AIT contributed immensely towards Thai education branding: Prof Said Irandoust

Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has made an enormous contribution in creating a Thailand education brand, and ensuring that Thailand emerges as a educational destination for students all over the world. This was stated by Prof. Said Irandoust, President, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) while speaking on the occasion of the fifty-second anniversary of AIT. The AIT President said that ever since its establishment in 1959, AIT has been attracting students, teachers, trainers and educational partners from all over the world. Since that day when AIT was established as the SEATO Graduate School of Engineering, AIT has acted like a magnet for international students who want to study in an international institute of higher education based in Thailand. "AIT has helped Thailand emerge as a regional hub of higher education and learning, and this is no small contribution," President Irandoust remarked. He added that with the reestablishment of AIT as an International Intergovernmental Institute, AIT's role and stature has been enhanced considerably. He added that Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has studied at AIT and continues to be an honorary faculty member. AIT's alumni have acquired ministerial positions not just in Thailand, but in many countries in South and South East Asia, he added. They have risen to positions of CEOs of major companies, contributing to economic progress in the region. The President elaborated on AIT's achievements stating that it has been honoured with the Magsaysay Award in 1989 and the Friendship Order of the Government of Vietnam in 2006. AIT is Thailand's top per capita research institute of higher learning, according to the Thailand Research Fund. It has also been identified as a Research Center of Excellence by the Rockfeller Foundation. However, AIT will not rest on its laurels, and will embark on a vigorous expansion plan to capitalize on its International Intergovernmental status. "This will ensure that not just AIT, but Thailand and the entire South-East Asian region establishes itself as a premier destination for students desirous of pursuing quality higher education," he added. The President was speaking at a ceremony organized to mark the AIT's Fifty-second year celebrations at Hotel Renaissance, Ratchaprasong, Bangkok, on 5 September 2011. The celebrations also included the "Nanotechnology Portfolio Release" which showcased sixteen products and achievements of AIT's Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology (CoEN). Among the delegates who attended the event included H.E. Mrs. You Ay, Ambassador, Embassy of Cambodia; H.E. Mr. Naveen Prakash Jung Shah, Ambassador, Embassy of Nepal; H.E. Mr. Jao Freitas de Camara, Ambassador of Timor-Leste; H.E. Mr. Ngo Duc Thang, Ambassador, Embassy of Vietnam; Mr. Mehdi Kamyabi Pour, First Secretary, Embassy of Iran; Mr. Alejandra B. Desimundo Escubal, Minister, Embassy of Argentina; Mr. Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Counsellor (Commercial), Embassy of Pakistan; Mr. Tadeusz Andrzej Ignashiak, First Counsellor, Embassy of Poland; and Mr. Craig M. Steffesnsen, Country Director, Asian Development Bank (ADB). President of Bangkok University, Dr. Mathana Santiwat, Chairman of University Council, KMUTT, Dr. Tongchat Hongldaromp, and Secretary-General, Association of Southeast Asian Institution of Higher Learning (ASAIL), Dr. Ninnat Olanvoravuth were among representatives of educational institutes and universities who participated in the event. Photo caption: From left: Mr. Chaovalit Ekabut, President of the Siam Cement Group (SCG) and President of AIT Alumni Association; Dr. Tongchat Hongldaromp; Dr. Subin Pinkayan, former Minister of Foreign Affairs; AIT President Said Irandoust; and Prof. Prabuddha Ganguli, CEO of VISION-IPR. Click for photo release at www.thaipr.net

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