AIT Campus Bulletin

In this issue:

A. Announcements

B. Events

C. Classifieds (jobs)

A. Announcement

1) Expert Workshop Live on Essential IP for Researchers on 21 May 2020.

Email from AIT Entrepreneurship Center on 14 May 2020.

Join us for the Expert Workshop Live on Essential IP for Researchers on 21 May 2020

Topic: Essential IP for Researchers
Speakers:
1. Dr. Anna Fong
Head of Consulting and Services, APAC
Questel: Intellectual Property Software and Services

2. Ms. Alice Razon
IP Consultant
Questel: Intellectual Property Software and Services

Date: 21 May 2020, Thursday
Time: 14:00 - 15:00 (Bangkok time)

Register Now

2) Expert Workshop Live on Patent Landscape for Researchers on 28 May 2020

Email from AIT Entrepreneurship Center on 14 May 2020.

Join us for the EC Expert Workshop Live on Patent Landscape for Researchers on 28 May 2020.

Topic: Patent Landscape for Researchers
Speakers:
1. Dr. Anna Fong
Head of Consulting and Services, APAC
Questel: Intellectual Property Software and Services

2. Ms. Alice Razon
IP Consultant
Questel: Intellectual Property Software and Services

Date: 28 May 2020, Thursday
Time: 14:00 - 15:00 (Bangkok time)

Register Now

3) Invitation - Virtual Stakeholder Conference on CounterMEASURE for Plastic Free Rivers
Email sent on behalf of the Regional Resource Center for Asia and the Pacific (RRCAP) on 18 May 2020.

Dear Colleagues,  

We are pleased to invite you to the final stakeholder conference of the project on Promotion of Countermeasures Against Marine Plastic Litter in Southeast Asia and India (CounterMEASURE) which will be held from 25 to 28 May 2020. The virtual stakeholder conference will showcase achievements and findings of the CounterMEASURE project during its first phase and preview what is in store for 2020 on its second phase of implementation. The conference aims to highlight key stories and innovative solutions that gained through the project CounterMEASURE.
 
Considering the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the programme will be fully virtual. This digital programme will target and involve wider stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, engineers, private sectors, civil society groups, through streamed keynotes, breakout sessions, interactive learning and “ask an expert” sessions with CounterMEASURE technical partners and experts.
 
To REGISTER in this virtual conference use the following this link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the virtual conference.
 
Please note participation is free of cost, so register early to participate. Also, please feel free to share this invitation to your networks or contacts that might be interested in this conference on plastic pollution into rivers.
 
For more information and details about this event, please visit this site: https://www.conference2020.countermeasure.asia/.

4) Web of Science Webinar Series: Online Training on 19 May 2020

Email from AIT Library on 27 April 2020.

How to write a scientific paper?

Scientific writing has a specific formula to structure and organize a paper, so that the scientists/researchers can focus on what they are best at—the science—and worry less about the writing. Join this training to learn the technical method of writing a good scientific paper.
Date: Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Time: 10.00AM - 10.30AM Bangkok Time
Registration: https://bit.ly/3athXiE

Website: http://library.ait.ac.th
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3a2ScpZ
Google hangout: library@ait.asia

5) Decision to Leave Thailand to Travel Home in the Summer

The TF will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates regarding the Fall semester as the situation in Thailand, and your home countries, becomes clearer in the coming weeks.

All winners will be notified by email individually.

7) Gradual Measured Resumption of Operations at AIT

Email from the Vice President for Administration on 4 May 2020.

The AIT Covid-19 Task Force (TF) reminds you that the Thailand State of Emergency still applies until 31 May 2020, which also includes the Curfew from 10:00pm to 4:00am. AIT will remain on Work From Home status until the end of May.  However, the Government of Thailand recently announced that they would begin easing their restrictions and allowing certain businesses to resume operations. These measured changes will gradually be phased in over the next few weeks, while ensuring that these revised operations include strict limitations that continue to minimize the spread of Covid-19.

The TF has taken note of these measured changes and will continue to monitor the situation with a view to gradually open up AIT. These measured and gradual changes will be shared with our community in the coming weeks. The current updated status at AIT is as follows:

Food outlets
These will continue to serve ONLY take-out for the time being. The TF is currently coordinating possible future changes with the Cafeteria, SU Snack Bar, Hom Krun, AITCC Dining Hall, and the West Lake Restaurant (Som Tam), including preparing the venues to comply with the required government regulations and guidelines.

Hairdressers
We are able to confirm that the two Hairdressers in the Arcade are now open, following the strict guidelines for such establishments. These limitations include: ONLY haircuts, shampooing, and hairdrying are allowed; frequent cleaning of the premises MUST take place; haircutting equipment MUST be cleaned after each customer; customers MUST make appointments (X5296 and X5291) and may NOT wait to be served; face masks MUST be worn by customers, staff MUST wear face masks and face shields; records of customers MUST be kept; and NOT more than 2 customers are allowed in the establishment at one time. The operating hours of the Hairdressers will be between 10:00am and 6:00pm.

Golf Course
The Golf Course is now open, but ACCESS is only off the main highway or via the front of the Klong Luang Post Office. NO group activities are allowed during or after playing golf. NO competitions can be held and social distancing APPLIES on the course. If food is consumed at the golf course clubhouse, the following limitations apply: ONLY the downstairs open area CAN be used; seating MUST be 2 meters apart; ONLY one person to a table; only a-la-carte orders are allowed (buffets are NOT allowed); and social distancing MUST be observed when queueing at cashiers.

Sporting Activities
Individual sports CAN continue, with social distancing being observed. Team Sports are still however NOT allowed. Please be reminded that, in addition to our usual team sports, forbidden team sports include doubles tennis/badminton/table tennis etc. The swimming pool also continues to be CLOSED.

The TF reminds you that during this time of easing restrictions, you MUST continue to be extra vigilant, and STRONGLY SUGGESTS that you still limit your movements on-and-off campus to essential trips only.

In these challenging and changing times, although the Thailand case numbers appear to be doing better, the situation remains fluid, and the TF reminds you to maintain a high level of precautionary measures; like regularly washing your hands, wearing a mask in public places, avoiding large crowds, maintaining social distancing, and please visit the Medical Center if you feel unwell.

Please take care, stay safe, and remain healthy too. 

AIT Covid-19 Task Force 

9) An End-of-Semester Message from the President
Email from AIT President on 24 April 2020.

Dear AIT Family:
 
Today is April 24, the last day of classes for the January Semester at AIT.  For those students who are graduating this May, this has been a semester you will never forget.  You will remember how the world, your home country if you come from overseas, Thailand, and AIT battled the Coronavirus these past few months.  Your alma mater closed on March 18 and moved all its classes to interactive online instruction.  Some of you went back home right after that, but others stayed on campus.  Your final exams in a few days will also be online, and sadly, your May 22 Graduation Ceremony has been cancelled.  We apologize for not being able to give you one of the momentous occasions of your life, but we hope that we can welcome you back to our December Graduation Ceremony! 
 
All of us, from the May graduates to the continuing students, to the faculty and staff of AIT, have lived through a difficult period so far in 2020, and the end is not in sight. We have learned that staying healthy and cooperating with one another become priorities in our life, and we all realize that this is not only a life-changing crisis we are going through right now, but a world-changing crisis.  Academia, of which AIT is a member, will never be the same again. 
 
When I came to AIT in the Fall of 2018, among other things, I advocated more innovation in our teachings, and we have learned that we must do that not just to be better, but to survive.  With almost all universities around the world closed without a clear re-start-date, we must engage more and more with students online.  AIT’s expertise is based on valuable experience and student feedback in the past six weeks, on technology AIT has developed, on individual online initiatives by different units at AIT, on learning from best global practices, on acquisition of new technology, and on “out of the box” thinking in web-based education.  Earlier this year, I set up the AIT Academic Contingency Task Force—headed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Knowledge Transfer—to explore and devise and coordinate ideas of innovative interactive platforms for education, including faculty training, and ensure that these will be applied not only if classes cannot begin in August, but for the future when they will be interwoven into our stimulating face-to-face residential experience, resulting in an even more innovative education at AIT.
 
We hope that as Thailand’s COVID-19 situation improves, as the global battle against this virus turns the corner, AIT will be able to open its doors in August of 2020.  But as I said above, even if the global situation prevents AIT and other universities from opening on time this Fall, AIT is ready to welcome new and continuing students to pursue their education “without missing a beat”!  Whenever all of you do enter AIT’s Gate, you will find a safe and creative environment where education and research will continue on the five strategic focus areas of AIT:  Smart Communities, Climate Change, Food-Energy-Water, Infrastructure, and Technology, Policy, and Society.  And it is so clear to us that sustainability issues in which AIT specializes are key to this planet’s survival, as we now witness firsthand the formidable power of nature.
 
Now a word about what is happening at AIT at present.  So far, the campus continues not to have a confirmed case of COVID-19.  We have been blessed with proactive cooperation by all students and residents, with steady efforts by mission-essential personnel and faculty, and with heart-warming generosity by donors.  Just today, we are completing distribution of 10 free masks to every student and resident on campus, thanks to a 20000-mask donation from the AIT Belt and Road Research Center, with funds from the AIT Chinese Alumni.  We are also grateful to other donors who, in this very difficult economic period, have shown their belief in AIT by continuing to support AIT’s education and infrastructure. 
 
Thailand seems to be doing better with COVID-19, but it continues to be in a state of National Emergency, and as long as that is the case, AIT will remain vigilant and closed, with staff working from home.  For those who are on campus, we thank you so much for the sacrifices due to the restrictive measures we have had to implement to keep the campus safe.  For those who are at home outside AIT or outside Thailand, please take care!  For those who are leaving AIT after this semester, good luck, safe travels, and stay healthy please!
 
Dr. Eden Woon
President

10) Availability of our own Audio/Video conferencing system
Email from AIT Helpdesk on 21 April 2020.
We are pleased to announce the availability of our own audio/video conferencing system called VClass. The servers are located in our campus and Bangkok. It has almost every feature as commercial system (e.g. Zoom) and can be used by any AITans at no costs.

Since the servers are located on campus and Bangkok, it will preserve expensive Internet bandwidth and provide better connection speed. AIT users will use AIT servers inside AIT whereas AITians outside the campus have an option to create meeting rooms in Bangkok.

It has better security since there is no recording service.

Therefore we would like to encourage AITans to use this facility for internal meetings or any collaboration among us. To access this service, please go to

https://www.vclass.net/

In order to be able to create rooms (i.e. schedule meetings), you need to register. The password used is not related to AIT's email password. For more details, you can click Help at the top

Please contact helpdesk@ait.ac.th if you encounter difficulty or require more details

Email: helpdesk@ait.ac.th
URL: https://helpdesk.ait.ac.th

11)  Social Security Contribution

Email from Office of the Human Resources Services on 15 April 2020.

Following the announcement of the Ministry of Labor, effective March to May 2020, the 5% monthly contributions to the Social Security fund by the employer and employee has been reduced to 4% and 1%, respectively.

Starting April 2020, AIT employee’s contribution to Social Security fund will be 1% of salary, with a maximum contribution of Baht 150 per month, based on the maximum salary calculation of Baht 15,000.  The contribution for the month of March, which has already been deducted, will be reconciled and refunded in a future payroll. 

AIT will contribute 4% of salary or a maximum of Baht 600 per month.
This measure is to help alleviate the financial burden of employers and employees during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Office of the Human Resources Services

13) Book Loan Ride-Thu

Email from AIT Library on 19 March 2020.

To facilitate online learning and easy access to the Knovel database off-campus, AIT Library has asked Knovel to provide AIT students, faculties, and staff remote access options.

To register for Knovel remote login, please follow the steps below.

• Click on this link: https://app.knovel.com/web/verify-access.v
• Type in your institutional e-mail
• Fill in the registration form
• Confirm the link in your email inbox
• Done!

Web access to Knovel database: https://app.knovel.com/web/index.v

KNOVEL® TOGO Mobile App

You can also download KNOVEL® TOGO mobile app from Google Play or App Store for tablets and smartphones and log in with Knovel registered account.
By using KNOVEL® TOGO Mobile App, you may:
• use it to catch up on a new project while traveling, consult critical guidelines at a worksite, and have trusted, verified technical data right at your fingertips - anytime, anywhere.
• use Knovel ToGo offline to read during your commute and sync bookmarks when you are online
• search and save resources on your device and read them later on your laptop
• search and save resources on your laptop and read them later on your mobile device

Web Site: http://library.ait.ac.th
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3a2ScpZ

16) Remote access to ScienceDirect and SCOPUS

Email from AIT Library on 19 March 2020.

Please be informed that Remote Access to ScienceDirect and SCOPUS is now available for you to register.  To apply for the remote access, please follow the steps below.

1. Go to http://sciencedirect.com/
2. Scroll down to the bottom of the ScienceDirect page and click on the Remote access link.
3. Enter your AIT e-mail address, and click on “Continue”.
4. You will be sent a confirmation email.
5. Open the e-mail and click the link to Activate your remote access.
6. Click on Register with us now.
7. Fill in the Form, and then click on the Register button.
8. Done!

After following these steps, you will be able to use ScienceDirect from any location.

NOTE:
• As it is a single-sign-on (SSO) so the same credential may be used to access ScienceDirect and Scopus from any location. No separate registration required.
• There is no official App for ScienceDirect and SCOPUS during this time. The library will inform you when it will be available.
If you do have any problems with access to databases off-campus, please send e-mail to library@ait.ac.th. We are prompt to help.

AIT Library
Web Site: http://library.ait.ac.th
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3a2ScpZ

17) Elsevier’s free health and medical research on novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Email from AIT Library on 17 March 2020.

AIT Library would like to share with you the Novel Coronavirus Information Center, which is Elsevier’s free health and medical research on novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The center provides access to more than 19,500 freely available articles on ScienceDirect and Elsevier’s platform of peer-reviewed scholarly literature. It is continually updated daily with the latest research information on the virus and the disease.

To access the center, please click on the link below.
http://bit.ly/2PNnTf1

We do hope that you will find the center stimulating and useful.

AIT Library
http://library.ait.ac.th

 B. Events

Training Courses/ Conferences

a) A training course on "Organizational Culture Certification: Cultural Ambassador Program"

The Cultural Ambassador Program is a two-day intensive program designed for managers and senior managers in all fields.

Duration: 8-9 June 2020

Venue: AIT Conference Center

For more information about the training please visit at https://www.extension.ait.ac.th/course/1019

Professional Development Course on "Organisational Culture Certification: Accredited Practioner Program (AP)"

b) Professional Development Course on "Organisational Culture Certification: Accredited Practioner Program (AP)"

Professional Development Course on "Organisational Culture Certification: Accredited Practioner Program (AP)"

Duration: 9-12 June 2020
Venue: AIT Conference Center

For more information about the training please visit at www.extension.ait.ac.th/course/1018

c) The International Conference on Energy, Environment and Climate Change (International Conference on Utilities and Exhibition) – ICUE 2020

 C. Classified (jobs)

Position: Assistant/Associate Professor (ETM) (School Of Environment    Resources and Development)
Ref. No. 1/20
Deadline: 30 June 2020
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/638
 

Position: Associate/Assistant Professor (STE) (School of Engineering & Technology )
Ref. No. 04/20
Deadline: 31 August 2020
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/524