Extracted from AIT President’s Weekly Newsletter
-Participation in International Conference on “Technology & Innovation Management”
On 10th October 2012, I delivered a keynote address on the topic “Private Public Partnership in Technology Innovation and Promotion” at the international conference on “Technology & Innovation Management” http://www.timconference.org.np/ held in Kathmandu, Nepal from 10-12 October 2012. The conference was organized by the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Nepal; Centre for Applied Research and Development (CARD), Institute of Engineering, Nepal in association with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce (FNCCI).
I would like to thank Professor Dr. Pramod Bahadur Shrestha, Bangkok Coordinator of the Nepal Education Foundation-Consortium of Colleges, Nepal (NEF-CCN) for having invited me to this important event. Professor Shrestha also chaired my session on “Private Public Partnership in Technology Innovation and Promotion”. My grateful appreciation to the organizers for having fully sponsored my participation at the event.
I wish to also thank Dr. Siddharth Jabade, Director Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights, AIT Consulting, who helped me with my presentation for the conference. The Centre for Applied Research and Development (CARD), Institute of Engineering, Nepal is keen on partnering with AIT and I have assigned Dr. Jabade to serve as the focal person from AIT on possible joint initiatives.
Other keynote speakers for the different sessions were Prof. Chachanat Thebtaranonth, President, Thai Business Incubation and Science Park Association, Thailand; Assoc. Prof. Bjorn Otto Elvenes, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Norway and Mr. Navneet Bhushan, Founder Director, Craffiti, Consulting India.
Prof. Hira Bahadur Maharjan, Vice Chancellor, Tribhuvan University, Nepal; Professor Bhakta Bahadur Ale, Director, Center for Applied Research and Development (CARD), Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University; Prof. Bharat Raj Pahari, Dean, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University; Dr. Rajendra Shrestha, Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering; Representative from the Norwegian Embassy in Nepal; Mr. Suraj Vaidya, President, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI); Prof. Elvenes and Dr. Ritu Kumar, Advisor, Office of International Relations, NTNU and myself delivered remarks at the inauguration ceremony.
In conjunction with the conference, on 9th October 2012, we had a meeting at the FNCCI during which discussions took place on how industry-university linkages could be strengthened in Nepal, following which it was agreed that a small dedicated team from FNCCI and the Institute of Engineering, Nepal, would look into specific areas in which there could be collaboration such as in the joint development of academic programs geared to the job market, individuals from the private sector serving as invited lecturers / speakers, providing internship opportunity for students, inputs on student research topics of relevance and benefit to the private sector etc.
-Meeting with President of Nepal
On 11th October 2012, I along with several conference delegates accompanied by Professor Pramod Bahadur Shrestha and officials from the Institute of Engineering, Nepal paid a visit to the Rt. Honorable Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, President of Nepal. I informed the President about the public launching of the AIT programs jointly with NEF-CCN. The President termed education as the backbone for development of a country, while adding that graduates from AIT were occupying significant position all over the world, and offered his full support to AIT and wished the Institute success in its endeavors.
Further details available at the below link:
-Meeting with Prime Minister of Nepal
On 11th October 2012, I had the honour and privilege of meeting with H.E. Prime Minister of Nepal, Rt. Hon. Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. Prime Minister Bhattarai reaffirmed Nepal’s strong support and commitment to AIT and the new AIT Charter, and being among the countries to have signed and ratified it, stressed that Nepal was ready and willing to facilitate in whatever manner that it could in furthering AIT’s activities and aspirations in Nepal.
During my meeting with the Prime Minister in June 2012, and as a symbolic contribution on the part of Nepal, we had put forward a request for the Government of Nepal, to consider setting aside a number of scholarships for Nepalese nationals to study at AIT, in areas that are of priority to Nepal. On behalf of AIT, I thanked the Prime Minister for his strong support in this initiative and approval granted for 2 scholarships per year, to start with.
I apprised the Prime Minister of my participation as keynote speaker at the “Technology & Innovation Management” international conference, AIT’s strategic partnership with the Nepal Education Foundation-Consortium of Colleges, Nepal (NEF-CCN) as well as public launch of targeted AIT programs in Nepal from January 2013.
On behalf of NEF-CCN Professor Dr. Sririam B. Mathe, Chairperson of NEF-CCN briefed the Prime Minister on the collaboration with AIT, future plans, and expressed his grateful thanks and appreciation to the government for its continued guidance, support and commitment, which would be equally important and necessary as the programs enter the implementation phase.
Prime Minister Bhattarai welcomed AIT’s initiatives in Nepal, and gave assurances of his personal and the government’s full support and assistance in AIT’s ongoing and planned activities in Nepal. AIT is grateful to former Chief Secretary and distinguished AIT alumnus Mr. Madhav P. Ghimire, for his instrumental role in the scholarship initiative for Nepalese nationals, as well as in pursuing the ratification of the new AIT Charter by the Government of Nepal.
Further details available at the below link:
http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/2012/news/president-meets-with-nepal-pm/view
-Public Launching of AIT Programs in Partnership with the Nepal Education Foundation-Consortium of Colleages, Nepal (NEF-CCN)
On 11th October 2012, I took part in an event organized by the Nepal Education Foundation-Consortium of Colleages, Nepal (NEF-CCN) which saw the public launch of AIT programs, under the Memorandum of Agreements (MoAs) signed between AIT and NEF-CCN. AIT and NEF-CCN will jointly offer 2-stage Master’s Program in Business (MBA and MBA in Energy Business Management), and Bacherlor’s Programs in Civil and Infrastructure Engineering and ICT. The delivery of the first half of the academic programs will take place at NEF-CCN colleges in Nepal and the second half of the academic programs at the AIT main campus in Thailand. Formal approval for the launch of the programs was granted by the Ministry of Education of Nepal on 30th September 2012, after having been reviewed and endorsed by the University Grants Commission as well. NEF-CCN is planning to laucnh the programs from January 2013, and the admissions process will start from 1st November 2012.
NEF-CCN, which was constituted in 2010, comprises of three reputable academic institutions, namely the LA College of Higher Studies; rebranded Asian Institute of Technology and Management (AITM) and Xavier Academy (XA) College of Graduate Studies. The NEF-CCN academic institutions have an excellent academic track record inNepal and key members of the consortia have more than 30 years of experience in the education sector in the country. The colleges in the consortia have produced more than 11,000 graduates, with more than 50% exellencing in their studies abroad, and many graduates having returned to Nepal and are contributing in the country’s development.
The public launch including a press conference and I was also interviewed by one of the TV stations. During the press conference, I along wth Professor Dr. Sriram B. Mathe, Chairperson,NEF-CCN; Mr. Umesh Shrestha, Vice Chairperson, NEF-CCN; Professor Ram M. Shrestha, AIT Professor Emeritus and Chairpersoon, Academic Council, NEF-CCN provided further details on various aspects of the programs, and prospects for the future, which could entail the setting up of a full-fledged AIT campus in Nepal. The aim of the innovative 2-stage programs being offered in Nepal, is to also attract students from neighbouring countries, and in the context of Nepal, would be more affordable to Nepalese nationals, with the comparatively lower cost of studies, with the same quality of education.
The event was very well attended with the participation of several distinguished academics from Nepal, government officials, students, alumni as well members of the media.
Further details available at the below link:
AIT grants two scholarships for Nepal and strengthens better academic relations with the country
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