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well well, the secret is out. Students from Assam,
has been going to AIT from long time. This is really good school. I am an
alumni of this school. The best part is, as you said, reduces
biasness.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2006 7:25 PM
Subject: [Assam] Asias best kept
secret-Babita Rajkhowa.(The Assam Tribune,28.05.2006)
Most people
would equate ![]() Thailand with a good time a perfect holiday destination, with
good food, great beaches, the best bargains (if youre a shopaholic) and a lot
more, whatever your inclinations may be! But try telling anyone that its also
a place for top quality education and its more than likely that theyll shut
you up saying Youre joking! No wonder then, the Asian Institute of
Technology (AIT) in Bangkok has been termed as Asias best kept
secret.
Set up in 1959, in association with SEATO, this leading
international postgraduate institution is located in a sprawling 160 hectare
campus 42 kms north of the city. It also has a campus in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Recognised for its multicultural ethos, the institute operates as a self
contained international community, the verdant environs and peaceful
atmosphere providing an ideal ambience for scholarly pursuits.
AIT is
composed of four schools and AIT Extension that offer a broad range of post
graduate academic programmes and conduct research across a broad spectrum of
disciplines.
l School of Advanced Technologies (SAT) covers Computer
Science, Design and Manufacturing Engineering, Mechatronics (a combination of
Mechanical Engineering and Electronics); Microelectronics etc.
*
School of Civil Engineering (SCE) offers courses in Geotectonical and
Geo-environmental Engineering, Water Engineering and Management
etc.
* School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD)
includes courses in Agricultural Systems and Engineering, Aquaculture and
Aquatic Resources Management, Pulp and Paper Technology etc.
* School
of Management (SOM) offers courses in International Business, International
Public Management, Management of Technology etc.
AIT Extension offers
flexible non-degree programmes to mid-career and senior level professionals
from national governments, overseas development agencies, multilateral
agencies, development institutions and banks, consultants, private sector and
NGOs. The varied disciplines include Agriculture, Natural Resource and Rural
Development, Environment, Education and Training Development etc.
AIT
has a student strength of 2016 from around 54 different countries and an
alumni of around 14091 from 74 countries. AIT claims that 95% of its graduates
are at various decision making levels across the world. Among the present
enrolments, around 105 are from India. I was pleasantly surprised to find
quite a handful of students from Asom and also faculty member Dr Joydeep
Dutta, Associate Professor and Associate Dean, Microelectronics, who is
originally from Shillong. The Asomiya student community is quite closely knit,
even celebrating festivals like Uruka together.
For Priyanka Barua of
Guwahati, a commerce graduate from Hindu College, New Delhi, coming to AIT in
2005 for an MBA in International Business, has been a good decision. She had
heard about the institute from friends who had graduated from AIT and are now
all well placed. The best thing about AIT is its multicultural environment.
Many of my professors are from IIMs in India. I have adjusted quite well.
Theres a snack bar here that serves Indian food, so I dont even miss
that!
I joined AIT in August 2004. The first impression is thumbs
up! says Asif Ali Hazarika of Saheb Tilla in Guwahati, who is doing his
Masters in International Business in the School of Management. Apart from
high rise buildings and, on top of that, the high aspirations of the well
mannered and down to earth Thai people, I found AIT extremely organised, with
an amazing campus. This has been a different kind of multicultural experience
for me to be here. In order to get international exposure, living with
students from more than 54 countries; I am sure there is nothing better than a
place like AIT, in the Asian region.
Asif continues, I would like
to pursue a career in the Investment Banking sector in the near future.
Interacting with students from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, China, Myanmar, France
etc provides us a glimpse of the diversified cultural aspects of life. While
working in groups with people from different countries, its really nice to
share ideas about both cultural and economic values of different countries.
The ultimate goal for most Indians here in AIT is to pursue a career in their
specialised field of study after the completion of the
programme.
Our School of Management has exchange programmes with
various leading institutions all over the world where students get an
opportunity to do one of his/her semester outside AIT. The SOM has
collaborations with several Indian institutions like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM
Bangalore, IIM Kolkata etc. We have a very high profile faculty from India too
in the School of Management. Last year Prof IM Pandey renowned Professor of
Finance from IIM Ahmedabad and Member of the Boards of Directors, Industrial
Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) and Cochin Shipyard Company joined as the
Dean of School of Management.
What makes AIT different from other
institutions in the region is its integrative approach and focus on
participative learning. Its matter of holistic development that AIT provides
to its students apart from academic development.
Sunandan Baruah,
after his graduation from Assam Engineering College, had been actively
involved in the technical education scenario of Asom for more than ten years,
first as part time lecturer in the Assam Engineering College and then at the
Residential Girls Polytechnic in Golaghat as lecturer, where his wife had
also later joined as lecturer. After some bitter experiences of running around
for extension every four months, and also for his salary, and after the State
Governments assurance of an opportunity for government sponsored higher
studies had come to naught, he finally decided to apply to AIT for his masters
in engineering. I was initially offered a 50% assistantship which required me
to pay around Rs 5 lakhs, which was impossible for me. I sent an email to Dr
Nitin Afzulpurkar and Dr Joydeep Dutta of AIT informing of my inability to
manage the fees. You wont believe it, within half an hour, I received an
email informing that the Royal Thai government had awarded me the Kings
Scholarship for an amount close to 10 lakh baht (around Rs 12 lakhs), which
was more than enough to cover all my expenses. My wife is also joining AIT
next August. Sunandan adds: It is possible to get scholarships to study at
AIT if you have a good academic record. AIT, by standard, is no less than any
European University. Im doing my Masters in Microelectronics where we are
using software and equipment worth millions of US Dollars.
Debajit
Dutta had come to AIT to do his Masters in Energy Technology after reading
about the institute in an article by Dr Dushmanta Dutta in the Asomiya
magazine Prantik. Hes on full scholarship and is in his final
semester. An all branch topper from Jorhat Engineering College, from where he
did his B Eng (Mech), Debajit initially had quite a tough time thanks to the
stiff competition offered by his hardworking counterparts from Vietnam and
Thailand. He is all praise about the opportunities available in the research
field. He was even sent to France for a two and half months
training.
Dipankaj Medhi, who is doing his final semester of M Eng in
Computer Science, was inspired by Late Professor Madhav Bora, former Dean of
Tezpur University and an alumnus of AIT. Dipankaj, who had earlier done his
M.Tech from Tezpur University, arrived at AIT on Aug 14, 2004 and had been
quite impressed by the sight of Pakistani and Indian students and faculty
jointly celebrating Independence day. At the beginning he had problems with
the food available but now cooks his own meals in a flat he shares with three
others at the students village. Thanks to AIT, he even got an opportunity to
go to Taiwan and work in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Network Group.
Admissions to AIT are on the basis of an essay that the intending
student has to submit. Ones academic record also counts. Proficiency in
English is also a criterion. While most students are admitted in August,
certain fields of study admit students in January. Doctoral students may enter
either in January or August.
Normally, 70 to 80% of students receive
some financial support, depending on the interviews, academic qualification
and work experience, ranging from 10 to 60% of the total expenses. AIT
scholarships are also provided by its partner governments, international
funding agencies, foundations and corporates/ private sector, with conditions
based on field of study, nationality and/ or gender. There are also institute
funded fellowships which range from six credits to full exemption. There are
also four Royal Thai Government scholarships. Teaching assistantship is not
encouraged in the initial two semesters as course work load is quite
high.
Although earlier campus placement was never focused on since
the donor governments insisted that students return to their native countries,
nowadays, the students union of AIT organises an annual industry fair for
students placement and internship . Since last year, the students of the
School of Management have been organising a career day for campus placement
with support from the Dean and faculty members.
What makes AIT
unique? The internationality of AIT sets it apart from other institutions. It
narrows biasness in the students. According to AIT sources they offer unique
subjects which address problems related to the region. The quality of
education is at par with that offered by universities in the West and is
proven by the credentials of the alumni. They have bridging programmes to
support students from non English speaking backgrounds. The faculty reviews
grades of every student so that weak students can be helped. Students also get
the opportunity to work with partner universities like KIST, Korea, the
University of Tokyo etc.
Kaushik Barua head, Operations North East,
of Global Reach, an educational consultancy organisation says: AIT is one of
the best offerings for students in Asia you can get a world class degree at
a much cheaper rate, compared to the US. The average course fee ranges between
Rs 10 to 12 lakhs. We are the only organisation representing AIT in India
today. Students from the NE can contact us in Guwahati itself. AIT is not just
for technology oriented courses. The MBA in International Business is for
students from non technical backgrounds and is one of the best in the world.
Its unique features include international placements and three month projects
in different countries. Although the deadline for receiving applications for
admissions this year is May 30, for students applying to AIT through Global
Reach, the date has been extended to June 30.
Babita Rajkhowa
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