17 Dec 2022- The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 16 December 2022.
The objective of the MoU is to provide the parties with a general framework and a guiding tool in identifying and carrying out specific collaborative projects and activities for joint implementation from time to time through specific agreements.
AIT and IUCN will collaborate in various potential areas including, exchange of staff and experts, joint research areas of mutual interest; exchange of scientific and exhibition materials and other activities like seminars, conference, exhibition and internship opportunities to AIT students.
AIT President, Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto said that the MOU has come on the good time stating that AIT is planning to create a botanical garden campus to achieve ‘net zero’. “One of our goals is to preserve and enhance natural resources within the campus, and I believe IUCN’s expertise on the matter will be an asset for us”.
Stating that IUCN and AIT has a long history of collaboration and cooperation Dr. Dindo Campilan, Regional Director and Oceania Hub Director of IUCN said, “This collaboration will not only support conservation but also help us work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We have done several collaborations in the past and the MoU signed today is just a framework for us to move forward. We welcome expertise and advice from AIT.”
From AIT, the event was attended by Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto, AIT President; Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, Vice President of Academic Affairs; Prof. Vilas Nitivattananon Dean School of Environment Resources and Development (SERD); Prof. Dieter Trau, Dean, School of Engineering and Technology; Mr. Shawn P. Kelly, Director, Office of International Affairs (OIA); Mr. Sanjeet Amatya, Deputy Director, Office of Public Affairs and Dr. Sumana Shrestha Coordinator, OIA. Representatives from IUCN included Dr. Dindo Campilan, Regional Director and Oceania Hub Director, IUCN Asia; Dr. Rosa Mary Saengsanthitham, Head, External Administration Services, IUCN Asia and Ms. Supranee Kampongsun, Head of Office, IUCN Thailand.
About IUCN
IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, is an international organization, with headquarters located in Switzerland. The mission of IUCN is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.
