai (GMSARN Scholarships)
  3. New AIT Fellowship Scheme
  4. RTG Fellowship
  5. Japanese Government Scholarships for August 2014 Intake
  6. DAAD / German Academic Exchange Service Scholarships for Nationals of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam
  7. BJC Regional Scholarships at AIT (For MBA, for Vietnamese and Myanmar students)
  8. ADB-JSP Selection Guidelines
  9. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program
  10. DIKTI scholarships for Indonesian Lecturers
  11. KAAD - AIT Scholarship Program
  12. Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP) thru the Asian Scholarship Foundation in Thailand
  13. e8 Scholarship Programme
  14. The Consortium of Development Studies in Southeast Asia (CDSSEA) Scholarship for Gender and Development Studies
  15. Pruksa Scholarships at AIT for Thai National in January 2015 Intake
  16. Thai Pipe Scholarship at AIT for Cambodian National in January 2015 Intake

Transition to intergovernmental organisation status[edit]

Approval of new charter[edit]

In August 2010, a new “Charter of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)” was adopted and signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.[12] Signatories to the new Charter included Seychelles, Cambodia, Japan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Sweden, Timor-Leste, Bangladesh, Philippines, India, and UNIFEM. The new Charter entered into force on 30 January 2012 as Sweden, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal deposited their instruments of ratification of the New Charter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.[13]

Difficulties and return to old charter[edit]

In 2012, Thailand declined to ratify the new charter, with the effect that the operations of AIT under the new intergovernmental charter resulted in the issuance of potentially invalid degrees.[14] In December 2012, AIT opted to return to its previous national charter and ceased operating as an intergovernmental university. The degrees issued by AIT under the new charter were reissued under the old charter to avoid the risk of being unrecognized under Thai law.[15] However, it seems that the “Charter of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)” remains legally in force without Thailand’s participation, but is now in dormant status.[16]

Structure[edit]

AIT consists of three schools at its mother campus; namely

  • School of Engineering and Technology (SET)[17]
  • School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD)[18]
  • School of Management (SOM)[19]

Besides the above three schools, AIT also has a consulting wing called AIT Consulting,[20] and AIT Extension which provides professional education, short-course training and consultancy services as well.[21] As mentioned above, under the sub-heading Location, AIT has another campus in Vietnam which offers both academic programs and short-term training.[22]

Host to international organizations[edit]

The campus of Asian Institute of Technology is host to several international and non governmental organizations including: the Asia-Pacific headquarters of Télécoms Sans Frontières[4], the UNEP Environment Assessment for Regional Resource Center in Asia and the Pacific (UNEP RRC.AP)[5], and the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES)[6].

It also hosts the global secretariat of the International Partnership for Expanding Waste Management Services of Local Authorities (IPLA),[23] while the regional secretariat is hosted by UN HABITAT. Four UN agencies, three international donors and five national governments are part of IPLA.[24]

AIT has also tied up with Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to create a Yunus Center at AIT with an objective "to contribute to poverty alleviation by enabling rural people to handle and be in control of improving their own livelihoods". The center was launched on September 8, 2009.[25]

Academic programs[edit]

Asian Institute of Technology offers Master's and Doctoral degrees and from diploma and certificate courses.

AIT also offers Unified International Bachelor-Master Degree Program.

Erasmus Mundus programs[edit]

AIT is associated with several Erasmus Mundus academic cooperation programmes offered by the European Union. They include - EM EMMA,[26] EM MAHEVA, EM EuroAsia,[27] Bridging the Gap,[28] European Master Advanced Robotics Program (EMARO),[29] Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate ETeCoS3,[30] Environmental Technologies for Contaminated Solids, Soils and Sediments and Erasmus Mundus Master's programme in Industrial Ecology [31]

School of Engineering and Technology (SET)[edit]

The School of Engineering and Technology offers master's degrees [MEng, MSc], professional master's degree programs, Doctoral degrees [DEng, DTechSc, PhD], and Certificates of Advanced Studies in the following areas:

Civil & Infrastructure Engineering Group Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure Management (CEIM),[32] Geotechnical and Earth Resources Engineering (GTE).[33] Geosystem Exploration and Petroleum GeoEngineering (GEPG),[34] Structural Engineering (STE),[35] Transportation Engineering (TRE),[36] Water Engineering and Management (WEM).[37]

Industrial Systems Engineering Group Mechatronics (MEC),[38] Microelectronics (MIC),[39] Nanotechnology, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME)[40]

Information and Communications Group Computer Science (CS),[41] Information Management (IM),[42] Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (RS-GIS),[43] Software Engineering (SE),[44] Telecommunications (TC)[45]

Interdisciplinary Programs Information and Communications Technologies (ICT),[46] Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management (DPMM),[47] Offshore Technology and Management (OTM)[48]

School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD)[edit]

The School of Environment, Resources, and Development offers master's degrees [MEng, MSc], professional master's degree programs, Doctoral degrees [DEng, DTechSc, PhD], Certificate of Advanced Studies in the following areas:Agricultural Systems and Engineering,[49] Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management,[50] Energy,[51] Environmental and Engineering Management,[52] Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology,[53] Gender and Development Studies,[54] Natural Resources Management,[55] Pulp and Paper Technology,[56] Regional and Rural Development Planning,[57] Urban Environment Planning[58] Interdisciplinary Programs Agribusiness Management,[59] Cleaner Production,[60] Integrated Tropical Coastal Zone Management,[61] Wetland and Aquatic Resources Management[62]

School of Management (SOM)[edit]

The School of Management established in 1987, the school has graduated more than 3000 MBA students. The network of alumni is found in over 40 countries, and faculty members come from 30 countries. The School has developed an extensive network of strategic partnerships around the world with leading European and Asian Business Schools. Currently SOM offering the following courses: Master of Business Administration (MBA),[63] Executive MBA (EMBA),[64] International Executive MBA (IEMBA) - Vietnam (offered at Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Vung Tau),[65] PhD,[66] Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)[67]

Awards[edit]

Ramon Magsaysay Award[edit]

In 1989, AIT received a Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding[68] "... for shaping a new generation of engineers and managers committed to Asia, in an atmosphere of academic excellence and regional camaraderie."

In 2009, an alumnus of AIT, Yu Xiaogang was also awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award. The citation[69] credited AIT and it said

"Yu fell in love with nature early on, having been raised in Yunnan, a province of amazing beauty and home to three of the largest rivers in the world: Nu, Yangtze, and Mekong. His interest in the environment was cultivated during a stint in the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, and was further deepened when he attended the Asian Institute of Technology, where he earned a master's degree in watershed management."

Friendship Order of Vietnam[edit]

The Government of Vietnam awarded the Friendship Order to AIT in 2006.[70] It is the highest award given in the area of international relations and is presented to foreign institutions and persons that have contributed to human resource training for Vietnam, and to the development of friendly relations between Vietnam and other countries.

Demographic and project facts and figures[edit]

  • 2300+ students from 47+ countries/territories
  • 19000+ alumni from 80 countries/territories
  • 28000+ short-term trainees from 70+ countries/territories
  • 130 world-class faculty from 20+ countries
  • 1000+ Courses
  • 32 Fields of Study
  • 3 Schools
  • 15 Research and Outreach Centers
  • 468 research and support staff from about 30 countries
  • About 450 sponsored research projects
  • 330 Partners
  • 33 board of trustee members from 19 countries

Sports[edit]

The AIT field is one of the three cricket fields in Thailand where Thailand's Premier League[71] matches are played. The AIT Cricket Team has also won the Bangkok Cricket League 'A' Division two times during the past three years[72] It also boasts of a 9-hole golf course and a swimming pool. The self-contained campus also offers facilities including badminton, takraw, table tennis, tennis, basketball, cricket, volleyball and swimming.

Memberships[edit]

The institute is a member of the

  1. Greater Mekong Sub-region Academic and Research Network (GMSARN)[73]
  2. LAOTSE — an international network of leading universities in Europe and Asia.
  3. Erasmus Mundus Erasmus Mundus programmes

Notable alumni[edit]

Name Degree Degree Year Notability Notes
Boonsrang Niumpradit D. Eng. 1978 Former Thai Army chief
Mao Chi-kuo M. Eng. (Community & Regional Development) 1975 Current Premier of the Republic of China
Yu Xiaogang M. Sc. (Interdisciplinary Natural Resource Development and Management) 1993 Among the six winners of the 2009 Ramon Magsaysay Awards
Imtiaz Gilani M. Eng. (Structural Engineering and Construction) 1971 Provisional Minister of Education for the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Bindu Lohani Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering) 1977 Former Vice President Asian Development Bank

.th domain[edit]

AIT administered .th, the country code top-level domain for Thailand until 2007 when the administration was transferred to the Thai Network Information Center Foundation.[74]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Asian Institute of Technology: Private Company Information - Businessweek". Businessweek.com. Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  2. ^ Tall, Lambert, 1972. "Asian Institute of Technology", Office of Naval Research, London, England
  3. ^ "Welcome to AIT Golden Jubilee". web.archive.org. Retrieved 2014-04-12. 
  4. ^ De Silva, Neville, 2009, "Asian Institute of Technology celebrates 50 years of service to the developing world," Asian Tribune [1]
  5. ^ "AIT, Thammasat Rangsit inundated". The Nation. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  6. ^ AIT returns home
  7. ^ AIT Board of Trustees AIT Board of Trustees
  8. ^ "AIT Ranked Among Global Top 20". Asian Institute of Technology. Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  9. ^ "U-Multirank - Universities compared. Your way.". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  10. ^ AITCV, Vietnam
  11. ^ "Current Scholarships". Asian Institute of Technology. Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  12. ^ "Top Stories : The Adoption and Signing Ceremony of the New Charter of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand". mfa.go.th. Retrieved 2014-04-12. 
  13. ^ "AIT now an International Intergovernmental Organization, as New Charter comes into force". ait.ac.th. Retrieved 2014-04-12. 
  14. ^ "AIT President clarifies invalid degree issue: Daily News". ait.ac.th. Retrieved 2014-04-12. 
  15. ^ "AIT operations back to normal following return to 'old charter' - The Nation". nationmultimedia.com. Retrieved 2014-04-12. 
  16. ^ "Bangkok Post". bangkokpost.com. Retrieved 2014-04-12. 
  17. ^ "School of Engineering and Technology (SET)". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  18. ^ "AIT SERD - School of Environment, Resources and Development". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  19. ^ "The Best MBA, EMBA, PhD & DBA of Thailand at AIT School of Management". AIT School of Management. Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  20. ^ "AIT Consulting - Home". Consulting.ait.asia. Retrieved 2014-04-21. 
  21. ^ "AIT Extension - Executive & Professional Education". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  22. ^ "AIT Vietnam". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  23. ^ United Nations, Economic and Social Council, 13 May 2011, "New Initiative to Aid Local Governments in Managing Growing Waste Problems" [2]
  24. ^ United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), IPLA Official Partners [3]
  25. ^ Bangkok Post, 2009, "AIT launches Yunus Center"|http://www.bangkokpost.com/life/education/23480/ait-launches-yunus-center
  26. ^ EMMA http://www.emmasia.eu
  27. ^ EM EuroAsia http://www.em-euroasia.org
  28. ^ Bridging the Gap http://www.bridging-the-gap.eu/en/
  29. ^ EMARO http://emaro.irccyn.ec-nantes.fr
  30. ^ ETeCoS3 http://www.internationaldoctorate.unicas.it
  31. ^ EM Industrial Ecology
  32. ^ "SET :: School of Engineering and Technology". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  33. ^ "SET :: School of Engineering and Technology". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  34. ^ "SET :: School of Engineering and Technology". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  35. ^ "Index of /ste". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  36. ^ "Index of /tre". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  37. ^ "Index of /wem". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  38. ^ "Index of /mt". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  39. ^ Microelectronics (MIC)
  40. ^ "Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, Asian Institute of Technology". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  41. ^ "Index of /cs". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  42. ^ "Index of /im". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  43. ^ "Index of /rsgis". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  44. ^ "SET :: School of Engineering and Technology". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  45. ^ "Index of /tc". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  46. ^ "Index of /ict". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  47. ^ "DPMM". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  48. ^ "Index of /otm". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  49. ^ Agricultural Systems and Engineering
  50. ^ Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management
  51. ^ Energy
  52. ^ Environmental and Engineering Management
  53. ^ Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology
  54. ^ Gender and Development Studies
  55. ^ "Natural Resources Management (NRM) at AIT.". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  56. ^ Pulp and Paper Technology
  57. ^ Regional and Rural Development Planning
  58. ^ Urban Environment Planning
  59. ^ Agribusiness Management
  60. ^ Cleaner Production
  61. ^ Integrated Tropical Coastal Zone Management
  62. ^ Wetland and Aquatic Resources Management
  63. ^ "Top Ranking MBA in Thailand". AIT School of Management. Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  64. ^ "EMBA - AIT School of Management". AIT School of Management. Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  65. ^ "International Executive Master of Business Administration". Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  66. ^ "Top PhD program of AIT School of Management in Thailand". AIT School of Management. Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  67. ^ "Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)". AIT School of Management. Retrieved 17 July 2015. 
  68. ^ The 1989 Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Citation/CitationAIT.htm
  69. ^ The 2006 Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Citation/CitationXiaogangYu.htm
  70. ^ "Vietnam bestows highest international relations honor to AIT". ait.asia. Retrieved 2014-04-12. 
  71. ^ Premier League http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/91014.html
  72. ^ Bangkok Cricket League http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/2013/news/ait-team-wins-bangkok-cricket-league-2018a2019-division/view#.UmTdJha4nXE
  73. ^ GMSARN http://mpuhost04.ait.ac.th/gmsarn/sitegmsarn2009/home.php
  74. ^ "Transfer of ".th" domain and establishment of Chair Professor position at AIT". ait.ac.th. Retrieved 2014-04-12. 

Unified International Bachelor-Master Degree Program

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Coordinates: 14°04′44.82″N 100°36′40.88″E / 14.0791167°N 100.6113556°E / 14.0791167; 100.6113556

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