Year-end Message from AIT President

Asian Institute of Technology
December 21, 2005

Professor Said Irandoust, AIT President, today addresses the Year-end message to the AIT community. The message is quoted below:

Dear Faculty, Staff, Students and Alumni,

As the semester draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity in wishing all members of the AIT community a very happy year-end break as well as prosperous New Year. For me personally, the past six months have been both challenging and rewarding at the same time and I am deeply gratified by the strong sense of unification and solidarity among all constituencies of AIT, during this particularly difficult phase. One of the great strengths of AIT continues to be the many talented men and women who comprise of the AIT community and I wish to express my sincere thanks to all members for their strong support and commitment to the Institute.

I had an opportunity during the year-end Institute Forum held on 14 December to outline some of the activities and initiatives undertaken over the past six-months under my presidency as well as to highlight the challenges that lie ahead and strategies for future directions. One of the most important tasks for the coming year and that which will chart the course of the Institute?s future direction will be the preparation of an Institute Strategic Development Plan (2006-2010). The process has already been initiated at the Schools and AIT Extension levels and we plan to launch the integrated plan of the Institute at a Donors Meeting sometime in May 2006.

Let us face the year ahead with both confidence and enthusiasm. It is important that we maintain a positive attitude and aim to turn the challenges we face into opportunities as we prepare AIT for the coming years. I am sure you will all sustain efforts that have brought AIT to its present successful position and prestige. In this context, I would also like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude and sincere appreciation to all our partners for their continued support and confidence in us.

What 2006 will hold for the Institute will depend a lot on every one of us keeping up the good work. AIT is a special place. It is resilient and creative because of its students, faculty, staff and alumni. Given the Institute?s history of almost five decades of excellence and service to the region we can not afford to fail in imparting our mission. I also wish to reach out to all our alumni in expressing my assurances in working closely together in exploring ways in which we could further enhance our partnership. Our alumni comprise an important and much respected part of the AIT family and serves as a most valuable influence and resource for the Institute. The alumni will play an instrumental role in further defining the strategic and long-term future directions of the Institute.
Do take this opportunity to enjoy the holiday break and celebrate the festive season with well-deserved happiness. I wish you and your families and friends a relaxing time and look forward to seeing you all again in the New Year.

Thank you, everyone, for your hard work and dedication to the Institute.


Professor Said Irandoust
President

Keywords: campus-news, addresses