กรุงเทพฯ--5 ก.พ.--Asian Institute of Technology
H.E. Mr. Paul Robilliard, Ambassador of Australia to the Kingdom of Thailand, called on the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Pathumthani Province on 2 February 2015. It was the envoy’s first visit to the international higher education institute since he assumed his diplomatic duties in Bangkok in October 2014.
Welcomed to the campus for exploratory discussions by AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Ambassador Robilliard was briefed on AIT’s latest academics, research, and outreach activities, as well as the historical linkage between Australia and AIT.
Ambassador Robilliard expressed interest in knowing AIT’s full range of current collaborations with Australia, to identify where specific opportunities may exist. He was also receptive to learn as much as possible about the AIT faculty secondment initiative, and the upcoming Regional Forum on Climate Change to be hosted by AIT in July.
Australia wants to kick-start productive partnerships with Thailand across a broad range of scientific fields, and is keen to push forward partnerships in postgraduate higher education and research and development to the fullest extent possible, the diplomat told senior AIT Management officials. “Australia and Thailand should be natural partners,” the diplomat said.
President Worsak introduced the ambassador to many aspects of AIT’s regional focus and international character. He was pleased to inform that Australia is one of the eight founding member countries of the South-East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), which founded AIT in 1959.
Ambassador Robilliard was also briefed about Australia's official multilateral program at AIT which ended in the late 1990s. From 1972 to 1998, Australia provided 519 academic scholarships to enable top Asian students to pursue Master’s and Doctoral degrees at AIT, President Worsak said. Also, Australia’s in-kind support to the institute amounted to 351 million Thai baht.
At the meeting, President Worsak proposed AIT’s new model of faculty secondment, for Australia’s consideration. With AIT as a neutral, connecting platform for pan-Asia academic engagement, advanced countries are invited to second scholars to work on transnational and regional issues along with seconded faculty from ASEAN and South Asian countries. India and Pakistan have already agreed to support this model, he said.
Indicating that Australia aims to work closely with countries in the Asian region, Ambassador Robilliard said he was happy to learn more about the initiative.
President Worsak also invited Australia to send scientists to participate in the Regional Forum on Climate Change (RFCC2015) which will take place at AIT on July 1-3, 2015. The high-level international conference is supported by France and will involve the participation of Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as UNESCAP and other United Nations agencies. It will be a major platform to prepare regional input for the United Nations Climate Change Conference known as ‘COP21’ planned for Paris, France in November-December this year.
Photo caption: H.E. Mr. Paul Robilliard, right, Ambassador of Australia to the Kingdom of Thailand, is seen with AIT President Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai.