WEEK #45, 9 - 15 November 2015

In this issue:

Management Team News and Notes

Announcements

Campus Updates

Events

Visitors

Faculty and Staff Travel

Classifieds (Jobs)

 

Management Team News and Notes

 

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.

 

Announcements

 

AIT Faculty Making News

AIT Energy / Climate Change expert Dr. Shobhakar Dhakal addresses SWITCH-Asia Conference in New Delhi, India

Dr. Shobhakar Dhakal, Associate Professor of Energy Field of Study, delivered an invited talk titled “Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and Climate Change: Crucial Linkages and Opportunities” to SWITCH-Asia Conference on Achieving Sustainable Livelihoods in Asia through Sustainable Consumption and Production in New Delhi, India on 4-6 November 2015. SWITCH-Asia is an EU Initiative supporting over 100 SCP projects implemented in Asia. This was a comprehensive networking event where Dr. Dhakal was invited to provide his perspectives on ongoing SWITCH-Asia activities in light of what needs to be done to address global climate change mitigation more effectively. The conference was attended by about 300 participants from South Asia, South-East Asia and Europe.    

 

AIT Nanotechnology expert Dr. Louis Hornyak contributes chapter to Harvard Medical School publication

Dr. Louis Hornyak, interim director of the Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology, was invited by the Harvard Medical School to write a chapter titled "Fundamentals of Nanoscience (and Nanotechnology)" in "Nanoscience and Dermatology," a book to be published by Elsevier early in 2016.  The chapter summarizes the basic concepts of nanoscience as they relate to dermatology and new developments based on nanotechnology that are revolutionizing therapies applied to skin disorders.  

 

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.

 

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

 

Campus Updates

 

Electricity to be shut off on 14 November 2015

During the recent testing done at the substations of the campus, the Office of Facilities and Asset Management (OFAM) found some problems on the 24kV Switchgear box at Substation 2. To check the cause of the problem (which will help us to plan for rectification of the problem), we need to shut down the power supply for 3 hours. Details are below:

Date: Saturday 14 November 2015

Time: 09:00 - 12:00 hrs.

Areas affected:

1) Sub-2

Area affected: Inter lab,Dorm A-K, Cafe, ADMIN, ST-2, Lawson 108, Korea house, SU snack Bar

2) Sub-7

Area affected: Outreach, Extension, Arcade, AITCC, AIT Consulting, Clinic, Book Store

Remark:

-For Outreach building, RCC Extension building and AITCC, the Generator will supply the power during shut down.

-For Cafeteria, SU building and Lawson 108, A generator will be rented to supply power during shut off period.

 

Closure of AIT Multipurpose Football/Cricket Fields for Renovation

Please be informed that the entire AIT Multipurpose Football/Cricket Fields will be closed during 10 November to 5 December 2015.

Thailand will host the International Cricket Council T20 Women's World Cup Qualifiers and AIT grounds will be used on the 28 November to 5 December 2015 for this prestigious event. Players from Bangladesh, China, Ireland, Netherlands, Thailand and Zimbabwe will be vying for a place in this World Cup Qualifiers here in your own grounds.

To prepare the grass fields from 10 November onwards since it was heavily damaged (both football and cricket) after the rainy season, we have to close the entire area for repair and maintenance for the cricket field to be at an international standard for this event. Grass fields will be cordoned with red and white tape and restriction signage placed in designated areas where security may inform those who plan to use the fields about the ongoing closure. 

Office of Facilities and Asset Management (OFAM) would like to request the full cooperation of AITians to respect the closure of the entire area. With our cooperation and support we will be highlighting AIT again on the world map during this event.

 

2015 AIT Financial Transactions -- 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)

 

AIT Library Trial databases

AIT Library has been offered a trial for the following databases:

1)       World E-book Library

 URL: http://Community.eBookLibrary.org/?AffiliateKey=WEL-AsiInsTecAca  

 

2)      Business Expert Press & Momentum Press

 URL: http://portal.igpublish.com/iglibrary/  

 

3)       ProQuest Dissertation & Theses Global  

 URL: http://search.proquest.com/pqdtglobal  

The trial period is from 1st November 2015 through 31st October 2016.  To access the databases, please click the above URL links.  Alternatively, those databases can be accessed from the Library webpage under "Trial Databases" at http://203.159.6.13

 

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.

 

Rehabilitation Physician on leave on November 13

Please be informed that Dr. Chuenchom Chueluecha (Rehabilitation Physician) will be on leave on Friday, 13 November 2015.

For those who have an appointment with her during this period, please re-schedule your appointments accordingly. Other services will be available as usual.

 

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.

See more details: http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/2015/events/internationalization-of-higher-education-and-its-impact-on-developing-countries-the-indian-experience-1/#.VjrifMv-IdU     

 

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

 

A Special Lecture on “The Politics of the International Food Order”

The AIT community are invited to attend a special lecture on "The Politics of the International Food Order" by Prof. Trevor Parfitt, Visiting professor in GDS and RRDP from The University of Nottingham Malaysia. The special lecture will be held as follows:

Date:   Monday, 16 November 2015

Time:  10.00-12.00 hrs.

Room:  S101 SERD Building

Abstract:

The aim of this presentation would be to survey how developing states have been incorporated into an international food order in a disadvantageous position.  This process began in colonial times with the dominance of the colonial powers.  The presentation will go on to examine the broad character of the modern food order demonstrating many continuities with colonial times.  It will be shown that much of the power over the international food trade still lies outside the developing world, with agrarian developingcountries finding that agribusinesses such asCargill, Monsanto and Nestle are able to exert considerable power over international food markets.

 

AIT Open House: 20 November 2015

An Open House will be organized at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) on Friday, 20 November 2015 from 10:00 am – 2:30 p.m. at AIT Conference Center. Prospective students, their families and friends can visit AIT, and its three Schools, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD), and School of Management (SOM) to inquire about admission requirements, scholarships and fellowships, and any other queries about academics, research, and life at AIT.

Interested person can register at Khun Uma, AIT, at tel. 02-524-5010. Email: erco@ait.asia  

More details: http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/2015/events/ait-open-house-20-november-2015/#.VkAAy8v-IdV   

 

Visitors

 

  • Visit of Prof. Sue Corieri, Assistant Dean, Enrollment Management and Special Academic Programs, School of Information Studies / Syracuse University / 11 November 2015/ To discuss possibility of offering “Certificate of Advanced Studies” in IT online program.

 

Faculty and Staff Travel

 

Dr. Manzul K. Hazarika / Jakarta, Semarang, Denpasar, Indonesia / 27 – 30 Oct. 2015*

Dr. Lal Samarakoon / Hanoi, Vietnam / 28 – 30 Oct. 2015*

Mr. Miltesh Vishwas Sawant / Surin and Sisakate Province, Thailand / 2 – 6 Nov. 2015*

Ms. Amornpan Koysungoon / Surin and Sisakate Province, Thailand / 2 – 6 Nov. 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

Prof. Yuosre F. M. Badir / Hanoi, Vietnam / 8 – 12 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

Dr. Lal Samarakoon / Jakarta, Indonesia / 9 – 12 November 2015

Dr. Sohee Minsun Kim / HoChiMinh, Vietnam / 13 – 15 November 2015

Prof. Phan Minh Dung / Tokyo  and Yokohama, Japan / 14 – 22 November 2015

Dr. Prabhat Kumar / Phnom Penh, Cambodia / 15 – 18 Nov. 2015

Mr. Mitesh Vishwas Sawant / Phnom Penh, Cambodia / 15 – 18 Nov. 2015

Hiromi Inagaki / Tokyo, Japan / 15 – 19 November 2015

* (Staff or faculty member travelled and returned to AIT prior to documentation received for publication)

 

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

Deadline: 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  

 

Program Officer (Center for Learning, Innovation and Quality (CLIQ)

Ref. No. 46/15

Deadline: 27 November 2015

http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/338  

 

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