Bangkok--2 Sep--Asian Institute of Technology
Inviting the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to consider the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) as its “academic arm” for the region, AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai welcomed Mr. Hiroyuki Konuma, Assistant Director General and FAO Regional Representatives for Asia and the Pacific to the campus on August 24 for discussions on the AIT-FAO Action Plan 2014 for cooperation.
Congratulating Professor Worsak on his recent appointment as president, Mr. Konuma said FAO would be happy to consider specific suggestions for expanded collaboration in areas such as knowledge exchange, research, internships and publications.
President Worsak invited the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific to be a partner of next year’s high-level regional conference on climate charge to be hosted by AIT and co-organized with France and other countries in preparation for the global COP 21 meeting in Paris, France. Dr. Konuma indicated interest to co-sponsor some of the activities, including FAO officials’ involvement.
Overall, it was suggested that AIT could identify specific areas to invite FAO experts as guest lecturers, thesis committee members and for other needs-based support.
Lectures could be organized on an ad hoc basis, and short term internships at FAO for 2 to 3 AIT postgraduate student per year might be considered as part of the action plan. It was also suggested that a repository of FAO publications could be situated at the AIT Library.
During the meeting, AIT indicated its desire to send a proposal to FAO for a technical cooperation project on curricula development on the topic of future leadership in agriculture covering countries in the Asia and the Pacific.
Photo caption: Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai (left) and Mr. Hiroyuki Konuma.