Validity of AIT Degrees Confirmed - AIT President Said Irandoust

In line with my suggestions for a way forward for AIT as I had communicated through my open letter, and as promised, I am very pleased to announce that the reaffirmation of the validity of AIT degrees has been made in a meeting convened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Thailand at the Office of the Higher Education Commission premises on 12th December 2012. This strong and clear reaffirmation confirmed the validity of the degrees conferred by AIT in the past two graduations and also the graduation ceremonies that AIT will conduct in the future.

The meeting was Chaired by  Mr. Nopadol Gunavibool, Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees and Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and attended by members of the AIT Board of Trustees and Council. The decision of the meeting will be formally communicated later by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand, and I join others in applauding MoFA for working with members of AIT Board of Trustees/Council in looking to the future.

It also was decided in the meeting that for the upcoming graduation the degrees will be co-signed by the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand and the AIT President. Upon my request, it was further noted in the meeting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand will facilitate release of the already approved Royal Thai Government funds for flood rehabilitation and student scholarships. It was also decided during the meeting that during the transition period until Thailand ratifies the new Charter, AIT will be governed by a Board of Trustees.

All of us are very much looking forward to tomorrow's graduation ceremony.  Allow me here to thank the faculty, students, staff and alumni for their quiet support through difficult times.  Now is a time, with the New Year soon upon us, to move forward. This is a time for moving forward and for reconciliation and transition that would help put in additional steps for a stronger AIT -- something now possible but only if people come together. 

My 'Open Letter' to the AIT community titled "AIT Needs to Move Forward," (Both in English and Thai) are available at the below link.

http://www.ait.asia/news-and-events/2012/news/an-open-letter-from-ait-president-prof-said-irandoust/view

AIT is truly honored, proud and grateful to have been hosted by Thailand over the past 53 years and for the strong and continued support it has received, and is especially grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand and members of the AIT Board of Trustees / Council for the pragmatic approach that was adopted in solving these critical issues.

Taken from President's weekly Newsletter