The AIT-AITAA Collaborative Workshop for Homecoming 2009 was held on 7 December 2007. This event was organized jointly by the Golden Jubilee Fundraising Campaign and the AITAA Mother Chapter. AIT President Said Irandoust along with General Dr. Boonsrang Niumpradit, President of the AITAA Alumni Association Mother Chapter; Dr. Chainarong Na-Lamphun, former President of AITAA, President’s of the National Chapters, GJFC Internal Steering Committee members, and other alumni representatives attended the workshop. This collaborative workshop was organized to seek the suggestions, support and input of alumni in three distinct areas namely: (1) the fundraising campaign, (2) the 50th Anniversary celebrations of AIT and (3) the future development of AIT. The workshop was conceptualized to be a brainstorming session for ways in which alumni could participate and contribute to AIT’s fundraising campaign. This was the first in a series of meetings and forums that are going to be organized to seek closer collaboration and engagement with AITAA and the alumni body at large.
During the session, General Boonsrang opened the floor for discussions and Mr. Hans J. Guttman, served as the facilitator for the session in which alumni chapter heads and representatives held discussions. The suggestions from alumni were very focused and frank, such as on the campaign direction and important options to be chosen. The overwhelming support of alumni for the 50th anniversary celebrations and for the campaign was very heartening, and they pledged their support by working to mobilize greater support and visibility for AIT in their respective countries. The alumni also gave suggestions on the way to approach alumni in each of their countries. Moreover, they gave concrete suggestions to empower and raise the productivity of the AIT GJFC, specifying the approaches that the fundraising campaign should take to reach out to alumni all over the world.
According to AIT President, alumni are our ambassadors, laurel leaves, sounding boards, and friends as well as business partners. During his interactions with the alumni, he was able to once again thank them for their continued support, and above all generosity through various contributions made to the Institute. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Khin Ni Ni Thein, Vice-President for Development and Resources. Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Director of the AIT Fundraising Campaign Communication, served as the master of ceremonies. In the afternoon, school visits to SET, SERD and SOM were organized for alumni chose the school they wanted to visit. As part of this informal session, each school organized a presentation of its present courses offerings and the alumni were able to interact with the faculty of the school. Alumni were also taken on a visit to the various fields of study around the schools to see the facilities and meet with the current students.
The outcome of the workshop was very positive and AIT GJFC was requested to organize such a forum annually back to back with the AITAA Governing Board Meetings.
36th AITAA Governing Board Meeting (GBM) and related events
The 36th Annual Meeting of the Governing Board of the AIT Alumni Association (AITAA) was held during 7-9 December 2007 under the leadership of distinguished AIT alumnus and President of the AITAA Mother Chapter, General Dr. Boonsrang Niumpradit. This was the largest gathering of the alumni in terms of the national chapters represented.
Mr. Somprasong Boonyachai, Group Chairman of Shin Corporation Plc. was unanimously elected as the next President of the AITAA Mother Chapter, succeeding the outgoing President General Dr. Boonsrang who, in his excellent manner, has led the alumni and all his team members with their efforts and hard work in forging closer linkages between the alumni and AIT through the launching of several initiatives.
Nineteen of the AITAA Chapters presented their reports and annual activities during the GBM. The next GBM in 2008 will take place in Beijing and the 2009 GBM, coinciding with the 50th Anniversary Homecoming, is to be hosted by the Thailand Chapter.
The progress on the alumni contribution to the AIT Landmark Project was also discussed. Construction will start in January 2008, and will be completed before the 2009 GBM. The US, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thai and Mother Chapters have provided their generous contribution in the amount of USD 10,000 towards the shortfall in the project.
At the event, AIT President also had a chance to have face-to-face meetings with a number of our alumni and discussed various interesting ideas.
