In this issue:

A. Announcements 

B. Events 

C. Classifieds (jobs)

A. Announcements 

1) Update on Positive Cases and Other Updates from the AIT COVID-19 Task Force

14 May 2021

Dear Members of the AIT Family,

Thailand’s COVID-19 case numbers remain high, with several high-risk areas in Greater Bangkok—such as Pathumthani where AIT is located—still being closely monitored, especially districts with crowded communities and markets.

Extension of Work-From-Home and Online Classes – In light of the above, the Work-From-Home basis for non-mission-essential AIT employees—and online contacts with students—will continue through the end of May. A decision will be made to either extend or re-open AIT, depending on the COVID-19 situation and advisory from the Thai Government. This policy serves to minimize contact during this worrying period, and we strongly urge you not to undertake any long travel away from home at this time. In fact, for those who live on campus, we urge you to stay on campus as much as possible without venturing outside AIT.

Positive Cases – We would like to report that there were two new positive cases on the AIT campus last weekend. These two cases include an AIT OQ driver and his spouse who reside on campus. The spouse tested positive first, on 9 May, through her work at a hospital near AIT. She was transported to the hospital on 10 May, where she is currently undergoing treatment. As soon as his wife tested positive, our OQ staff was immediately quarantined at AIT OQ. Unfortunately, he tested positive on 10 May and subsequently was transported to the hospital on 11 May. Our thoughts and prayers are with both of them.

Both of their timelines were checked carefully, which determined that they had very limited interaction with other people. As a precautionary measure, the tenants in the same building have been instructed to strictly self-isolate for 7 days starting from 11 May. They are also required to self-monitor themselves for symptoms and immediately contact the AIT Medical Center if they are unwell. OFAM has also deep cleaned and thoroughly sanitized the whole building. So far, no other problems have surfaced.

At this time, we would like to assure the AIT community that there is rigorous monitoring of OQ staff and OFAM contractors. Both the OQ staff and the contractors have been told to not socialize or wander around campus. Contractors are to limit their work on campus to the most essential and emergency in nature, and to inform their staff to minimize their contact with others – whether with other contractors or AIT staff or faculty or students.

Banned Arrivals and Quarantine Period at AIT – A ban on the arrival of foreign nationals from India to Thailand has been in place since 1 May due to concerns over possible importation of the new variant. Effective from 10 May, this ban was extended by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs to foreigners from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. For any new arrivals from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, who were able to get a COE through some exception, will spend 21 days at the AIT OQ.

Update on Vaccines – There are various channels that AIT is working with to obtain vaccines for our people. The situation and the timing are not that clear at this point. While we have been assured that all of us will be eligible for vaccines, our advice is that if there is a way for you to obtain vaccination on your own, please consider that possibility seriously and keep the Task Force updated.

Please check with the Task Force if you have any queries, and also visit the Intranet page where all COVID-19 related information and updates from the Task Force are available. We urge you to continue to maintain a very high level of safety and hygiene measures, avoid large crowds, and please visit the AIT Medical Center if you feel unwell. A final piece of advice: If you feel unwell but it is judged by a medical professional that you do not need to take a COVID-19 test, as a precaution, you should try to stay in your quarters and minimize contacts for seven days in any case.

We thank you for your continued cooperation and continue to rigorously practice DMHTT.

Please take care and stay safe.

AIT COVID-19 Task Force

2) AIT Extension in collaboration with Asia Pacific Telecommunication will be organizing a webinar on "5G and IoT Applications and Policy Solutions” on May 17th, 2021 (Monday).

Date: 17 May 2021

Time: 10:00 - 11:30 (GMT +7) Bangkok Time

For Registration https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRsqBFXs9_USrtPIi9fV4hv3LHNl-_...

For more information and registration, please visit our website: https://extension.ait.asia/course/1172

The United Nations Environment Programme (Regional Office for the Asia-Pacific) and Asian Institute of Technology (AIT, Thailand) is pleased to invite you to attend theOnline Launch Event of the Circular Economy and Sustainable Lifestyles Courseon 18 May 2021, 10:00 hrs (Bangkok time).

 

This webinar will focus to disseminate and shape up knowledge and case studies of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), highlighting sustainable lifestyles and circular economy, and to promote uptake and advocate SCP policies of Asian countries.

 

We hope that you will be able to join us and actively contribute to this event. Don't miss it!

 

To go directly to registration page, click this link:
https://forms.gle/PtsaFGQph8UyPmdv5

 

For more information please contact:

Ms. Pondchanok Piraintorn (Japan)

Project Coordinator, AIT

 

4) Extended Closure to 31 May 2021

Dear all,

Following the updated information from AIT COVID-19 Task Force, the Library closure will be extended to the end of May 2021. All books on loan will be automatically renewed to 1 June 2021, and the overdue book fines will not be incurred.

During the Library closure, if you have any urgent cases regarding the Library clearance or Library services, please contact staff on duty at the Library on Monday - Friday from 8.00 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.

Below are the information about the Library services during the closure.To search for Library resources, please find the links below.

Online journal databases and e-books databases: http://library.ait.ac.th or go to direct link of each database.
Library books: https://libopac.ait.ac.th/
e-Theses databases: http://203.159.12.58/ait-thesis

Please note that to download e-resources off-campus, you will be required to access the databases through AIT VPN. For more information about AIT VPN, please click on this link http://library.ait.ac.th/2019/04/20/off-campus-access-to-e-resources/.

For book loans, please send your request to library@ait.ac.th. Library staff will prepare the books for you. You can come to the Library for a loan. (The Book Loan Ride Thru Service is available from 8.00 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.)

For book return, please return books at the Automatic Books Drop at the side of the Library.

To request articles, e-Books, or past examination papers, please send an e-mail to library@ait.ac.th. The Library staff will find, scan and send you back the e-files.

To request printing at the Library, please send your request to library@ait.ac.th. You can come to use the

photocopiers at the Library during 8 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.

For Library clearance, please send your request to libraryclearance@ait.ac.th. The library staff will check and process the library clearance online.

The Library will keep you on new library resources and services on the Library website, Library Facebook, and e-mail. If you have any problem with accessing the online databases or require any further assistance, please feel free to contact the Library

The Library apologise for any inconvenience caused. Wishing you all stay safe and healthy.

Sincerely yours,

AIT Library

Website: http://library.ait.ac.th

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3a2ScpZ

Training Courses/ Conferences/ Workshops

1) Online Professional Development Course on: Managing Organization change: Integrating Agile for Transformation (Batch 1 )

Online Professional Development Course on: Managing Organization change: Integrating Agile for Transformation (Batch 1 )

Date : 08 - 25 May 2021

https://extension.ait.ac.th/course/1158

Date: 10 - 28 May 2021
Time: 14:00 - 16:00 hrs. (Bangkok time)
Learn from practitioners on how to develop M & E pathways that foster measurement of results and respond to current changes of M&E contexts. Broadening perspectives for innovative ways to develop tools and reporting mechanisms that help to make decisions for project implementation. 

Aims of the program

Enhance practical knowledge and scope for M&E approach and practices during COVID-19.
Be acquainted with appropriate research design and data collection tools.

Apply M &E concept to create information sharing and reporting strategies.

For more information and registration pls. visit https://extension.ait.ac.th/course/1127

We are pleased to announce that AIT Extension in collaboration with The Tanoto Center for Asian Family Business and Entrepreneurship Studies, HKUST, Hong Kong is about to organize Two Day International Workshop on " Asian Family Business and Family Office.

Instructors:

Prof. Roger King, Senior Advisor & Founding Director, Tanoto Center for Asian Family Business and Entrepreneurship Studies at HKUST.

Prof. Winnie Qian Peng, Director for Tanoto Center for Asian Family Business and Entrepreneurship Studies at HKUST.

Guest Speakers: 

Mr. Isara Vongkusolkit, Honorary Chairman of Mitr Phol Sugar Group

Ms. Angel Young, Founder, and CEO of Harmony Advisors Ltd, Hong Kong.

Tuition Fee (Early Bird, offer expires 31th May): 200.00 USD

Tuition Fee THB : B6,000.00

Event Dates:

Saturday, 12th June 2021 (09:00-11:30 Bangkok Time)

Saturday, 19th June 2021 (09:00-12:30 Bangkok Time)

For more information and registration, please visit our website: https://extension.ait.ac.th/course/family-Business-Workshop

 

8) Online Professional Development Course on Innovation in Corporate Culture – How to lead change in a VUCA Environment (Batch 1)

Date : 13 - 30 June 2021

https://extension.ait.ac.th/course/1160

 

 

9) 2nd International  Symposium on Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development (DRSD) 

We are happy to announce the "2nd International Symposium on Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development” from 24 -25 June 2021 scheduled to be held at Asian Institute of Technology, THAILAND (In-person and Virtual) [www.disaster-sustainability.org]. The “2nd International Symposium on Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development” organized by the Asian Institute of Technology brings together discussion on various dimensions of higher education systems in the Asia-Pacific region with a focus on Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development. The International Symposium will focus on various dimensions of existing and future risk scenarios and concerted efforts of the scientific communities to find new adaptation methods. 

The international symposium will be organized from 24 -25 June 2021 in hybrid mode. The program will include keynote speeches, panel discussions, technical sessions, poster presentations, and academic exhibitions. The Symposium is one of the initiatives of ProSPER.Net project “Disaster Education for integrating SFDRR and SDG in Asia” lead by the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand along with the partner universities in the Asia Pacific Region. 

The symposium will also provide an opportunity to develop a Higher Educational Institution Platform on DRR to address the cross-cutting issues on Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development and also understanding regional challenges that result from complex problems generated by natural hazards and human-induced threats.

On behalf of Organising Committee DRSD-2021, I would like to invite your valuable participation and interaction with Global Resilience and Sustainability Experts. 

CALL for ABSTRACT is open 

We will encourage you to circulate the announcement to your scientific and professional netw