WEEK #51: 18 – 24 December 2017
In this issue:
(i) MY EYE-OPENING LECTURE AT ROYAL SOCIETY OF THAILAND (PART 1)
Message from President: 13 Dec. 2017
Part 1. The Exponential Growth of Technological Change
13 December 2017
I was so excited for a chance to share with my fellow members of the Royal Society of Thailand (RST) on some pretty intense development that is happening in the world today and in the near future. This is exactly a topic that I have dug into during the last 2 years while I was searching a future for the soon-to-be-disrupted higher education. It hit me pretty quickly that the current exponential growth of technology leading to AI Revolution is not just an important topic, but by far the most important topic for our future. So I really don’t want my friends to miss this eye-opening story.
Three decades ago, I brought with me to AIT the first Apple II microcomputer from the US to explore the possibility of running a Finite Element Program on its tiny brain. At that time, no one envisioned a serious need to own a personal computer. A decade ago, smartphones didn’t exist. Today over half of the world’s population own smartphones and have access to broadband internet services.
We’re only 17 years into the 21st century and the progress has been pretty stunning. It appears that technology is progressing faster than ever. This is an exponential growth based on Moore’s Law that the computing power will double every two years. The well-known futurist and Google’s Director of Engineering, Ray Kurzweil explained why technology progresses exponentially — because we can use the latest technology to develop the next.
Kurzweil has had a high-hitting track record for accurate predictions. Of his 147 predictions since the 1990s, Kurzweil claims an 86 percent accuracy rate. Recently on Oct 5, 2017 at the SXSW Conference in Texas, Ray Kurzweil made yet another prediction: “2029 is when an AI will achieve human levels of intelligence.” He also set 2045 as the year we reach the ‘Singularity’ when human’s intelligence can be enhanced a billion fold by merging with the AI.
(ii) Farewell Message
Email from SU President: 14 Dec. 2017
Dear AITians,
Warm Greetings from the Student Union, the semester has come to an end. First of all, I would like to congratulate all the graduates for the successful completion of your degree. It is the big day we have been living for. Yet, it is not the end but the new beginning towards the next goals, to your dreams.
Same as the semester, the Student Union team of August 2017 has done its part for AIT. It has been an invaluable memory and experience of 9 months of planning and working since I had become SU Vice President. The great privilege of becoming the representative of more than 2000 students from all around the world, was indeed an out of the world feeling, and responsibility too.
I would like to thank the students and the AIT Community, staffs and faculties for making our all events successful. Had it not been you, the SU would have no meaning. A student's concern, need and involvement was and will always be a SU Team's primary objective. We tried to deliver our best by organizing activities to bring the students together.
I would like to also thank AIT Administration and OFAM for their continuous support towards the students and SU. We have had many new events and initiations, yet they have never failed to serve the community with willing hearts.
Throughout all these months, the volunteers have been giving their time & sweat for the SU, I would like to thank them from the deepest corner of my heart. If it was not them, any activity would not have been possible. A big thank you from each and every member of the team.
One very important set of people that if I don't thank, would be a crime, are the SU Team members. The SU Team was on full swing the entire semester running around to give you the max. I would sincerely thank them and wish that in future if I have to work in a team, it be with people like them, friendly and hard working. Thank you and Congratulations to the SU Team.
I would like to turn over the tenure to Mr. Ashok Lamichanne from this very moment, your new SU President and wish him for a very successful and effective tenure.
Thanks once again for believing in me, for electing me to be your representative and today I am not proud that I was a SU President but I am proud that I could be a representative of more than 2000 students from across the world and to serve you.
Wishing you and your family a great holiday!
Best Regards,
Sudheer Yadav,
SU President, AIT
(iii) AIT Official Holiday 2018
Email from Office of Human Resources Services: 23 Nov. 2017
AIT Management Team has approved AIT Official Holiday 2018 as follows:
January
1 Mon New Year's Day
March
1 Thu Makha Bucha Day
April
6 Fri Chakri Memorial Day
13 Fri Songkran Festival
16 Mon Substitute for Songkran Festival
May
1 Tue National Labor Day
29 Tue Visakha Bucha Day
July
27 Fri Asalaha Bucha Day
30 Mon Substitute for H.M. the King's Birthday
August
13 Mon Substitute for H.M. the King's Mother Birthday
October
15 Mon Substitute for H.M. late King Bhumibol Memorial Day
23 Tue Chulalongkorn Memorial Day
December
5 Wed Birthday Anniversary of H. M. late King's Bhumibol
25 Tue Year-End Break
26 Wed Year-End Break
27 Thu Year-End Break
28 Fri Year-End Break
29 Sat Year-End Break
30 Sun Year-End Break
31 Mon Year-End Break
(iv) Survey on Auxiliary Services Concessionaires
Email from Auxiliary Services: 14 Dec. 2017
Dear AIT Community,
To facilitate on how effective the services provided by Auxiliary Services Concessionaries, we are requesting the community to express their views on how these services were conducted by participating in the survey. Please note that this would also help us to correct and improve their performance to serve in a better way.
Thus survey link,
https://goo.gl/forms/595Tc1n9WMBqsaqZ2
For those of you who assist us with this survey, as a gesture of thanks, there will be a raffle draw (winner to be announced later) and prizes at stake as follows:
1st Price = 2 (Two) Power Bank (eloop 11000 mAh)
2nd Price = 2 (Two) Bluetooth Speaker
3rd Price = 2 (One) 64 GB Thumb Drive
4th Price = 3 (One) 32 GB Thumb Drive
Consolation Price = 10 (Ten) Beverage Coupon for 2 persons valued at 65.00 Baht each at Hom Krun Coffee
Survey has started from 14 December until 31 December 2017.
(v) Student contest: The Trail by VINCI Construction
Email from AIT Solutions: 22 Nov. 2017
We are delighted to announce the launch of a student contest The Trail by VINCI Construction “Imagine tomorrow's construction industry.”
Innovate in one of these three fields:
· The construction site of the future
· Sustainable construction and resilience
· Cities above and under cities
This competition has 2 phases:
Part 1: an online challenge on Agorize platform to attract students and where they can submit their innovative projects “Imagine the construction industry of tomorrow”
Part 2: an outdoors sports challenge to take place in Annecy, France
Timeline:
Online Challenge (Ideation): 20 Nov 2017 - 18 Mar 2018
Voting: 20 Mar 2018 - 03 Apr 2018
Local awards: 04 Apr 2018 - 04 May 2018
The local ceremony for Asia will be organized in Singapore and will gather the 3 best Asian teams.
Please check out the website for more information:
https://www.agorize.com/en/challenges/thetrail
If you are interested to join, let Innovation Lab [ilab] help you. You can send us your presentation before you submit online and our experts can give you feedback. Kindly send to ilab.solutions@ait.asia
(vi) December 31, 2017 closing announcement
Email from Finance Department: 7 Nov. 2017
To ensure that AIT completely record the 2017 transactions in this year and not delay to 2018, please strictly follow the guidelines:
1) 2017 Payments cut off
● All “approved” 2017 Payment Requests/ Cash Payment Summary with attached supplier invoices/receipts (dated within 2017) should be received by Finance Office by 22nd December 2017.
● 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 2017 budget and neither to 2018.
2) Payroll
● Overtime cut off is 13th December.
● Actual overtime up to the cut-off date plus estimation of overtime for the remaining weeks up to 31st December 2017 must reach Finance Office by 13th of December 2017 for reserving in 2017 account.
● Failure to submit estimated overtime within the deadline means there will be no budget to pay the overtime.
3) Purchase Requisition (PR) and Purchase Orders (PO)
Before issuing Purchase Requisition and Purchase Order in December 2017, please check whether works/services can be delivered/completed within the year 2017 or not. If yes, Purchase Requisition must be approved before 13th December 2017 and all Purchase Orders must be approved before 19th December 2017.
Any work/service which cannot be completed within 2017, Purchase Requisition and Purchase Order must be issued in 2018 and will be charged to 2018 budget. External Auditor will not accept to record goods /services delivered in 2018 in the year 2017.
For materials/ services to be delivered in 2017, please request suppliers to submit their Suppliers’ invoices to Finance office by December 31 for recording in 2017 account.
Note: There is a frequent misunderstanding that by placing Purchasing Requisition (PR) or Purchase Order (PO) in 2017, it is sufficient to utilize the 2017 budget. This is not possible unless goods/services are delivered in 2017, not 2018.
4) Settlement of outstanding Promissory Note and RTA
Please settle your Promissory note and RTA within 22nd December 2017.
5) Invoicing Income
● Schools/Units are requested to submit all billing requests pertaining to work/services performed for third parties in 2017 (e.g. fees recoverable from donors, income due from project sponsors) to Finance Office by 22nd December 2017.
6) Internal Charges
● All Units which have authority to update Internal Charges through ERP must ensure that the charges of 2017 have been completely updated by 22nd December 2017. Units which do not have the authority must submit the Internal Charge Form to Finance Office by 22nd December 2017.
Other issue
7) Sponsored Projects under Fund 30
Schools/cost centers to ensure Form E has been completely issued for all closing projects within 2017. Please also provide the list of the completed projects (both Academic and non-Academic projects) to Finance office. Khun Vandee, Administrative Staff, 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, Director, Procurement, Inventory and Assets Ext # 5029 (for Purchase Requisition and Purchase Order)
We again would like to ask for your help. The next visit for blood donation is scheduled on Wednesday, 6th December 2017, 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.
On behalf of needy patients whose lives you may save, we would like to thank you very much for your time and support.
(i) LECTURES / SEMINARS / CONFERENCES
(a) Talk on Opportunities in Oulu, Finland: 19 Dec. 2017
Talk by Hanna Saarela, Development Manager, Centre for Wireless Communication, University of Oulu
Topic: Opportunities in Oulu, Finland
Where: Room CS106, Computer Science and Information Management (CSIM) Building
When: 13:30 – 14:30 hours
Date: 19 December 2017 (Tuesday)
Oulu, Finland with an inspiring academic atmosphere and strong ICT ecosystem is the ideal location for pursuing Master’s and Doctoral studies in Europe. Get a glimpse of the study options in wireless communications, life of an active international community, changing seasons, large variety of leisure activities and benefits for families, among others, with the introduction by Ms. Hanna Saarela, Development Manager at the Centre for Wireless Communications (CWC), University of Oulu, Finland. With the launch of the novel international Double Degree Master’s Programme in Wireless Communications Engineering in 2018, students will graduate with two diplomas - one from AIT and one from the University of Oulu. The presentation and discussions are open for all and given in a Finnish seasonal setting. There is also a lottery to celebrate Finland’s 100th anniversary of independence and Christmas. Welcome!
• Delegation from University of Oulu, Finland, led by Ms. Hanna Saarela, Development Manager of Centre for Wireless Communications / 19 Dec. 2017 / to have a meeting to discuss about the collaboration and double degree program with AIT.
(i) New AITCC Annex & renovation of car park near Arcade
A new AITCC Annex building will be constructed opposite to AIT swimming Pool/AIT Solutions. The construction work will start from 1 October 2017 and expected to be completed by April 2018. To prepare the area for construction, the car park area opposite to swimming pool/AIT Solutions will be demolished partially and a new sewage line will be laid from Arcade area.
During the process of this work, the area will be barricaded and there might be some disturbance as well as noise.
Please be also informed that currently partial section of car park area opposite to Arcade is being renovated. It may take a week to complete the work and the area will be closed.
Ms. Neha Thapa / Kathmandu, Nepal / 9 – 16 October 2017*
Dr. Peeyush Soni / Bayuwangi, Jakarta-Jember-Indonesia / 8 – 11 November 2017*
Prof. Lawrence Stephen Abeln / Hanoi, Vietnam / 30 November – 3 December 2017*
Dr. Manzul K. Hazarika / Jakarta, Indonesia / 3 – 6 December 2017*
Dr. P. Abdul Salam / Da Nang, Vietnam / 6 – 8 December 2017*
Mr. Tharakorn Chanlapa / Chonburi, Thailand / 7 – 9 December 2017*
Prof. Lawrence Stephen Abeln / Yangon, Myanmar / 7 – 12 December 2017*
Dr. B.H.W. hadikusumo / Vietnam / 8 – 11 December 2017*
Ms. Woranuch Chumchat / Myanmar / 9 – 11 December 2017*
Dr. Victor Shinde / Hanoi, Vietnam / 11 – 12 December 2017*
Prof. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh / Louisiana and San Francisco, USA / 11 December 2017 – 22 January 2018
Prof. C. Visvanathan / Hyderabad, India / 14 – 18 December 2017
Dr. P. Abdul Salam / India / 14 – 18 December 2017
Dr. B.H.W. Hadikusumo / Vietnam / 15 – 17 December 2017*
Prof. Lawrence Stephen Abeln / Nepal / 15 – 24 December 2017
Mr. Syed Muntasir Husain Bokhari / Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Indonesia / 16 – 20 December 2017
Ms. Neriza Cabahug / Kunming, China / 17 – 23 December 2017
*(Staff or faculty member travelled and returned to AIT prior to documentation received for publication)
*(Staff or faculty member travelled and returned to AIT prior to documentation received for publication)
Position: Technical Staff (Technician) (School of Environment, Resources & Development)
Ref. No. 45/17
Deadline: 31 December 2017
Faculty Position (School of Engineering & Technology)
Ref. No. Fac 04/2017
Deadline: 15 January 2018
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/484
Position: Director/PRINCIPAL for AIT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (AIT International School)
Ref. No. 50/2017
Deadline: 31 January 2018
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/483