Technology, President Prof. Said Irandoust was
invited to give a speech on civil society engagement for
sustainable development to member States attending the United Nations
Economic and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC) 2008 High Level Meeting meeting
held from 1-3 July, at UN Headquarters in New
York.
July, President Irandoust presented AIT as
a success story in relation to ongoing sustainable development work
in Asia.
Speaking on behalf of civil society members attending the session of
the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative
Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO), President Irandoust
informed the member States’ representatives that AIT had received
support rom the United Nations for a regional centre of excellence to
focus on Millennium Development Goals 1, 3, 7 and 8 (poverty
alleviation, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and global
partnership for development).
President Irandoust informed the international body that
AIT was formally endorsed by United Nations Secretary-General,
Ban Ki-moon on 25 March 2008 as the site of the official ASEAN Centre
of Excellence on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in partnership
with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR),
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA),
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and
UN-ECOSOC.
By developing pedagogical modules, educational materials and
tools for training of trainers for governments, academic and
educational institutions, civil society, NGOs, and the private sector,
the Centre in Thailand will serve as a regional nexus for
promotion, education, and training on attaining the MDGs by the year
2015, President Irandoust told the high-level UN meeting.
The President added that through its support for sustainable
development of the Asian region, AIT works closely with the public and
private sector, with leading universities, and with many international
institutions, to promote beneficial technological and socio-economic
change. He also informed the United Nations body
that AIT has established training and education centres
in Vietnam and Indonesia, and plans to open
additional centres in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal,
India, China, and possibly Africa.
Founded by the member States of the South-East Asia Treaty
Organization (SEATO) in 1959 to advance technological and
socio-economic development in the Asian region through higher learning
and capacity building programs, today AIT is a leading, independent
postgraduate development institution promoting advanced technology,
sustainable development and management. Since its
founding, AIT has produced 16,000 master and PhD-level graduates and
more than 23,000 professionals through short courses, representing more
than 80 countries.
starting from July 2009.
Further details are available at:
http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/2008/news-1/ait-addresses-united-nations-member-states-as-asian-success-story
