May 27th, 2022 — Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on research and development exchange, capacity building, gender inclusivity and equality, employment and internship opportunities for students revolving around Infrastructure resilience and sustainable development in the Asia region.
Since this is the first partnership between AIT and UNOPS, AIT President Dr. Eden Woon and Regional Director of UNOPS Asia Region Mr. Sanjay Mathur first exchanged the two parties’ core competencies, expertise, and areas of their focus.
The signing of this MoU marks a crucial step towards moving the collaboration forward in alignment with the UNOPS Strategic Plan 2022-2025. The two parties discussed possible future initiatives for laying foundations for Asia’s infrastructure in emerging technology; project management and development; capacity building in research and development; gender equality development, all in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Delegates from UNOPS included Mr. Sanjay Mathur, Regional Director of UNOPS Asia Region; Mr. Joseph Gabriel Stables, Regional Infrastructure Advisor UNOPS Asia Region; Ms. Maria Wernevi, Regional Gender-Responsive Project Management Advisor UNOPS Asia Region; and Mr. Ameer Sobhan, Programmes & Partnerships Analyst, UNOPS Asia Region.
AIT’s Delegates included Dr. Eden Woon, AIT President; Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, Vice President for Academic Affairs (joined online); Prof. Dieter Trau, Dean, School of Engineering and Technology (SET) / Director, AIT Entrepreneurship Center; Prof. Vilas Nitivattananon, Dean, School of Environment Resources and Development (SERD); Prof. Pennung Warnitchai, Department Head Civil & Infrastructure Engineering (SET); Prof. Kyoko Kusakabe, Gender and Development Studies (SERD); Prof. Abdul Salam, Sustainable Energy Transition (SERD); Dr. Indrajit Pal, Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management (SET); Dr. Sayed Khan, School of Management (SOM) (Representing Dr. Roger Levermore Dean SOM); Mr. Sanjeet Amatya, Deputy Director, Office of Public Affairs (OPA); and Dr. Gopi Krishna, Research Coordinator, Sponsored and Contracted Projects Office (SCPO).
