Bangkok--14 Sep--Asian Institute of Technology
Sir John Kotalawala Defense University (KDU), a premier defense university in Sri Lanka, wishes to explore a partnership with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). Vice Chancellor of KDU, Major General Milinda Peiris, who visited AIT on 7 September 2015, expressed interest in AIT's international integrated programs, training programs, and student exchange.
Maj Gen Peiris stated that earlier KDU had restricted itself to students desirous of joining the Armed Forces, but it has now opened its admission to civilian students. KDU students experience a mix of civilian and military students, which makes it a unique university.
Dr. A Harinda Lakmal, Dean, Faculty of Built Environment and Spatial Sciences, KDU, said that they were keen on collaboration in both training and regular programs in the field of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems, particularly in Open Source GIS, Web GIS, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Sivanappan Kumar, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA); AIT elaborated on the degree and non-degree programs offered by AIT. Prof. Kumar highlighted the potential of faculty exchange and student exchange between KDU and AIT. He also invited them to explore various AIT programs in the field of energy and urban environment which can synchronise with KDU's faculty of built environment and spatial sciences.
Prof. Voratas Kachitvichyanukul, Dean, School of Engineering and Technology (SET); Prof. Nitin Kumar Tripathi, Director, Special Degree Programs; Dr. Lal Samarakoon, Director, Geoinformatics Center; Dr. Jai Govind Singh, Coordinator, Energy Field of Studies; Dr. Sarawut Ninsawat, Coordinator, Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems Field of Study; Dr. Gabrielle Groves Punyaratabandhu, Head, External Relations and Communications office (ERCO); and Mr. Md. Zia Islam, Senior Academic Officer, School of Management, also participated in the deliberations.
Details about KDU are available at this link: http://www.kdu.ac.lk/
Photo caption: Major General Milinda Peiris