Bangkok--10 Sep--AIT
Highlighting its special linkages to South-East, South and East Asia, and its engagement with emerging, developing countries across the continent, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) is marking 53 years of operation in Thailand on 7-8 September 2012.
Thailand’s sole international intergovernmental organization of higher learning opened its doors to the public on 7 September 2012 with a festive display of internationality that highlighted its storied past accomplishments and future ambitions.
Members of the Bangkok diplomatic corps and special dignitaries, as well as AIT alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends attended the celebrations.
H.E. Mr. Kazi Imtiaz Hossain representing the AIT Council addressed the large gathering and expressed his heartfelt felicitations and congratulations on AIT’s 53rd Anniversary. He commended the Institute on its spirit of international solidarity and its resiliency in overcoming the tremendous flood disaster of last year, as he spoke of the bright future ahead for AIT.
In his remarks, AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust spoke with pride of how the event exemplified AIT’s special internationality and marked the Institute’s rich contributions to the region. AIT is distinguished from others because of its unique international environment and its purposive approach to higher education that contributes to the betterment of the Asian region and beyond, he said.
AIT’s academics and research are keeping pace with the changing landscape of higher learning and changing job markets, he said. “I am proud that our faculty, staff and students have overcome our biggest challenge ever,” he said, referring the flood disaster of 2011-2012, as he promised the large crowd that by the end of the year the campus would be better than before the flood.
“This day is dedicated to you all,” President Irandoust told the AIT Community, partners and friends gathered.
Also joining the festivities was a large contingent of international undergraduates from Pakistan, Nepal and China who represented five Thai national universities. The students of Phranakhon Rajabhat University, SI Ayutthaya Rajabhat University, Rangsit University, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, and Mahidol University mingled with AIT students and explored the campus, in particular research exhibits and demonstrations presented by the School of Engineering and Technology and the the School of Environmnent, Resources and Development in the main Auditorium. A special lecture in the morning, as part of SERD's homecoming, attracted a packed house at the Milton Bender Auditorium..
All delighted in an elaborate international food festival and were enthralled by a multicultural show organized by 15 national chapters of AIT’s Student Union to mark AIT Day 2012.