Bangkok--23 Mar--Asian Institute of Technology
When Sabeethan Kanagasingham and Saw Htet Shein were delivering a presentation in Lithuania, they were doing something very unique. Two students, one from Sri Lanka and one from Myanmar, were addressing representatives from over a dozen countries from both Europe and Asia; and they were informing them about the culture and traditions of a third country — Thailand. For a passive bystander, this was an interesting moment. But for Sabeethan and Saw, this was just another event in the life of an Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) student.
They spoke about AIT, and they spoke about Thailand, where AIT is hosted. As Erasmus exchange students at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU), they were AIT students receiving kudos at the Cultural Evening organized by the Erasmus Students Network for delivering their presentation. They were not alone. Far away in Spain, Mazlina Zaira Mohammad from Malaysia, and Nupur Chaturvedi from India, were at Universidad de Granada, where they too were representing AIT.
Sabeethan, Saw, Mazlina and Nupur were the four participants of the Erasmus mobility program from AIT. Mazlina Zaira Mohammad, a Ph.D. student Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure Management; Sabeethan Kanagasingham, a Master's student in Mechatronics; Saw Htet Shein, a Master's student from School of Management; and Ms. Nupur Chaturvedi,
Career Center Officer, AIT Career Center have just returned after completing their stints under the Erasmus mobility program. In return, AIT also welcomed Dr. Ramun? Albrektien?, an exchange lecturer from Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU), Lithuania. Participating from AIT
Hosted at AIT was Dr. Ramun? Albrektien?, Lecturer at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, who was impressed both by AIT's research as well as the beautiful green campus. "Unlike back home, where the university is spread across various buildings in different places, AIT has a self contained campus," she remarked. Dr. Ramun? who describes herself as a third-generation water treatment expert, complimented AIT's research culture and quality. Touched by hospitality and welcoming nature of the AIT community, she recommends AIT as a destination for pursuit of academics and research.
For Sabeethan and Saw Htet Shein, the five-month stay at VGTU was an eye opener. Besides academics, both were actively engaged in building strong student networks. Sabeethan studies three courses in microprocessors and mechatronics, and Saw studied international business, innovation, and risks and profits.
While Sabeethan and Saw went to Vilnius, Mazlina, who is from Malaysia, was an Erasmus+ Mobility Scholar at Universidad de Granada, Spain. "I was lucky to be able to conduct my research work in the University of Granada," Mazlina says. She also prepared a comparative study report on "Review on occupational safety and health practices and performance in Malaysian and selected European construction industry."
Also on an exchange in Granada was Nupur who hails from India. Her five-day stint provided her an opportunity to study the Office of Employability in her host university, an aspect which echoes her work at AIT. "The major difference between AIT and University of Granada is clearly in the size of students and staff," she remarks. Granada has 30,000 students, and Nupur had an opportunity to interact with their career staff that works on trainings, internship, entrepreneurship, career counselling, CV counselling and communication with companies. She pointed out the high levels of automation at Granada, and added that the University has considerable openings for Erasmus students, which could be availed by more students.
But wherever they went, at all places, they were representing AIT.