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January 2023 Spring Semester Kicks Off at AIT

09 Jan 2023
AIT webmaster

By Puja Bhetwal and Office of Public Affairs

January 6, 2023: The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) welcomed 161 new students during a hybrid orientation event held on January 6. Fifty-one new students attended the event onsite while the remaining students joined virtually.

Welcoming the new students, AIT President Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto thanked students for becoming part of a diverse and multicultural community and spoke about the opportunities ahead. He said, “Now you all are a part of the diverse AIT community and are on the path of becoming AIT’s essential stakeholders. The most vital component of unity in diversity is having respect for one another”. 

He advised all to use this opportunity to focus on their studies and gain worldwide exposure by broadening their professional networks and developing connections. He said, “Your mission is to study and gain knowledge and contribute to society which I am confident will be remarkable in the future.”

A total of 161 new students from 21 countries started their graduate studies at AIT in January 2023, while there are still more coming in through late enrollments. Out of the total admissions, 15% are for Doctoral programs. Forty percent of the new students are female. Thirty-five percent of students have joined the School of Engineering and Technology (SET), 35 percent have joined the School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD), and 30 percent have joined the School of Management (SOM). Currently, more than 1500 students from across the world are pursuing higher education at the institute.

Prof. Shobhakar  Dhakal, AIT’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, highlighted that the mission of AIT is to provide novel approaches with the intention of having a significant positive impact on society. He emphasized the importance of developing future global leaders for sustainable development and said, “AIT’s mission is to build the capacity of young professionals for the sustainable development of Asia and the Pacific region. I believe you all have joined in an important moment as the world now seeks a new generation of leaders”. 

AIT offers multiple academic research, networking, and professional opportunities to its students, including internships, assistantships, summer programs, and international exchanges. The institution collaborates with a wide range of partners, including UN agencies, universities, and private sector enterprises, to host several seminars, workshops, and events to strengthen capacity and foster networking. Prof. Dhakal urged newcomers to take advantage of the institution’s many resources, act ethically, strike a good work-life balance, and make the most of their time at the university.

Emphasizing the importance of expanding horizons, Dr. Naveed Anwar, Vice President for Knowledge Transfer at AIT, highlighted various outreach activities that are available to students. He focused on AIT’s connection with various sectors, enterprises, not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, and think tanks. 

He said, “AIT has a lot to offer, and we help students to broaden their network and prospect to become strong professionals. The centers provide students with mentors and host events designed to expand their skill sets. One should take advantage of all the resources available. “AIT provides many prospects and opportunities, but one must be alert and interactive to seize them. Assistantships are available to students, and many of our alumni have found jobs in different areas,” he added.

Mr. Russell Rein, AIT’s Vice President of Administration, emphasized the need to maintain a healthy balance in one’s life and make responsible decisions. He highlighted that AIT’s administrative services and facilities are established and developed to make the lives of students, professors, and staff more secure and pleasant. “AIT offers wellness and counseling services, and students can openly express their challenges. These conversations will be confidential, and they will receive sufficient care,” he added.

Additionally, Mr. Rein asked the international students to respect Thailand’s norms, culture, and manners and to always behave appropriately. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, so I encourage you to be courteous to one another, learn about a new culture, establish new friends, and encourage each other. Furthermore, be ‘FAT’ — flexible, adaptable, and tolerant.”

Following the welcome remarks from the senior leadership, the students were also oriented on the AITs Harassment Policy, the Office of Sustainable Campus, and the AIT Entrepreneurship Centre. Furthermore, they were briefed on academic requirements and practices, career center and student welfare, language center services, English language requirements, campus-wide IT services, and facilities management and accommodation policies by directors and staff of the respective units.