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8.1.2 Partnering Institutions
AIT promotes technological change and sustainable development in the Asian- Pacifi c
region through higher education, research and outreach. AIT was established near
Bangkok in 1959, and has become a leading regional postgraduate institution and is
actively working with public and private sector partners throughout the region and
with some of the top universities in the world. Specifi cally, Environmental Engineering
and Management and Water Engineering and Management partnered in the course
with APIEL over 4 years for knowledge and experience sharing from AIT.
KU is a public university where bodies of knowledge and research potential have
been continually accumulated for nearly seven decades. Today, it is a national
research university endorsed by the Commission on Higher Education of Thailand
with the vision to become “the world’s leading research university in agriculture,
food, technology and innovation.” The Faculty of Engineering in KU is one of the
top ranking institutes of engineering in Thailand. It offers bachelor, master, and
doctoral programs in 15 fi elds including Department of Environmental Engineering.
It educates engineers to serve society, develop the country, and pursue excellence in
engineering and scientifi c advancement.
8.1.3 Thailand Unit Conducted Over the Years
UT, AIT and KU have collaborated to tackle Asian environmental problems in a
tropical environment. This unit ensures student exchange between the three participating institutes covering an interdisciplinary program with from 10 to 20 students
from more than ten countries.
From 2009 to 2012, major sectors of environmental problems have been
addressed in the joint program. In 2009, issues on sustainable solid waste management in Asian developing countries were taken up. By 2011, another important
issue on sustainable urban water use and management was addressed. Flooding is a
natural phenomenon and various human activities as well as climate change have
aggravated the problem, causing economic loss. The nationwide fl ooding in late
2011 resulted in huge losses in Bangkok and other urban areas. Thus in 2012,
Thailand Unit focused on the issue of urban waste management with a special focus
on fl ood management in Bangkok.
The series of Thailand Unit demonstrated that students from different nationalities and academic backgrounds could sit together and review these issues from various angles, within the technical, economic and social context. The unit revealed the
importance of incubating new environmental leaders with negotiations skills for
considering the importance of “economic growth along with environmental protection.” This can be achieved only by providing these leaders with communication
and management skills. In this way, complex issues can be expressed in layman’s
language to the public, and support can be gained for environmental protection.
8 Resonance in the Asian Program for Incubation of Environmental Leaders
8.1.2 Partnering Institutions
AIT promotes technological change and sustainable development in the Asian- Pacifi c
region through higher education, research and outreach. AIT was established near
Bangkok in 1959, and has become a leading regional postgraduate institution and is
actively working with public and private sector partners throughout the region and
with some of the top universities in the world. Specifi cally, Environmental Engineering
and Management and Water Engineering and Management partnered in the course
with APIEL over 4 years for knowledge and experience sharing from AIT.
KU is a public university where bodies of knowledge and research potential have
been continually accumulated for nearly seven decades. Today, it is a national
research university endorsed by the Commission on Higher Education of Thailand
with the vision to become “the world’s leading research university in agriculture,
food, technology and innovation.” The Faculty of Engineering in KU is one of the
top ranking institutes of engineering in Thailand. It offers bachelor, master, and
doctoral programs in 15 fi elds including Department of Environmental Engineering.
It educates engineers to serve society, develop the country, and pursue excellence in
engineering and scientifi c advancement.
8.1.3 Thailand Unit Conducted Over the Years
UT, AIT and KU have collaborated to tackle Asian environmental problems in a
tropical environment. This unit ensures student exchange between the three participating institutes covering an interdisciplinary program with from 10 to 20 students
from more than ten countries.
From 2009 to 2012, major sectors of environmental problems have been
addressed in the joint program. In 2009, issues on sustainable solid waste management in Asian developing countries were taken up. By 2011, another important
issue on sustainable urban water use and management was addressed. Flooding is a
natural phenomenon and various human activities as well as climate change have
aggravated the problem, causing economic loss. The nationwide fl ooding in late
2011 resulted in huge losses in Bangkok and other urban areas. Thus in 2012,
Thailand Unit focused on the issue of urban waste management with a special focus
on fl ood management in Bangkok.
The series of Thailand Unit demonstrated that students from different nationalities and academic backgrounds could sit together and review these issues from various angles, within the technical, economic and social context. The unit revealed the
importance of incubating new environmental leaders with negotiations skills for
considering the importance of “economic growth along with environmental protection.” This can be achieved only by providing these leaders with communication
and management skills. In this way, complex issues can be expressed in layman’s
language to the public, and support can be gained for environmental protection.
8 Resonance in the Asian Program for Incubation of Environmental Leaders