WEEK #23: 6 – 12 June 2016
In this issue:
Announcements
Restructure of AIT Academic Organization
Email from AIT President:
4 June 2016
Dear Colleagues
I am pleased to share with you the 5-year financial performance of all fields of study and the ongoing plan to restructure our academic structure, which is part of our business plan.
From the financial data provided, the following reservations can be made:
At 31 December 2015, the Institute has 30 fields of study (programs), with 68 full-time (FT) faculty members and a head-count of 1,708 students. This gives 2.26 full-time faculty per field, and 25.11 students per full-time faculty.
At 31 December 2015, the largest field in term of full-time faculty is IME (4 FT faculty) in SET and EEM (5 FT faculty) in SERD.
Eight fields of study in AIT today operate with one or less full-time faculty.
At 31 December 2015, the largest field in term of students is RS-GIS (89 head-count students) in SET and EEM (119 head-count students) in SERD.
In 2015, only 18 out of the 30 fields are financially positive, i.e., 9 in SET, 8 in SERD and SOM.
Of the total 30 fields of study (programs), only 9 fields can claim being financially sustainable. These are the fields that have achieved “Operating Surpluses” continuously for 3 years (2013-15). Among them, 6 are in SET (UG, CEIM, RS-GIS, WEM, ICT, MT/MIC) and 3 in SERD (MBA/EB, UEM, CCSD).
From the above observation and with the mandate from the Executive Committee, it is time for AIT to modernize its academic structure. The proposed restructuring is based on the following points of consideration:
Time has changed from the days in the 60s, 70s and 80s when graduate programs tend to be highly specialized. Today, the trends call for more integration, multidisciplinary learning and cross-cutting research; hence, administrative walls among all specializations should be removed.
There have been concerns from some Board members and other stakeholders that AIT offers too many narrow fields of study (30), ending up with 2.26 faculty members per field. This situation does not appear to help attract potential students in today’s competitive market.
It is more efficient to pool all administrative workloads from the field and program level to ‘departmental’ level, freeing more faculty time to focus on teaching and research.
Except for academic matters, all resources should be generated, controlled and managed by the Department. Thus capital fund, operating budget, human resources (faculty & staff), study seats, etc. will be allocated from School RC to all departments in the School.
Within a department, an official list of fields/programs/specializations (F/P/S) will be declared and remain visible, but the list can be adapted continuously with the change of market demands.
Although students belong to Department, they are recruited to Department based on their selected fields/programs/specializations. Their AIT degrees and transcripts will include school, department and field (or program or specialization).
Academic matters concerning each F/P/S, such as curriculum, academic procedures and support facilities, are supervised by the respective ‘F/P/S Committee’ of the Department.
F/P/S Committee is a Department’s appointed standing committee composed of all faculty members in the Department who are specialized in the same S/F/P. In some cases, one faculty member may sit in more than one Committee. Chair of F/P/S Committee is elected by its members.
The following diagram provides the overview of the proposed new structure that is now open for discussions during the next 2 weeks. After I receive all the feedback and further suggestions, this matter will be submitted for final approval by the Management Team Meeting.
|
A Proposed Model for AIT Administrative & Academic Structure (to be open for discussion)
|
||||||
|
Level |
Policy & Procedure |
Budget |
Human Resources |
Student Recruit |
Curriculum of Field/Program (specialization) |
Field/Program Research Lab Facilities |
|
(1) Central Admin |
A |
c |
c |
c |
c |
c |
|
(2) School |
|
a |
b |
b |
b |
b |
|
(3) Department |
|
b |
a |
a |
b |
b |
|
(4) Specialization (Field) Committee |
|
b |
b |
b |
a |
a |
|
Notes (a) Responsibility / Ownership Role; |
||||||
|
(b) Supporting / Facilitating Role; |
||||||
|
(c) Coordinating / Reviewing / Harmonizing Role. |
||||||
I sincerely believe that the next 2 years will present all of us, faculty and staff, a golden opportunity to redefine our own future. We want to ensure that AIT as an Institute has important roles to play, not only regionally, but also globally.
Amid the current trends in the world that require international neutral platforms to resolve mankind global issues, I believe AIT, with its wealth of international experiences and networks, will have a bright future. However,this is possible only if we work selflessly together as a team, to properly condition and readyourselves for the global challenges ahead of us. The proposed model will help provide us the flexibility to move swiftly to the new challenges, without having to sacrifice traditional areas that are still financially viable and demanded in some markets.
With warm regards,
Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai
AIT President
AIT Newsletter: June 2016 released
The June 2016 edition of the monthly Newsletter of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has been released.
PDF: http://goo.gl/XGnpOj
EPUB: http://goo.gl/9uYsvt
MOBI:http://goo.gl/Jp7Oxn
The PDF edition can also be downloaded at these links
http://www.slideshare.net/mcuait/ait-newsletter-june-2016
https://issuu.com/mcu-ait/docs/ait.newsletter.june.2016
AIT Timeline for May 2016
The AIT Timeline produced by Media and Communications Unit (MCU) has been released. Please go to the following link to watch it.
http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/timeline/2016/ait-newsletter-may-2016/
Project Opportunities in Central African Republic, Uganda, and Chile
As part of the CTCN project, SDCC office is happy to draw your attention to a request for technical assistance received from Central African Republic entitled “Expert support on developing national low-carbon strategies and technology needs assessment for low-carbon activities”.
If the subject area fits your expertise well and, if you would like to be involved in providing 'technical services' towards the implementation of this request, please contact Dr.Victor Shinide (victorshinde@ait.asia ). He will help you in preparing a small application package that will be submitted to the CTCN Headquarters in Copenhagen. He will also explain to you the CTCN assistance mechanism. The application package will essentially contain information on:
1. Capacity to work in the language used by the country requesting assistance (i.e. French in this case. We have some AIT faculty and staff proficient in French)
2. Work conducted on related topic/technology, if any (optional: provide relevant documents).
3. Previous work in the country or region, if any (optional: provide relevant documents).
4. Relationships and partnerships you may have in the country, if any.
Please note that submission of an application package does not guarantee an award. The CTCN Headquarters receives a number of applications from different organizations and it is their prerogative to choose the one they deem appropriate.
The deadline for submission is 06 June 2016, so you are requested to plan accordingly.
More requests for technical assistance received from Uganda entitled “Climate resilient decision making methods for Lake Victoria” and from Chile entitled “‘El Punto de Inflexión para la Adopción de Tecnologías Climáticas en empresas PYME Chilenas'”.
The application package will essentially contain information as mentioned above.
Anyone would like to be involved in providing 'technical services' towards the implementation of this request, please contact Victor (victorshinde@ait.asia ).
Please let SDCC office know if you are interested in this opportunity before 10 June, 2016.
Campus Updates
Video by Pakistan Student Association
Pakistan Student Association (PSA) has created a video highlighting the beauty of AIT. Produced by a team led by Dr. Adnan Nawaz, who graduated in May 2016, it is a token of love and appreciation.
Here is the link of the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wugb9n4t40
Chinese Courses
The AIT Language Center is offering the following Chinese courses:
1) Reading and Writing Chinese for Beginners
Duration: June 6 – July 13, 12 sessions
Monday and Wednesday, from 16.30 – 18.00 hrs.
2) Reading and Writing Chinese (continue from lesson 7)
Duration: June 7 – July 14, 12 sessions
Tuesday and Thursday, from 12.00 – 13.00 hrs.
3) Survival Chinese for Beginners
Duration: June 7 – July 14, 12 sessions
Tuesday and Thursday, from 16.30 – 18.00 hrs.
The course fee is 1,000THB due to the kind support of the Chinese Government through the Confucius Institute. (Refunds are not available.)
For those interested can register and make a payment at Room 216, Language Center.
Events
Blood Donation
The Thai Red Cross Society has been working with volunteer students and AIT staff to collect units of blood from the AIT community. The bloodmobile visits AIT every three months, four times a year, hoping to collect enough units to supply the constant demand for blood.
AIT Medical Clinic again would like to ask for your help. The next visit for blood donation is scheduled on Thursday 9 June 2016, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. at the parking lot in front of the AIT Conference Center.
Give blood! You'll experience a fulfilling sense of contribution. And the donation process isn't time-consuming. It only takes about half an hour. For more information about blood donation please see the attached.
On behalf of needy patients whose lives you may save, we would like to thank you very much for your time and support.
See more details: http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/2016/events/blood-donation-camp-1/#.V1Ts6eTkKUk
A training course on "Managing Project Preparation for Climate Change Adaptation"
Climate Change Asia (CCA), AIT and USAID (through their Adapt Asia-Pacific Project) will be conducting a training course on "Managing Project Preparation for Climate Change Adaptation" for participants from South and Southeast Asia. This is a "Train-the-Trainer" course, developed by USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific in collaboration with the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii.
The course aims to improve the capacity on preparing fundable project proposals for climate change adaptation. The course will 1) help in understanding climate change realities and risks; how to manage risks, screen for sensitivities, and address key vulnerable groups and areas; how climate change adaptation can be grounded in national development plans and broader national adaptation policy and strategic frameworks. 2) aid in identifying sources of international funding options and develop capacities for accessing those sources; 3) build capacity in project preparation for climate change adaptation by illustrating ‘how-to’ methods, tools and processes for use in rigorous adaptation project/program design in line with policies and plans; and 4) provide an introduction to Implementation and monitoring of projects.
There are up to FIVE participant slots available for AIT delegates to attend this training course. Details of the course are:
Dates: 06-10 June, 2016
Time: Full day (08:30 - 17:00h)
Venue: B- 202 AIT Conference Center
Cost: Free (lunch and coffee will be provided)
Those interested to participate in this course please send your CVs (maximum 2 pages) to Dr. Puja Sawhney (puja.sawhney@rrcap.ait.asia), with a copy to Ms. Warawan Chalermot (Warawan.Chalermot@rrcap.ait.asia) along with a short motivation statement (maximum 1 page) latest by 30 May 2016. Because this is a course on enhancing skills for preparing climate change adaptation projects proposals for donor agencies as a part of CCA activities, Climate Change Asia is looking for participants who can contribute to the future CCA activities and are willing to be involved in preparing adaptation relatedproject proposals; and haveexperience in providing support to governments for preparation of their NAP, NAPA or adaptation component of the NDC.
Also, to ensure that participants receive the full benefit of the course, only those who are available for the entire duration of the training will be considered.
A Special Lecture on “Positioning AIT School of Management as Leading Business School in Asia”
AIT will organize a Special Lecture on “Positioning AIT School of Management as Leading Business School in Asia” by Professor Lawrence Stephen Abeln, Dean, Adelaide Business School, University of Adelaide, Australia.
Date: Thursday, 9 June 2016
Time: 1.30 - 3 PM (1330-1500 hours)
Venue: AIT Conference Center Auditorium
Professor Lawrence Stephen Abeln is the Dean of The Business School and Professor at The University of Adelaide. He has 22 years of academic leadership experience including at five top 100 QS world-ranked research institution including MIT Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, School of Business.
Professor Abeln received a Ph.D. in Management (Labor Economics) and M.Phil. in International Relations from Cambridge University, where he was a Rotary Foundation Scholar and member of Pembroke. His doctorate work on international labor economics was under supervision of W. A. Brown, Professor and Chairman of the Cambridge University Economics Department. He received his undergraduate degree from The University of Pennsylvania where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude.
Professor Abeln has extensive experience in the media as an economic and financial commentator with over 100 interviews and has written on the trends in graduate management education. He has been quoted in The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The London Times, The Independent and other international publications. He has appeared on ABC, CBS and NBC television and radio affiliates. He also worked previously for KYW-TV and for The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. He has moderated and participated in forums with heads of state, government ministers, CEOs and executives of leading companies, and academic leaders.
green-Y SUMMIT
For students and professionals
Date : Saturday, June 11, 2016
Time : 12pm - 4pm
Venue : Conrad Hotel, Bangkok
Convening Green Minds: A Conversation about Climate
On June 11, 2016, the first green-Y summit, Convening Green Minds on Climate, will inspire, motivate, connect and energize professionals and students interested in climate change in Southeast Asia. Each talk will be a carefully curated and rehearsed presentation by a thinker, an expert, a professional or an artist passionate about climate change mitigation and adaptation in the southeast Asian context. Brought to you by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional Development Mission for Asia and its partners, this unique opportunity will look at how climate change is already impacting communities in Southeast Asia and how youth and civil society can get involved to mitigate or adapt to these changes. Over 300 university students and professionals will be treated to this half-day program of short talks interspersed with short videos, interviews and other entertainment, and all under the overall theme of climate change.
For registration, please go to the following link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14xUqogIIwzjbUUFVC0inLr5AhuGfJ03XrRlfVib1XUs/viewform?c=0&w=1
Inaugural Retreat of the Ostrom Center for the Advanced Study of Natural Resources Governance (OCeAN) at AIT
The inaugural retreat of the Ostrom Center for the Advanced Study in Natural Resource Governance will be held on June 14-16, 2016 at the AIT Conference Center, which will be followed up with a related activity in Chiang Mai on June 17-19, 2016 in Chiang Mai University.
Visitors
- Delegation from Beijing Jiaotong University, PRC, led by Prof. Xia Haishan, Dean of School of Architecture and Design / 7 June 2016 / to seek the possibility in future cooperation in regional and urban transportation related training program with AIT
- Delegation from Beijing Institute of Technology / 8 June 2016 / led by Prof. Yang Bin, Vice President of BIT / to discuss the opportunities for cooperation according to the MoU signed on 6 May 2016
Faculty and Staff Travel
Dr. Faiz Shah / Lahore & Islamabad, Pakistan / 29 April – 10 May 2016*
Prof. J. K. Routray / New Delhi, India / 26 – 28 May 2016*
Dr. Lal Samarakoon / Colombo, Sri Lanka / 24 – 30 May 2016*
Dr. B.H.W. Hadikusumo / Myanmar / 27 – 30 May 2016*
Dr. Abha Mishra / Hanoi, Ha Tinh, Can Loc and Loc Ha, Vietnam / 29 May – 2 June 2016*
Dr. Victor Shinde / Nakhon Phanom, Thailand / 31 May – 2 June 2016*
Mr. Jakkapon Phanthuwongpakdee / Nahon Phanom, Thailand / 31 May – 2 June 2016*
Dr. Oleg Shipin / Nakhom Phanom, Thailand / 31 May – 5 June 2016*
Mr. Norman Del Mundo Alcoba / Hong Kong / 1 – 11 June 2016
Dr. B.H.W. Hadikusumo / Vietnam / 2 – 11 June 2016
Dr. Thammarat Koottatep / Kathmandu, Nepal / 3 – 5 June 2016*
Dr. Chotchai Charoenngam / Myanmar / 3 – 6 June 2016
Prof. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh / Italy / 4 – 12 June 2016
Dr. Didin Agustian Permadi / Italy / 4 – 12 June 2016
Dr. Pradeep Kumar Dash / Kolkata, Gauhati, Bhubaneshwar, Guwahati, India / 4 – 15 June 2016
Prof. Pennung Warnitchai and Dr. Punchet Thammarak / Japan / 5 – 8 June 2016
Ms. Hiromi Inagaki / Osaka, Japan / 6 – 8 June 2016
Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe / Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / 6 – 9 June 2016
Dr. Masahiko Nagai / Kumamoto, Japan / 6 – 10 June 2016
Dr. Joysee S. Chaterjee / Fukuoka, Japan / 6 – 15 June 2016
Ms. Amornpan Koysungoon / Chiang Rai, Thailand / 7 – 9 June 2016
Mr. Mitesh Vishwas Sawant / Chiangrai, Thailand / 7 – 9 June 2016
Dr. Faize Shah / Hong Kong / 8 – 11 June 2016
Prof. C. Visvanathan / Melbourne, Australia / 8 – 13 June 2016
Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe /Yangon, Myanmar / 10 – 11 June 2016
Prof. Voratas Kachitvichyanukul / Birmingham, UK / 10 – 17 June 2016
*(Staff or faculty member travelled and returned to AIT prior to documentation received for publication)
Classifieds (Jobs)
Position: Program Officer, AIT Extension (AIT Extension)
Ref. No. 19/2016
Deadline: 8 June 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/375
Position: Program Officer, AIT Extension (AIT Extension)
Ref. No. 20/16
Deadline: 8 June 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/376
Position: Program Officer, AIT Extension (AIT Extension)
Ref. No. 21/16
Deadline: 8 June 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/377
Position: Senior Program Officer, AIT Extension (AIT Extension)
Ref. No. 22/16
Deadline: 8 June 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/378
Position: Assistant Administrative Officer (Government Relations Unit)
Ref. No. 25/16
Deadeline: 17 June 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/382
Position: Head, Human Resources Office (Human Resources Office)
Ref. No. 7/16
Deadline: 30 June 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/363
Position: Development Officer (President's Office)
Ref. No. 24/16
Deadline: 30 June 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/381
Position: Administrative Officer (Government Relations Unit)
Ref. No. 26/16
Deadline: 30 June 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/383
Position: Assistant / Associate Professor (School of Environment, Resources & Development)
Ref. No. Fac 01/16
Deadline: 30 September 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/380