WEEK #47, 23 - 29 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

 

Please be informed that the confirmed notes of the 12 November 2015 meeting of the AIT Management are now Intranet-published at http://www.ait.ac.th/manage ment/aitmt-notes  

 

Resolutions – In Brief

  • Handling of Project Residuals

The AIT Management agreed that the revised stipulations in handling of project residuals will be with effect from 2015 onwards, and will be applicable to projects opened from 1 October 2015 onwards.Project accounts opened prior to 1 October 2015 will be governed by the stipulations that were effective when they were opened.

Note: In its 5 November 2015 meeting, the AIT Management agreed to credit the residuals from projects completed / closed during the year as Operating Revenues under Research Grants to the involved PIs’ RC unless the contract stipulates that all residuals must be returned to the sponsor / client.

  • Requests from AIT Students from PR China

The AIT Management agreed to look into the concerns raised by the students. The AIT Management clarified that research topics are decided by the students themselves on the guidance of their academic advisers. Students are not forced to carry out research related to their country and can carry out research that interest them. It was also pointed out that the Institute already planned for field-wise campaigns for modern academic equipment that will be initiated soon.

Actions: The Head-OFAM will be requested to look into the provision of water heaters on request basis that can be availed by students with a corresponding charge to recover a portion of the investment costs, which can also be added to the rental charges.

OFAM will also be requested to consider the possibility of providing centralized or solar water heaters in student dormitories. Hot water facilities can be ensured in new accommodation units on campus.

  • Organization of the Language Center

The AIT Management agreed to endorse the proposed LC re-organization. LC’s core of three professionals will take the lead and ensure quality standards of LC services. They will be supplemented by a pool of part-time resource persons as and when necessary.

The AIT Management encouraged the Language Center to provide assistance in students’ research writing through workshops, as well as expand their services to external clients.

  • A Proposal for the establishment of “Ostrom Center for the Advanced Study in Natural Resource Governance”

The AIT Management thanked Professor Ganesh Shivakoti for the initiative, and agreed to endorse for the Ostrom Center to start as a virtual center during its first year. The Ostrom Center will be allowed a 3-year period to attain sustainability and ensure its visibility. It will be formally launched as an official center in its second year after the review of its first year finances and activities. Appropriate publicity will be made of its formal launch.

The AIT Management also agreed that the Ostrom Center will be operated as a sub-RC (Fund 21) within SERD, with another Fund 50 account for its external funds.

The Ostrom Center will be governed by an Advisory Board that will be chaired by the AIT President, and with member representatives from partner institutions (AIT, Ford, CGIAR, ICRAF, IFPRI, RECOFTC, and Ostrom Workshop in Indiana University). Professor Shivakoti will be appointed as Honorary or Founding Director of the Center.

Actions: Professor Shivakoti was requested to obtain the explicit consent of those responsible in Indiana University to name the Center after Nobel laureate Elinor Ostrom, as well as the explicit consent of CIRAD on the involvement of its faculty secondee to serve as Coordinator of the Ostrom Center.

He was also requested to prepare a budget for the first year operations of the Ostrom Center, as well as its 3-year plan, including obtaining scientific commitments from faculty and students.

  • School Deans: Terms of Reference and KPIs

The AIT Management endorsed the finalized list of KPIs for School Deans, which will be shared with the School faculty and staff members.

______________________________________________________________________________

Announcements

 

2015 Year End Party Update

Dear AIT Family,

We are close to the 2015 Year End Party event and we would like to encourage each and every one of you to gear up and be ready to have fun. It will be a whole day event with games, raffle draw, and lunch. Get more prizes by participating in our trivia questions, become a lucky winner to be pampered with Thai Massage or simply be entertained by the music from our live band.
Based on the majority’s choice, this year’s theme is “Unity in Diversity”. Indeed what a fitting theme to wave goodbye to 2015 and celebrate the coming New Year with unity.  The program starts at 8:00 a.m. at the small football field at the back of the administration building.

What: 2015 Year-End Party
When: 4 December 2015
Who: AIT employees
Where: At the area beside the Administration Building and the games will be held at the small football field behind the Administration Building.

Raffle Draw:
Lucky draw and awarding of prizes will be given during lunch. Draw lot winners should be present during the raffle draw, otherwise you will forfeit your prize.   

Trivia Questions:
Get a prize by simply answering our trivia questions. Check out AIT history and current events in our website to help you with the answers in our trivia questions.

Games:  
Each Team should assign a Team Captain. Players can/may participate in one or all games, the Team captain will be in charge of getting the team players ready for each game.
1. Sack Race – 8 players per team
2. Musical chairs – 5 players per team
3. Hoola your way – 15 players per team
4. Obstacle Race – 8 players per team
5. United ball in the bin – 8 players per team
6. Tug of war – 30 players per team (15 male and 15 females)

T-shirt distribution will be on 2 December 2015 at the following stations:
Blue Team (Admin Offices, ERCO, MCU, GRU, RTG, Unified, Finance, HRO, OFAM, OPIA, WAP, VPRD, VPR) - collect your t-shirt at the Human Resources Office.
Green Team (SET) – collect your t-shirt from the Dean’s Office c/o Khun Suwannee and Khun Siriporn
Pink Team (SERD) – collect your t-short from the Dean’s Office c/o Khun Suchitra and Khun Wantana
Red Team collect your t-shirt from your respective Unit representatives: SOM, intERLab, ACISAI, SDCC – Khun Chomchaba, SOM; AIT Consulting – Ms. Clarisa; AIT Extension – Khun Arjin and Ms. Yashvi; RRC.AP – Mr. Dennis

Human Resources Office

 

New Language Center Director

Please be informed that with effect from 1 January 2016, Mr. Thomas Guy Hamilton will assume the position of Language Center Director.  Mr. Hamilton will carry out the coordination and administrative responsibilities both in terms of finance and personnel affairs of the Language Center as it continues to be responsible for the provision of language and academic support services to the AIT students and other members of the Institute.

On behalf of all members of the AIT community, I wish to express my appreciation to Mr. Matthew C. Laszewski for his efforts and valuable academic and administrative contributions made during his 17-year term of office as LC Director over the past 24 years of dedicated service to the Institute, even beyond his mandatory retirement after reaching the age of 60. We thank him for his services and wish him an enjoyable retirement he deserves.

At the same time, we congratulate Mr. Hamilton on his new assignment and wish him every success in carrying out his new tasks.  I trust that we will have a good working relationship with Mr. Hamilton. Let us all give him our support and utmost cooperation.

Mr. Hamilton can be reached at Room 224, Language Center (ext. 5888).

Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai

President

Asian Institute of Technology

 

Call for Voting - Staff Relations Committee of the Board of Trustees – DEADLINE TO VOTE: Thursday, 26 November

1] Further to the memoranda sent on 10 and 17 November 2015, the Election Committee is pleased to announce the final list of candidates for the election of the Staff Relations Committee (see below).

2] By the deadline, 12:00 noon, 19 November 2015, one (1) nominee declined his nomination as Staff Representative.

3] As stipulated in the Nomination Procedure that “In case only one nominee accepted his/her nomination for Staff Representative, he/she would be declared elected (uncontested).”

Accordingly, Mr Wanchai Sophonsakulrat is declared elected for the position of Staff Representative.

4] Staff members who have served the Institute for at least one year, or who have a current period of appointment of not less than one year are eligible to vote.

5] The Voting shall be done electronically at the Staff Relations Committee Elections web link below. Please log-in using your AIT email username and password.

http://voting.ait.ac.th/src/2015/vote.php  

6] Each eligible Staff member votes once for up to five of the candidates for membership to the Board Staff Relations Committee from now until 12:00 noon on Thursday, 26 November 2015.

Candidates for Staff Relations Committee (last names in alphabetical order):

1. Ms. Marjorie Louise Badiola

2. Mr. Voravate Chonlasin

3. Mr. Md Zia Islam

4. Mr. Shawn Patrick Kelly

5. Dr. Faiz Shah

6. Mr. Gyanendra Sthapit

7] Please note that the Election Committee will be authorized to get the report of the voting after the deadline only.

8] The top five candidates for the Board Staff Relations Committee will be announced as elected SRC members by late afternoon, on Thursday, 26 November 2015.

 

Thai Pipe Scholarship at AIT (For January 2016 Semester)

Deadline to Apply: 30 November 2015

Thai Pipe Industry Co., Ltd. was established in 1963 as a subsidiary of the Thai Government. The company’s production of PVC pipes utilized innovative technology from Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., the leading Japanese PVC pipe manufacturer. From this technology transfer, Thai Pipe developed its own cutting-edge technology. After almost 40 years of continuous development, Thai Pipe has grown from being a pioneer manufacturer ofPVC products to become one of the leading PVC pipe manufacturers in the world.

CRITERIA IN AWARDING SCHOLARSHIP

Nationals from ASEAN countries (only).

• At least 2 years of work experience in a Water-related field from the Government Sector

• Graduate of Bachelor in Civil Engineering or related fields with a GPA of 3.00

• Applicants who are physically challenged are also encouraged to apply

• Applicants must fulfill AIT Entry Requirements

Scholarship covers tuition and registration fees (~ 752,000 Thai Baht, THB). Other fees and living costs are to be borne by the student or External Support/Donor.

FIELDS OF STUDY

The scholarship is available in the following Fields of Study:

School of Engineering and Technology (SET)

1) Water Engineering and Management (WEM), SET

School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD)

2) Environmental Engineering and Management (EEM), SERD

Application Deadline: 30 November 2015

 

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.

________________________________________________________

Campus Updates

 

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.

 

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 1 November 2015 through 31October 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   

 

Work Permit

Faculty and staff members are requested to look at your Work Permit Book.  If your Work Permit is going to expire in December 2015, please immediately contact GRU (Ms. Suvannee) to apply for extension.

To avoid any delay and unnecessary charges occurred due to the Institute's year-end break, it is advisable to come to GRU (Ms. Suvannee) before 15 December.

For your kind reference, the document required for renewal of the Work Permit are:

1. Passport

2. Work Permit Book

3. Work Certificate from HR (in Thai)

4. Medical Certificate from AIT clinic

5. Fee

5.1   3 months:     950 Baht

5.2   6 months:     1,700 Baht

5.3   1 year:          3,200 Baht

5.4   1 year 3 months:    3,950 Baht

5.5   1 year 6 months:    4,700 Baht

5.6   2 years:                  6,200 Baht

 

Dr. Bunsert (General Medicine) to be on leave Nov. 26 – Dec. 1

Please note that Dr. Bunsert Jatchavala (General Medicine) will be on leave for the seminar in England on 26 November to 1 December 2015.  For those who have appointments with him, please re-schedule accordingly. Other services will be available as usual.

________________________________________________________________

Events

 

International Conference on Space, Aeronautical and Navigation Electronics --- ICSANE2015

Venue: AIT Conference Center Auditorium

Date: 23-24 November 2015

Objective:

The 11th International Conference on Space, Aeronautical and Navigational Electronics 2015 (ICSANE 2015) will provide an opportunity for system engineers and researchers to discuss new and viable technical topics of electronics system in spacecraft, aircraft, ships and ground facilities.

Organized by:

Technical Group on Space, Aeronautical and Navigational Electronics (SANE), IEICE, Japan

Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)

Sponsored by:

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan, Electronic Navigation Research Institute (ENRI), Japan, IEEE AESS Japan Chapter, and IEEE GRSS Japan Chapter

 

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           

Faculty and Staff Travel

 

Dr. Vilas Nitivattananon / Sukhothai Province, Thailand / 13 – 15 November 2015*

Ms. Rowena Alcoba / Chonburi Province, Thailand / 14 – 15 November 2015*

Dr. Jonathan Shaw / Delhi, India / 17 – 27 November 2015

Ms. Rowena C. Alcoba / Melbourne and Sydney, Australia / 17 – 28 November 2015

Mr. Norman Del Mundo Alcoba / Melbourne and Sydney, Australia / 17 – 28 November 2015

Dr. Philippe Doneys / Phnom Penh, Cambodia / 18 – 20 November 2015*

Dr. Ram C. Bhujel / Yangon, Myanmar / 19 – 24 November 2015

Dr. Chotchai Charoenngam / Vietnam / 20 – 24 November 2015

Prof. Voratas Kachitvichyanukul / Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam / 20 – 28 November 2015

Mr. Faisal Alih / Brisbane, Hobart, Sydney, Australia / 21 – 27 November 2015

Dr. Pradeep Kunmar Dash / Delhi, India / 21 – 28 November 2015

Dr. Manukid Parnichkun / Warsaw, Poland / 21 November – 22 December 2015

Dr. Nagai Masahiko / Manila, Philippines / 22 – 24 November 2015

Dr. Thammarat Koottatep / Hanoi, Vietnam / 22 – 26 November 2015

Dr. Anil Kumar Anal /Brussel, Belgium / 23 – 29 November 2015

Mr. Tharakorn Chanlapa / Singapore / 25 – 29 November 2015

Dr. K. R. Salin / Villahermosa & Tabasco, Mexico / 28 November – 12 December 2015

Dr. Amararatne Yakupitiyage / Manedo, Indonesia / 29 November – 2 December 2015

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

__________________________________________________________

Classified (Jobs)

 

Research Specialist (School of Engineering & Technology)                                        

Ref. No. 32/15

Deadline: 23 November 2015

http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/325   

 

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

 

Laboratory Supervisor (School of Environment, Resources & Development)

Ref. No. 57/15

Deadline: 30 November 2015

http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/350  

 

Administrative Officer (Media and Communications Unit)

Ref. No. 59/15

Deadline: 30 November 2015

http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/352  

 

Cafeteria Supervisor (Office of Facilities and Assets Management)

Ref. No. 56/15

Deadline: 13 December 2015

http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/349          

 

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 January 2016

http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/304

 

Dean, School of Management (School of Management)

Ref. No: 60/15

Deadline: 31 January 2016

http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/354

 

Senior Technician (School of Environment, Resources & Development)

Ref. No. 58/15

Deadline: 29 February 2016

http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/351