WEEK #15: 11 – 17 April 2016
In this issue:
Announcements
Promotion of Dr. Avishek Datta to the Rank of Associate Professor
Dear Members of the AIT Community,
I am pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. Avishek Datta to the rank of Associate Professor in the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD). I have approved the promotion of Dr. Datta taking into account the positive recommendations of the Faculty Evaluation Panel (FEP) and the SERD Professorial Board.
Dr. Datta was appointed at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) as an Assistant Professor in the School of Environment, Resources and Development in August 2012. Prior to this, he held the Postdoctoral Research Associate position at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), Nebraska, USA (March 2008–July 2012).Dr. Datta obtained his Ph.D. (Agronomy) from the University of New England Armidale, New South Wales, Australia in 2008. He earned both his M.Sc. (Agronomy) and his B.Sc. (Ag.) Hons. (Agriculture) from the BC State Agricultural University Nadia, West Bengal, India in 2002 and 2000, respectively.
Dr. Datta’s research encompasses the areas of Agricultural Environments, Crop Productivity Management, Crop Eco-physiology and Modeling, and Advanced Agricultural Experimentation.
Dr. Datta’s curriculum vitae, the Institute Criteria for Promotion (PA-1-2-5) and the Procedure for Evaluation of Faculty for Promotion (PA-1-2-2) can be accessed through the link provided below:
We warmly congratulate Dr. Avishek Datta on this promotion in recognition of his valuable contributions to his field.
Sincerely,
Professor Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai
President
Asian Institute of Technology
AIT 2016 Distinguished Researcher Awards
Dear AIT Faculty and Staff,
We are pleased to announce the selection of Assoc. Prof. Thammarat Kootatep and Assoc. Prof. Kunnawee Kanitpong as recipients of the AIT Distinguished Researcher Awards for 2015.
I would like to congratulate both Assoc. Prof. Thammarat and Assoc. Prof. Kunnawee for their significant contributions to the active research environment and the research infrastructure development of our institute. I also would like to thank all the applicants to these awards, and would encourage them to participate again in the years to come. The evaluations were done by external reviewers who were impressed with the applicants’ achievements, and I would like to compliment them all.
Thank you very much,
Prof. Kanchana Kanchanasut
Vice President for Research
Final Outcome of 2015 Allocation of Capital Funds for RCs
In the past, AIT administrations often talked nicely about “decentralization”. The Year 2015 might be the first time in the history of AIT, that Schools and other Responsibility Centers are actually allocated their own Capital Funds, based on their contributions to the 2015 annual surplus of AIT.
As you were informed earlier, I have received an endorsement from the Executive Committee and the final approval from the Board of Trustees on my proposal to annually allocate 50% of the annual surplus to the Capital Accounts of all the RCs, in proportion to their contributions based on the AIT’s Responsibility Center Management (RCM) Model. Thus from now on, the Schools andother Centers can accumulate their Capital Fund year after year, which will allow them to make their own decisions to upgrade their strategic equipment and asset renovation.
Although the decision to spend the capital fund lies with the respective CEO (Deans and Directors), the acquisition still needs to comply with the regular purchasing process of AIT. For units with no capital fund this year, in case of urgent needs related to essential equipment, they can make a request for a loan from the Institute on a need-based basis.
With this email, I am pleased to announce the final financial performance of all the RCs and their allocated capital funds. The specific accounts will be set up by the Finance Office as soon as possible.
I take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciations on your patience, trust, hard work and cooperation in 2015, which resulted in our reasonably good outcome, both academically and financially. Most importantly, we together are able to greatly enhance our public image and restore the trust of our patrons and the general public. Thanks.
With kind regards,
Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai
AIT President
AIT Newsletter : April 2016
The April 2016 edition of the monthly AIT Newsletter has been released.
You can also download PDF and EPUB versions from below links:
PDF: http://goo.gl/gx8O1X
EPUB: http://goo.gl/gx8O1X
MOBI: http://goo.gl/1kvSRJ
Media and Communications Unit
Student Union’s Second Newsletter of Jan. 2016 semester
The Student Union media team has published its second Newsletter for theJanuary 2016 semester. The Newsletter is a joint contribution by all photographers and volunteers of the SU Media team who have devoted themselves to reporting AIT students’ activities.
Please find the link to the newsletter at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0nLSB7YYSeEX1gxVHdJOGJzU0U/view?usp=sharing
UIA charge rates for faculty and staff
The AIT IT Committee annually evaluates the Internet service charges to your residences which can be considered as an equivalent of a home user account in the commercial market. The Committee has made a decision to keep our Unlimited Internet Access (UIA) rate to be comparable to the rates in the market per home users which are currently around 700-800 Thai Baht (THB) a month for less capacity than what you are getting in AIT. The committee has decided to apply the same rate of 600 B a month to all staff and faculty accounts and the decision has now been endorsed by AIT Management (Please refer to AITMT meeting Minutes of 3 March 2016, Section 6.6 which has been circulated earlier.)
The rate is to be applied as of March 2016.
Prof. Kanchana Kanchanasut
Vice President for Research and Chair of IT Committee
Erasmus+ : Faculty / Individual Capacity Building Opportunities
Dear colleagues,
ERASMUS+ is the new framework funded by European Commission and integrates earlier European Programs such as Lifelong Learning, Tempus, Alfa, Edu Link and ERAMUS MUNDUS. Erasmus+ covers many actions (mobility and capacity building related), but not research activities (research is funded by the Horizon 2020).
The possibilities for AIT participating in Erasmus+ are primarily in Key Actions 1 and 2 – mobility of students/faculty/staff; capacity building and curricula development related; and exchange of good practices.
Since we would need partners for this collaboration, one possibility is to make use of the PANACEA consortium (listed in Annex 2: Panacea Partners, who are keen to partner for both Key Actions 1 and 2 with AIT in the Erasmus+. The PANACEA Consortium was an Erasmus Mundus project (2012 – 2016) that was coordinated by University of Montpellier 2 in France in which AIT was the Joint Coordinator.
So, if you would like to collaborate under the Erasmus+ with any of the Panacea partners or if you plan to submit a proposal in order to receive funding from EU, or for any additional information, please find the necessary details on Information of Applicants in this link: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/documents/erasmus-plus-programme-guide_en.pdf and/or please contact Ms. Carol Guzman of the External Relations and Communications Office (ERCO) at: 02-524-6299 or email to carol@ait.asia
With best wishes
Prof. S. Kumar
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Attractive Opportunities for researchers
A number of attractive opportunities for researchers are presented in the latest EURAXESS ASEAN.
Topics:
1. Advancing your Research Career: Funding and Fellowship Opportunities Open to ASEAN Researchers. Workshops in Hanoi on May 11 and Bangkok May 13.
2. France - ERCIM – Alain Bensoussan Fellowships in Computer Science, Information Technology, and Applied Mathematics Open to ASEAN Researchers
3. MSCA RISE Call Open to Universities and Research Institutes in ASEAN.
4. MSCA Individual Fellowships to Conduct Research in Europe. Open to Researchers in ASEAN
Check out:
asean.euraxess.org
Sign up to EURAXESS Links ASEAN here:
http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/links/singapore/index_en.html
Over Stay of Non-Thai Nationals / Latest Information
A new order from the Thai Immigration Bureau regarding the ineligibility for admission of non-Thai nationals will be enforced from March 20, 2016. The details of the new order with regard to the over stay of Non-Thai nationals in the Kingdom of Thailand are as follows:
1. In case of Surrender:
1.1 A non- Thai national overstaying his/her permission by more than 90 days will be barred from re-entering the country for 1 year, from the date of departure.
1.2 A non- Thai national overstaying his/her permission by more than 1 year will be barred from re-entering the country for 3 years, from the date of departure.
1.3 A non- Thai national overstaying his/her permission by more than 3 years will be barred from re-entering the country for 5 years, from the date of departure.
1.4 A non- Thai national overstaying his/her permission by more than 5 years will be barred from re-entering the country for 10 years, from the date of departure.
2. In case of being arrested and prosecuted:
2.1 A non- Thai national who is caught overstaying his/her permission by less than 1 year will be barred from re-entering the country for 5 years, from the date of departure.
2.2 A non- Thai national who is caught overstaying his/her permission by more than 1 year will be barred from re-entering the country for 10 years, from the date of departure.
3. These rules are not applied to:
3.1 A non- Thai national who departs the country before the age of 18.
3.2 A non- Thai national who departs the country before the enforcement of this law.
GRU Office
Campus Updates
5 May 2016, Coronation Day Holiday
Based on the confirmed AIT Management Notes on 5 November 2015, agenda 4.2, AIT Official Holiday for 2016, please be informed that 5 May 2016 is a holiday for Coronation Day, replacing the Buddhist Lent Day on 20 July 2016.
Thus, the Buddhist Lent Day on 20 July 2016 is deleted from AIT Official Holiday for 2016.
Library closed during Songkran Holidays
AIT Library will be closed from Wednesday, 13 April to Sunday, 17 April 2016, and will be open on Monday, 18 April 2016.
GRU office will be closed during 13-17 April 2016
The GRU office will be closed during 13-17 April 2016 for the Songkran Holidays. Should you have any plans in which a passport is required, please pick it up from GRU office before 4 p.m. of Tuesday 12 April 2016.
Songkran Holidays: Call Center, Accommodation Office, Mail Office, Gas Delivery, Motor pool services closed
Please be informed that during the Songkran holidays, the following services / units will be closed:
- AIT Call Center - Closed from 13th April -15th April 2016
- Motor pool - Closed from 13th April -15th April 2016
- Accommodation office - Closed from 13th April -16th April 2016
- Mail Office - Closed from 13th April -16th April 2016
- Gas Delivery - Closed from 13th April -15th April 2016
Outsourced Contractors
- Technical - Closed from 13th April -16th April 2016 (24 Hrs emergency team will be available)
- Landscape - Closed from 13th April -16th April 2016 (1 Staff available to water the plants)
- Janitorial - Closed from 13th April -16th April 2016 (Only garbage collector staff will be available)
For emergency cases, please call
Landline / Internal No. 02524-6000 (5800 will be also transferred to 6000).
Mobile No. 094-9493797 (Shall be received by the facilities officer for emergency only)
The general work request could be still requested through:
Email: callcenter@ait.asia
website: http://fims.ait.asia/
Wishing everyone a Very Happy Songkran Festival Holidays!!!
Office of Facilities and Asset Management (OFAM)
AITCC’s Service Schedule during Songkran’s Holidays
During Songkran festival, the service’s schedule of AIT Conference Center is as follows:
Dining room: 11-17 April 2016 at 7.00 - 22.00 hrs. serve a la carte menu
Accommodation: Service 24 hours
Centralized air conditioning to be shut down during the Songkran Holiday
As part of the backbone improvement project, the external chilled water pipeline system network is being improved during this Songkran Holiday period. The chilled water network along the walkway from the chiller plant to SERD, AIT Extension, Administration Building, and AITCC will be repaired.
1. The work will start from 7 April to remove the walkway ceiling and it may cause some disturbances to the pedestrian along the walk way.
2. The centralized air conditioning/chiller system will be shut down from 16:00 hrs of 12 April 2016 to 5:00 hrs of 18 April 2016.
There will be no air conditioning to all the areas connected to the chiller system from evening (16:00 hrs.) of 12 April to morning (5:00 hrs) of 18 April.
Area Affected:
All Academic Buildings including Admin, SET, SERD, AIT Extension, Outreach, ET, CSIM, GIC, PPT, Biotech, ISE, SOM, AITCC, SU Building, Library, Physical Plant, and Dorm E, J & K
Office of Facilities and Asset Management (OFAM)
Trial of Knovel to be extended to 30 April 2016
Please be informed that Knovel, engineering information database will be extended to 30 April 2016.
For more information, please visit the Library's website at this URL: http://203.159.6.13/trialdatabases.htm .
Events
Collaboration for Innovation
AIT is hosting an AIT Solutions event under the theme Collaboration for Innovation, on 12-13 May 2016 at the AIT Conference Center to highlight its expertise in providing integrated solutions and services to the industry and community, apart from providing a platform for collaborative innovation.
More details: http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/2016/events/consultation-for-innovation/#.Vv3l48v-IdU
http://collaborationforinnovation.solutions.ait.asia/
AIT Research Competition 2016
Call for Ideas: AIT Research Competition 2016
Do you have a research / business idea that has the potential to be a scalable solution?
Join the AIT Research Competition, a platform for AIT researchers to develop their research/ business idea to scalable solutions by working with industry experts and venture capitalists. Winners will have the opportunity to access adequate funds, technical assistance, and guidance required to bring your innovative ideas to life.
More details at these links : http://collaborationforinnovation.solutions.ait.asia/download/Poster_event.pdf
http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/2016/events/ait-research-competition-2016/#.VwHXKcv-IdU
TU Symphony Orchestra to present “In the Orchestra Pit” Concert
Thammasat University Symphony Orchestra proudly presents “In the Orchestra Pit” concert to be held on 21 April 2016, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the auditorium of Lecture Complex 4 Building - LC.4 (part of the Faculty of Science) at Thammasat University, Rangsit Center.
Free Mini Bus services at 6:20 p.m., 6:40 p.m., and 9:15 p.m. are available in front of Thammasat Hospital to concert goers from AIT. See more details from Facebook / Instagram: tuorchestra #IntheOrchestraPit #Tuorchestra
ADMISSION is FREE!
For more information, please see from the following link:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5UcFNjCxXSTcFVQMzloMlRkeGc
Visitors
- Delegation from Diponegoro Univeristy (UNDIP) and Agency for Human Resources Development, Ministry of Public Works and Housings, The Republic of Indonesia (AHRD PUPR), led by Prof. Ir. Anita Firmanti, Head, The Directorate General of Human Resources Devleopment, The Ministry of Public Works and Housings / 12 Apr. 2016 / to sign a Memorandum of Agreement between AIT, UNDIP and AHRD PURR, Indonesia
- Delegation from Khairun University (Unkhair), Indonesia / 19 Apr. 2016 / to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between AIT and Khairun University, Indonesia
Faculty and Staff Travel
Dr. Attaphongse Taparugssanagorn / Phuket, Thailand / 30 March 2016*
Dr. Sangam Shrestha / Nakhon Panom, Thailand / 31 March – 1 April 2016*
Mr. Manish Shrestha / Nakhon Panom, Thailand / 31 March – 1 April 2016*
Dr. Weerakorn Ongsakul / Ubonratchathani and Nakhon Phanom, Thailand / 7 – 8 April 2016*
Dr. B.H.W. Hadikusumo / Vietnam / 7 – 10 April 2016*
Dr. Barbara Igel / Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam / 8 – 16 April 2016
Dr. Manzul K. Hazarika / Yerevan, Armenia / 10 – 15 April 2016
Ms. Colleen Curran / Yerevan, Armenia / 10 – 18 April 2016
Mr. Sanjeev Pradeep Jayasinghe / Colombo, Sri Lanka / 17 – 23 April 2016
*(Staff or faculty member travelled and returned to AIT prior to documentation received for publication)
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Classifieds (Jobs)
Administrative Secretary (School of Management)
Ref. No: 10/16
Deadline: 16 April 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/366
Assistant Program Officer (School of Management)
Ref. No: 11/16
Deadline: 16 April 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/367
Assistant or Associate Professor Positions (School of Engineering & Technology)
Ref No: 7/15
Deadline: 30 April 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/322
Head, Human Resources Office (Human Resources Office)
Ref no: 7/16
Deadline: April 30, 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/363
Assistant or Associate Professors Positions (School of Management)
Ref. No: Fac 5/15
Deadline: 30 June 2016