[Assam] Asia's best kept secret-Babita Rajkhowa.(The Assam Tribune,28.05.2006)

Thu Jun 1 05:46:44 PDT 2006

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 ----- 
  From: Buljit Buragohain 
  To: assam at assamnet.org 
  Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2006 7:25 PM
  Subject: [Assam] Asia's 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 you're a shopaholic) and a lot more, whatever your inclinations may be! But try telling anyone that it's also a place for top quality education and it's more than likely that they'll shut you up saying "You're joking!" No wonder then, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok has been termed as "Asia's 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. There's a snack bar here that serves Indian food, so I don't 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, it's 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. It's 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 Government's 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 won't believe it, within half an hour, I received an email informing that the Royal Thai government had awarded me the King's 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. I'm 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. He's 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 month's 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. One's 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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