In this issue:

A. Announcements 

B. Events 

C. Classifieds (jobs)

A. Announcements

1) Thailand Situation and AIT Measures and Updates 

Email from the Director, Office of Academic Administration on 15 January 2021

Dear AIT Family,

We hope that all of you are staying safe and keeping informed on the COVID-19 situation in Thailand.  As you are aware, the Thai Government has imposed various restrictions, especially in the maximum and strict control provinces and zones, along with increased prevention and control measures as well as public campaigns.

Following our experience during the First Wave and the measures that were put in place, the Spring Semester has been progressing smoothly, with students studying online and employees in Work from Home (WFH) status, with only mission-essential personnel coming to work on a rotational and staggered basis.  The Task Force would like to provide you now with an update on some additional measures being imposed and other important reminders.

Travel from Countries with new COVID-19 variant - A number of countries have announced travel bans from countries in which a new COVID-19 variant has been discovered given its ability to propagate and spread much more rapidly.  In light of this, and as an extra precaution, anyone travelling to Thailand / AIT from the UK,  South Africa, and Japan will need to undergo an additional 7 days of Self-Isolation (SI) during the first week of Phase 3 as explained below.  The list of countries may change as the situation develops and we will update the measures accordingly.  Therefore, for returnees from UK, South Africa, and Japan:  

• Phase 1 – 14-day quarantine either at the AIT OQ or an Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) hotel

• Phase 2 – 7-day SI with its current restrictions, such as can only go out twice a day but no more than 90 minutes in total per day,  and  CANNOT: attend classes in person; report to office; meet, visit or talk with others in person; leave the campus.

• Phase 3 – During the 3-weeks of Phase 3, the first week will entail an additional 7-day SI with no time limit on going out and no movement restrictions.  However, one still CANNOT: attend classes in person; report to office; meet, visit or talk with others in person; leave the campus.  During the remaining 2 weeks of Phase 3 there would be no restrictions on movement and meetings etc.

Wearing of Face Masks - The Task Force has repeatedly stressed that everyone must wear masks in public places and when in the company of people.  However, it has been observed that some members of the AIT community are not complying with this guideline and we would like to strongly urge you to kindly adhere to this important practice both on-and-off campus.  Masks are a key measure to suppress transmission and we must all do our part to keep the campus safe.

Thai Government Advice - The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has advised the public to practice DMHTT, which means Distancing, Mask-wearing, Hand-washing, Testing (temperature check), and use of the ThaiChana app.  The Thai Government  is encouraging the public to follow this practice which can help to reduce the risk, prevent the spread of the virus and help overcome this challenging time together.  The government encourages people to also install and use the “Mor Chana” mobile application and to use it in conjunction with the “Thai Chana” application.  The data allow doctors to quickly prioritise and plan treatments should a user contract the virus.  Users can also view risk areas so that they can avoid and manage their own risks.

Sporting Activities - While indoor and contact sports are not allowed, team sports can be played but with caution and without spectators.  Sports with a large number of players on a team may increase the likelihood of spread compared to sports with fewer team members, so the Task Force advises that the teams be of smaller size, strictly following a social distance of 2 meters apart while playing and with no contact.  The Task Force reminds all players to maintain a high level of precautionary measures, like washing your hands before and after play, avoiding high fives, handshakes, fist bumps or hugs, covering your coughs and sneezes and not spitting.  At this time NO spectators are allowed. 

COVID-19 Vaccines – Community members may have been following the news on the COVID-19 vaccines and efforts being taken by different countries, including the Government of Thailand’s strategies for procuring and locally manufacturing them in the country.  While it is still early in terms of when vaccines might be available for the general population, AIT has already started researching the possibility of vaccines for the entire community, and we will provide updates when there are new developments in this regard.

Please stay updated on news from the Government of Thailand and other updates from the AIT COVID-19 Task Force and the Intranet, as the situation is very fluid.  Policies will be changing all the time to fit the developing circumstances.  We want you to know that AIT takes strict measures to protect our community, and all of us now need to be very vigilant and cooperative to keep our community and our campus safe during this Second Wave.

AIT COVID-19 Task Force

 

2) Webinar 4 | Facing Uncertainty in Water Management: From Urban Water Supply to Agriculture

Friday, 22 January 2021; 12:00-13:30 UTC / 13:00-14:30 CET

Registration link - https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vyK1AZ5MTFOtBj37I5spjQ 

More information is in the attached webinar flyer. Alternatively, please visit the websites:

• UNESCO page - https://en.unesco.org/news/adaptation-age-uncertainty-tools-climate-resi...

• AGWA page - https://www.alliance4water.org/events/facing-uncertainty-in-water-manage...

 

 

3) Upcoming AIT Roadshow Live Webinars for the month of January 2021

4) Library orientation for new students

Email from AIT Library on 11 January 2021.

AIT Library would like to invite all new students to attend the Library Orientation via zoom during 18 - 22 January 2021. Please register for one of the sessions below.

• Morning session: 10 - 11 AM

• Afternoon session: 2 - 3 PM

Topics include the following:

• Library hours, rules and regulations

• Library resources, facilities, and services

• Finding Library materials

• Finding journal articles and other online resources

• Accessing online resources from off-campus

Register: library@ait.ac.th 

An invitation to the Zoom meeting will be emailed to you after registration. 

If you can not join the scheduled sessions, please register for an individual orientation at your convenience.

We look forward to welcoming you to the orientation.  

AIT Library 

Web Site: http://library.ait.ac.th

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

 

5) 2021 AIA Insurance Medical Cards are now available

Email from the Office of Human Resources Services on 8 January 2021. 

Dear AIA Medical Insurance Policy Holders, 

Please be informed that the new AIA medical insurance cards are now available. Please collect it at the Office of Human Resources Services during office hours. 

Important reminders: 

•If you are a foreigner, please provide your passport and your AIA medical insurance card to the hospital reception staff before seeing a doctor.

•If you are a Thai person, please provide your Thai identification card. 

•You can also use the AIA cardless or eCard system (attached is the manual for your easy reference).

•Laboratory coverage is up to a maximum of Baht 5,000. To claim your reimbursement for your laboratory expenses, please submit to OHRS the original receipt and the medical certificate.

•For consultations/hospitalizations in a non-network hospitals, please pay the bill first then submit the original receipt and medical certificate to OHRS to process the reimbursement. 

•Medical reimbursement is valid only within 90 days from the date of the consultation/discharge, otherwise, AIA will not process the reimbursement.

The AIA handbook and the list of AIA network hospitals can be found on the HRIS. Please click "About the Medical Plan". 

If you or your dependents have recently changed your passport number, please contact Khun Jirada immediately by email at jirada@ait.ac.th.  

 

6) Thai courses

Email from AIT Language Center on 6 January 2021 

Dear AIT Community

The Language Center is pleased to announce the opening of Thai courses (online via ZOOM). If you are interested, please click the link below to register and email proof of payment to us via languages@ait.asia before January 21st to confirm your attendance. 

•Listening and Speaking Level 1

oGroup 1: 25 January – 10 March 2021, Monday and Wednesday from 17:00 to 18:30  [click here to register]

oGroup 2: 26 January – 11 March 2021, Tuesday and Thursday from 18:30 to 20:00 [click here to register]

•Reading and Writing Level 1

oGroup 1: 25 January – 10 March 2021, Monday and Wednesday from 18:30 to 20:00 [click here to register]

oGroup 2: 26 January – 11 March 2021, Tuesday and Thursday from 17:00 to 18:30  [click here to register]

Course Fee: 2,500 baht (AIT community) and 3,000 baht (outsider)

PAYMENT PROCESS 

1) PAY AT THE AIT CASHIER

•Provide your name, ID number and cash to the Cashier.

2) PAY BY BANK TRANSFER

•Account Name: ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Current Account number: 468-046301-2

Saving account number: 405-999567-0

•Bank Name: Siam Commercial Bank Pcl., Ltd.

•Bank Branch: Thammasat University Hospital

•Branch Address: 95 Moo 8, Klong Nueng, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120 Thailand

•Swift Code: SICOTHBK

•Message to Beneficiary: Japanese course

You must pay for any service charge or transaction fee separately.

3) PAY BY CREDIT CARD

click here to pay by credit card

The Language Center

http://www.languages.ait.ac.th

 

Training Courses/ Conferences

1) 100 Innovations x Entrepreneurs : What Drives the Future?

WHAT DRIVES THE FUTURE?

The first 100 Innovations x Entrepreneurs (100X) event was organized by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in 2019 as Southeast Asia’s first Research-to-Commercial conference to bridge the gap between academia and industry. The event also served as the venue to launch AIT’s Entrepreneurship Center, a breeding ground for future business leaders as well as a learning center with the ultimate goal of enhancing economic and social development. As our signature annual event, this year also AIT is organizing the second 100X in a new normal hybrid mode, a combination of online and in-person to also reach out to more people from different parts of the world. The theme for this event is What Drives the Future with a mindset to rethink our future by focusing on how we can improve the basic human needs such as Food, WellBeing, Living, Education, and Communication in context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).We believe that collaboration among different stakeholders: University, Industry, Government, and Civil Society is the key to safeguard our future and each stakeholder has a critical role to play in achieving the SDGs. Through this event, AIT, as one of the stakeholders, is reaching out to the Government, Industry and Civil Society to collaborate with us as co-organizer, partner, and participants.

More details:

100 Innovations X Entrepreneurs (ait.ac.th)

 

2) Online training course on "Connect Learning with Monitoring and Evaluation: A Strategy for Project M&E in Current COVID-19 Pandemic"

Date: 26 April - 13 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

 

D. Classified (jobs)