Bangkok--19 Dec--Asian Institute of Technology
One-hundred and ninety eight students from 23 countries spanning four continents were conferred degrees at the 122nd Graduation ceremony of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). The 122nd graduation batch included 35 doctoral, 157 Master’s, five Bachelor’s and one diploma student.
Vietnam took the major share of the 122nd graduating batch with 88 graduates followed by Thailand with 47. Indonesia and Nepal with nine graduates, and Myanmar with eight were the other three top countries. The graduating batch included students from Asia, Africa, Europe and North America.
AIT’s President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai stated that since 1959, AIT has been promoting technological change and sustainable development through higher education, cutting-edge research, and outreach activities. Prof. Worsak remarked that AIT graduates are fully prepared to take on global challenges and emerge as Asia’s next generation of leaders. Describing AIT as a “global village for future leaders”, Prof. Worsak said that the new graduating batch joins their illustrious alumni to weave more success stories.
Delivering the graduation message, Mr. Hiroyuki Konuma, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), delved on the emerging global food scenario stating that the world is facing serious food security challenges. The global population is expected to increase to over nine billion by 2050, and this is happening along with an increase in per capita food consumption. These two factors, coupled with restricted availbaility of arable land can lead to a serious situation of price volatility and uncertainties. It is to tackle such challenges that AIT can produce “future leaders of our global society’” Mr, Konuma added
The outstanding alumnus message was delivered by Mr. Ananda Dias, Regional Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific Environment Assessment and Early-Warning, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Photo caption: AIT President Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai is seen presenting the degree to one of the graduates.