WEEK #44, 2 - 8 November 2015
In this issue:
News and Notes from Management Team
News and Notes form the AIT Management Team
Confirmed AIT Management Notes: 16 October 2015
The confirmed notes of the 16 October 2015 meeting of the AIT Management are now Intranet-published at http://www.ait.ac.th/management/aitmt-notes
Confirmed AIT Management Notes: 29 October 2015
The confirmed notes of the 29 October 2015 meeting of the AIT Management are now Intranet-published at: http://www.ait.ac.th/management/aitmt-notes
Thailand Coronation Day on May 5, 2016 is an official AIT holiday
The Management Team has agreed to designate Thailand’s Coronation Day on May 5, 2016 as an official AIT Holiday next year. This was made possible by removing Buddhist Lent Day (July 20, 2016), which is no longer an official holiday for AIT.
Library to Open in April 2016
The ground floor of the library is planned to open in April 2016. Currently the second floor is fully accessible to all. Plans will be made to accommodate students studying for their mid-semester exams in February / March 2016, by opening study areas in the AITCC.
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Announcements
Employee Provident Fund Members can contribute up to 15% of monthly base salary, starting December 1, 2015
Based on the new regulation, effective 1 December 2015, Provident Fund (PF) contribution for employees can be adjusted up to a maximum of 15% of the base salary (Range is from 3-15%). Employer contribution remains the same.
For PF members who would like to increase their contribution, please fill up the form at HRO and return it to HRO.
Faculty Making the News
'When Robots Rule the World': AIT faculty members Dr. Manukid Parnichkun and Dr. Mongkol Ekpanyapong were the subject of a feature article published in the Bangkok Post’s SPECTRUM special features section on November 1-7, 2015. The article highlighted their work on robotics.
READ: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/special-reports/750012/when-robots-rule-the-world
'WELCOME SHOW 2015' -- 7 November 2015
The AIT Student Union Culture and Gender Committee invites you to its "Welcome Show' for the August 2015 Semester. All are welcome.
The Welcome Show will celebrate the arrival our new students as well as the special cultural diversity found at AIT.
Date: Saturday, 7 November 2015
Time: 5pm -- 10.45pm.
Venue: AITCC Auditorium
Admission: Free
Don't this special evening of entertaining song, dance, drama and cultural display as performed by AIT's own talented students!
AIT Newsletter: November 2015
The November 2015 edition of the monthly newsletter of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has been released and can be downloaded from: http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/enewsletter/2015/pdf/AIT.Newsletter.November.2015.pdf/
RTG Fellowship available for January 2016 Semester
Please be informed that RTG fellowship will be available for January 2016 semester; however, each applicant will be granted only 12 credits (25%) RTG fellowship to cover the semester of January 2016. If an applicant needs to be offered more than 12 credits, the excess credits over the first 12 credits must be covered by AIT fellowships under the respective school budget. This will be applied to all schools and we have about 50 @ 12credits altogether to be used up in January. Any amount unused has to be returned to RTG.
Grant opportunities from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is inviting applications that address specific challenges defined in the grant programs below. For details and application instructions, please visit the new Grand Challenges website. Please note that descriptions of the challenges are available on the website in Chinese, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
1) Grand Challenges Explorations is seeking innovative global health and development solutions and is now accepting proposals for its latest application round. Applicants can be at any experience level; in any discipline; and from any organization, including colleges and universities, government laboratories, research institutions, non-profit organizations, and for-profit companies. Initial grants will be US $100,000 each, and projects showing promise will have the opportunity to receive additional funding of up to US $1 million.
Proposals are being accepted online until November 11, 2015 for the following challenges:
• Novel Approaches to Characterizing and Tracking the Global Burden of Antimicrobial Resistance
• Explore New Solutions in Global Health Priority Areas
Addressing Newborn and Infant Gut Health Through Bacteriophage-Mediated Microbiome Engineering
• Explore New Ways to Measure Delivery and Use of Digital Financial Services Data
2) New Interventions for Global Health: Vaccine Manufacturing. This challenge focuses on innovations in vaccine manufacturing platforms designed to lower production cost for vaccines that target diseases of great global burden and that are among the most costly to produce with current technologies.
Letters of Intent will be accepted until November 5, 2015.
3) The Global Innovation Fund is accepting application on a rolling basis. Please visit the website for more information http://globalinnovation.fund/apply-to-gif
4) An Interactive Biostatistics Course will be held from 16-20 November 2015 at the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for TB and HIV (K-RITH), based at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine in Durban, South Africa. The primary goal of this course is to give participants an overview of the various bio statistical methods used in medical research so that they can both employ these techniques in their own research and better understand the results presented in medical literature. Lori Chibnik, PhD, MPH, a Biostatistician at Harvard University, will run an inspiring and hands-on training course on biostatistics where students will work with data from their own projects to understand basic statistical concepts and methods used in medical research. Travel Scholarships are available to allow trainees for across Africa to attend. For more information and to apply please visit www.k-rith.org. Deadline for applications: 1 October 2015.
5) In addition, the African Academy of Sciences and the New Partnership for African Development have launched Grand Challenges Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. This program joins others within the Grand Challenges family of grant programs supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and its partners. Grand Challenges Africa will build on the global success of Grand Challenges programs in India, Brazil, and South Africa, as well as the strong base of Africa Grand Challenges grantees already funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, and USAID. Please read our latest blogs including one from the Global Health President. For more information please visit AAS.
Furthermore, as a forum for sharing ideas, pursuing new opportunities and keeping abreast of new developments in the field of global health, The Gates Foundation together with Grand Challenges Canada has set-up a LinkedIn group. All you need to join is a free LinkedIn account - go to Global Health Innovations and click “Join”.
We look forward to receiving innovative ideas from around the world and from all disciplines. If you have a great idea, please apply. If you know someone else who may have a great idea, please forward this message.
Thank you for your commitment to solving the world's greatest health and development challenges.
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives.
Interested persons please visit: www.grandchallenges.org
ABU Asia Pacific Robot Contest
Thailand will host ABU Asia Pacific Robot Contest next year under the theme “Clean Energy Recharging the World,” organized by Thailand’s Channel 9 (MCOT)
The contest’s rules were announced on 23 August 2015 in Indonesia. The rules are specified by an academic committee chaired by Dr. Manukid Parnichkun of Mechatronics Program, School of Engineering and Technology.
Please see the contest introduction VDO from the following links:
https://player.vimeo.com/video/137036433
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-AhJHUBuNk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Ma9yKFsjY
Further information is available at: www.aburobocon2016.com
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Campus Updates
Bangchak Scholarships Awarding Ceremony
On 2 November 2015, a ‘Bangchak Scholarships Awarding Ceremony’ was held at Bangchak Petroleum Public Company Head Office. Two scholarships were awarded to the following students: Mr. Danupol Wetchasirikul, Energy FoS, School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) and Ms. Nattaphan Suksri, Environmental Engineering and Management FoS, SERD.
Associate Prof. Dr. Weerakorn Ongsakul, Ms. Chalita Lertwinyu, Assistant to the President, and Dr. Tenzin Rabgyal, Coordinator, Admission and Scholarships Officer representatives from AIT attending the ceremony.
December 31, 2015 closing announcement
The following is guideline to cut off 2015 transactions for payment, payroll, purchasing, invoicing to third parties and internal charges. This is to ensure 2015 transactions are completely recorded in this year and not to be recorded in 2016 which will not comply with Accounting standard and will not be accepted by AIT’s external Auditors.
Please strictly follow to the following guideline.
1) 2015 Payments cut off
· Schools and units need to ensure that all “approved” Payment Requests/ Cash Payment Summary with attached supplier invoices/receipts (date within 2015) will reach Finance Office by 24 December 2015.
· Please avoid any delay submission of the above documents since Finance has deadline to close the yearly account. Delay submission means your request for payment will not be able to charge to 2015 budget.
2) Payroll
· Overtime cut off is 16 December.
· Actual overtime up to the cut-off date plus estimation of overtime for the remaining weeks up to 31December 2015 must reach Finance Office by 16th of December 2015 for reserving in 2015 account.
· Fail to submit estimated overtime within the deadline means there will no budget in 2015 to reserve for the overtime payment.
3) Purchase Requisition (PR) and Purchase Orders (PO)
Before issuing Purchase Requisition and Purchase Order in December 2015, please check whether works/services can be delivered/completed within the year 2015 or not. If yes, Purchase Requisition must be approved before 11 December 2015 and all Purchase Orders must be approved before 18 December 2015.
Any work/service which cannot be completed within 2015, Purchase Requisition and Purchase Order must be issued in 2016 and will be charged to 2016 budget. External Auditor will not accept to record these transactions in 2015 except only goods/ work services which delivered /completed within 2015.
For materials/ services completed in 2015, please ask suppliers for Suppliers’ invoices and submit to Finance office by December 31 for charging to 2015 account.
Note: There are repeated misunderstanding every year that by placing Purchasing Requisition (PR) or Purchase Order (PO) in 2015 is sufficient to utilize the 2015 budget. Please be informed that if there are no goods delivered to AIT or any work service done within 2015, it has to be charged to 2016 budget.
4) Settlement of outstanding Promissory Note and RTA
Please settle your Promissory note and RTA within 24 December 2015.
5) Invoicing Income
· Schools/Units are requested to submit all billing requests pertaining to work/services performed for third parties in 2015 (e.g. fees recoverable from donors, income due from project sponsors) to Finance Office by 24 December 2015.
6) Internal Charges
· All Units which have authority to update Internal Charges through ERP must ensure that the charges of 2015 have been completely updated by 24 December 2015. Units which do not have the authority must submit the Internal Charge Form to Finance Office by 24 December 2015.
Other issue
7) Sponsored Projects under Fund 30
Schools/cost centers to ensure Form E has been completely issued for all closing projects within 2015. Please also provide the list of the completed projects (both Academic and non-Academic projects) to Finance office. Khun Vandee , Finance officer, will contact schools/units for the list.
For further enquiries please contact
· Ms. Orawan Kosaipolkul, Senior Accounting Manager Ext # 6346
· Ms. Chirapar, Finance Manager Ext # 6342 (for Payment)
· Ms Pakkamol, Head, Procurement Office Ext # 5029 (for Purchase Requisition and Purchase Order)
Request for Information: Fulbright Alumni
In early November a delegation from the Institute of International Education (IIE) will visit AIT to explore possible areas of collaboration. IIE is interested to know if there are any Fulbright Alumni among the AIT Faculty and Staff.
As External Relations and Communications Office (ERCO) will coordinating the visit of IIE, the Fulbright Alumni are requested to contact Dr. Gabrielle Groves Punyaratabandhu, Head of ERCO, tel. 0-2524-6024 or email: gabrielle@ait.asia , head-erco@ait.asia , and provide the following details:
1. Full Name
2. Current Position at AIT
3. Fulbright Alumni at which Institution and dates
Dr. Groves Punyaratabandhu will follow up directly with you about your possible interest in participating in a meeting with the delegation.
Reading and Writing Chinese Course
The AIT Language Center is pleased to announce the Reading and Writing Chinese for Beginners.
Reading and Writing Chinese for Beginners
3rd November – 9th December 2015 (12 lessons)
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 16:30 - 18:00
There is a discount fee for this course with only 750 baht due to kind support from the Chinese Government through the Confucius Institute (no refunds).
Interested persons please register at the Room 216, Language Center.
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Events
Internationalization of Higher Education and its impact on Developing Countries: The Indian Experience
An Institute-wide lecture on “Internationalization of Higher Education and its impact on Developing Countries: The Indian Experience” will be delivered by Dr. P. J. Lavakare, Senior Adviser in India, Institute of International Education (IIE-US) on 11 November 2015 from 1500-1630 hours in Room 108, AIT Conference Center.
Distinguished Adjunct Faculty (DAF) Seminar: “SUSTAINABLE STORAGE DAMS AND EARTHQUAKE SAFETY OF DAMS”
The third Distinguished Adjunct Faculty (DAF) Seminar titled “Sustainable storage dams and earthquake safety of dams” will be delivered by Dr. Martin Wieland on 6 November 2015 from 13:00 - 15:00 hrs. at Room B108, AIT Conference Center. All are welcome to attend.
For further information on Dr. Martin Wieland's BIO/CV:
https://drive.google.com/a/ait.asia/file/d/0B1nvgYGHq9lLNUFqY2lhcVV4d1k/view?pli=1
Human Resource and Customer Relationship Management
AIT Extension is organizing a training program for 10 participants from Bhutan Power Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) in Thimphu, Bhutan from 2 – 13 November 2015.
About BPCL:
This company was launched as a public utility on the 1 July 2002 with the mandate of distributing electricity throughout the Country and also providing transmission access for generating stations for domestic supply as well as export. The company also has collaborations with Energy Field of Study under the School of Environment Resources and Development (SERD) at AIT.
Professional development program on Design, Construction, Maintenance and Trouble-shooting of Gas Measurement Instruments
AIT Extension is organizing a training program for 24 officials from the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Petrobangla, Bangladesh Gas Fields Limited (BGFCL) and Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited (JGTDSL) in Bali and Surabaya, Indonesia from 3 – 16 November 2015.
About BGFCL:
This company derives its origin from Pakistan Shell Oil Company, which was formed in Karachi, Pakistan on May 30, 1956. With emergence of Bangladesh and promulgation of Petroleum Act in 1974 the Government of Bangladesh bought all the shares of the Pakistan Shell Oil Company. The company, then, was renamed as Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Ltd. (BGFCL).
About JGTDSL:
This company was formed under the company Act. And it has been playing an important role since its inception in reducing dependency on imported fuel, saving of foreign currency and maintenance of ecological balance through construction of pipeline, installation and maintenance of related facilities to ensure uninterrupted transmission and distribution of gas throughout the franchise area.
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems and Aquaponics
A training camp on “Recirculating Aquaculture Systems and Aquaponics: Design, Engineering, Operation and Management” will be organized by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) from 9 – 13 November 2015.
Led by the Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management (AARM) field of study at AIT’s School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD), the program focuses on various scenarios of Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) and Aquaponics.
Contact:
Dr. Krishna R. Salin
Course Director
Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management (AARM)
Asian Institute of Technology
PO Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120 Thailand
Email: salinkr@ait.ac.th or salinkr@hotmail.com
Mobile: +66 888 469664 Office: +66 2 524 5452 (Dir.) +66 2 524 5489 (Sec.)
More details: http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/2015/events/ait-ras-aquaponics-workshop-9-13-november-2015.pdf
DPMM Seminars for Asia Pacific Initiative for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance
Disaster Preparedness Mitigation and Management (DPMM) program shall be conducting a seminar series from August-December 2015 as a part of the Asia Pacific Initiative for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance. The seminars will be delivered from JICA Room, Second Floor, School of Engineering and Technology (SET).
To reserve a seat, kindly contact
Email: dpmm@ait.asia , dpmm.ait@gmail.com
Website: www.dpmm.ait.asia
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DPMM.AIT
See more details: http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/2015/events/dpmm-seminars-for-asia-pacific-initiative-for-disaster-management-and-humanitarian-assistance/#.Ve-rSMv-IdV
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Visitors
• Delegation from Jonkoping University, Sweden, led by Dr. Anita Hansbo, President of Jonkoping University / 2 November 2015 / To focus on future common research and students exchange at Master’s and Doctoral levels.
• Delegation from Technological University (Thanlyin) and Technological University (Hmawbi), Yangon, Myanmar, led by Dr. Kay Thi Lwin, Rector of TU / 4 November 2015 / To learn about AIT and possible areas of collaboration.
• Delegation from IDEA Consultant Inc., Japan led by Mr. Hideo Tabata, Chairman and CEO / 6 November 2015 / To have a courtesy call for checking space availability for IDEA laboratory at AIT.
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Faculty and Staff Travel
Dr. Peeyush Soni / Phnom Penh, Cambodia / 16 – 19 October 2015*
Mr. Osamu Mizuno / Jakarta, Indonesia / 18 – 21 October 2015*
Dr. B. H. W. Hadikusumo / Myanmar / 21 – 24 October 2015*
Dr. Didin Agustian Permadi / Bandung and West Sumatra, Indonesia / 22 – 27 October 2015*
Ms. Liang Li / Beijing, China / 23 October – 1 November 2015*
Dr. Nagai Masahiko / Yangon, Myanmar / 25 – 27 October 2015*
Dr. Firman Hadi Darodji / Semarang, Indonesia / 25 – 30 October 2015*
Mr. Sasaka Lanka Madawalagama / Semarang, Indonesia / 25 – 30 October 2015*
Dr. Vilas Nitivattananon / Beijing, People's Republic of China / 26 – 29 October 2015*
Mr. Osamu Mizuno / Beijing, People's Republic of China & Haneda, Japan / 26 October – 1 November 2015*
Dr. Vatcharaporn Esichaikul / Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / 27 – 29 October 2015*
Dr. Manzul K. Hazarika / Jakarta, Semarang, Denpasar, Indonesia / 27 – 30 October 2015*
Dr. Lal Samarakoon / Hanoi, Vietnam / 28 – 30 October 2015*
Dr. Jagath K. Rajapaksha / Hanoi, Vietnam / 28 – 30 October 2015*
Ms. Anyamanee Onsomkrit / Hanoi, Vietnam / 28 – 30 October 2015*
Mr. Syams Nashrrullah / Hanoi, Vietnam / 28 – 30 October 2015*
Ms. Vaidehi Deosthali / Chonburi Province, Thailand / 28 – 31 October 2015*
Ms. Woralac Rodsumang / Chonburi Province, Thailand / 28 – 31 October 2015*
Dr. Djoen San Santoso / Myanmar / 29 – 30 October 2015*
Dr. K. R. Salin / Salzburg, Austria / 29 October – 2 November 2015*
Dr. Surachet Pravinvongvuth / Colombo, Sri Lanka / 30 October -2 November 2015
Ms. Chotiros Mongkolchotirat / Colombo, Sri Lanka / 30 October – 2 November 2015
Ms. Worawan Sumroetrum / Chonburi Province, Thailand / 31 October – 1 November 2015*
Ms. Parichad Nuntavong / Chonburi Province, Thailand / 31 October – 1 November 2015*
Dr. Chotchai Charoenngam / Vietnam / 31 October – 8 November 2015
Prof. Mukand Singh Babel / Cologne, Germany / 1 – 8 November 2015
Dr. Vatcharaporn Esichaikul / Mandalay, Myanmar / 2 – 4 November 2015
Dr. Matthew Dailey / Mandalay, Myanmar / 2 – 4 November 2015
Mr. Miltesh Vishwas Sawant / Surin and Sisakate Province, Thailand / 2 – 6 November 2015
Dr. Shobhakar Dhakal / New Delhi, India / 3 – 6 November 2015
Ms. Anyamanee Onsomkrit / Thimphu, Bhutan / 3 – 7 November 2015
Mr. Syams Nashrrullah / Thimphu, Bhutan / 3 – 7 November 2015
Dr. Manzul K. Hazarika / Thimphu, Bhutan /4 – 6 November 2015
Prof. C. Visvanathan / Colombo & Peradeniya, Sri Lanka / 4 – 7 November 2015
Mr. Upul K. Brahmanage / Colombo Sri Lanka / 4 – 8 November 2015
Dr. Rajendra P. Shrestha, Dr. Nicolas Faysse, Dr. Harminder Pal Singh, Mr. Nikorn Asakati and NRM students, NRM/SERD / Chonburi Province, Chachoengsao Province, Nakhon Nayok Province, Nokhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand / 5 – 7 November 2015
Dr. Punchet Thammarak / Sydney, Australia / 5 – 9 November 2015
Prof. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh / Australia / 6 – 14 November 2015
Dr. Avishek Datta / Dhaka, Bangladesh / 7 – 12 November 2015
Dr. Suthasinee Artidteang / Fukuoka, Japan / 7 – 18 November 2015
Ms. Hiromi Inagaki / Hanoi, Viet Nam / 8 – 12 November 2015
Prof. Rajendra P. Shrestha / Rome, Italy / 8 – 13 November 2015
Mr. Voravate Chonlasin / Vientiane, Lao PDR / 8 – 13 November 2015
Ms. Warindhorn Wachirasiri / Vientiane, Lao PDR / 8 – 13 November 2015
Ms. Narumon Wangnai / Vientiane, Lao PDR / 8 – 13 November 2015
Dr. P. Abdul Salam / Copenhagen, Denmark / 8 – 13 November 2015
* (Staff or faculty member travelled and returned to AIT prior to documentation received for publication)
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Classified Jobs
Assistant or Associate Professor Position (School of Engineering & Technology)
Ref. No. 8/15
Deadline: 8 November 2015
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/340
Administrative Secretary (President's Office)
Ref. No. 55/15
Deadeline: 13 November 2015
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/348
Head, Climate Change Cluster (Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific)
Ref. No. 54/15
Deadline: 15 November 2015
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/347
Facilities Officer (OFAM) (Office of Facilities and Assets Management)
Ref. No. 53/15
Deadline: 30 November 2015
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/346
Assistant or Associate Professors Positions (School of Management)
Ref. Fac 5/15
Deadline: 31 December 2015
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/309
Assistant or Associate Professor, SERD (School of Environment, Resources & Development)
Ref. No: Fac 4/15
Deadline: 15 Jan 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/304