Time has changed from the days of the 70s and 80s when graduate programs tended to be highly specialized. Today, the trends call for more integration, multidisciplinary learning and cross-cutting research. Thus, the administrative wall between fields need be removed.
There have been concerns from members of the Institute-level Advisory Committee that AIT offers too many narrow fields (30), without a critical mass of faculty in each field. This situation does not help attract potential students in today's competitive market.
Thus, under the directive of the Executive Committee and with consultations with School Deans and faculty, the following principles have arrived for the new academic structure:
It is more efficient to pool all administrative workloads from the field level to 'departmental' level, freeing faculty members with more time for teaching and research.
Except for academic matters, all resources should be generated, controlled and managed by the Department.
Within a department, an official list of fields can still be declared and remain visible, but can be adapted continuously with the change of market demands.
Although students belong to Department, they are recruited to Department based on their selected fields. Their AIT transcripts will include school, department and field (specialization).
Academic matters concerning each field, such as curriculum, academic procedures and support facilities, are supervised by a 'Field Committee' appointed by the Department Head, comprising all faculty members specialized in the same field. Chair of the Field Committee is elected by its members.
After a year of careful refinement, I am pleased to announce with immediate effect the finalization of the new departmental structure and the appointment of the Department Heads as follows:
A. SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (SET)
- Dean: Prof Voratas Kachitvichyanukul
Department of Civil & Infrastructure Engineering
Includes CEIM, GTE, OTM, STE, TRE, WEM, DPMM, and UWEM fields of study.
Department Head: Prof Pennung Warnitchai.
Department of Information & Communication Technologies
Includes the former CS, IM, ICT, TC, and RSGIS fields of study.
Department Head: Dr Matthew Dailey.
Department of Industrial Systems Engineering
Includes the former ME, MES, IME, and Nanotechnology fields of study.
Department Head: Dr Pisut Koomsap.
B. SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT, RESOURCES & DEVELOPMENT (SERD)
- Dean: Prof Rajendra Shrestha
1. Department of Food, Agriculture & Bioresources
Includes the former ABM, ASE, AARM, and FEBT fields of study and UG program.
Department Head: Dr Anil K Anal.
2. Department of Energy, Environment & Climate Change
Includes the former Energy, EEM, CCSD, EB, and UWEM fields of study.
Department Head: Dr Shobhakar Dhakal.
3. Department of Development & Sustainability
Includes the former GDS, NRM, RRDP, UEM, and DPMM fields of study.
Department Head: Prof Kyoko Kusakabe.
C. SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
- Dean: Prof Lawrence S. Abeln
Structure pending the ongoing transformation process of SOM.
Your continuing support to our Institute, especially to our colleagues in their respective capacities, would be very much appreciated.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Professor Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai
President
