31 January 2023: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) on 31 January 2023.
The MoU establishes collaboration in policy research and related operations toward achieving sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific. The priority areas of cooperation identified between AIT and IGES are resource efficiency and circular economy, waste and plastic pollution, climate change, co-benefits, water resource management, and regional CES.
Prof Kazuo Yamamoto, AIT President, thanked IGES for the partnership and affirmed that AIT is open to exploring new areas of collaboration.
Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, Vice President of Academic Affairs, shared that AIT has a long history of partnership with IGES and highlighted the possibility of collaboration in research and academic activities, including internship and other opportunities for students.
Prof Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President of IGES and member of the AIT Board of Trustees, said, “I am pleased with the partnership and hope this will open new areas of collaboration for the two institutions.”
From AIT, the event was attended by Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto, AIT President; Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, Vice President of Academic Affairs; Dr. Bindu N. Lohani, member of AIT Board of Trustees; Prof. Dieter Trau, Dean, School of Engineering and Technology; Prof. Sangam Shrestha, the Head of Department of Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, SET; Dr. Guilberto Borongan, Director, RRC.AP; Mr. Karma Rana, Institute Secretary; 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.
The delegation from IGES included Prof Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President of IGES and member of AIT’s Board of Trustees and Mr. Tetsuo Kuyama, Programme Director, Bangkok Regional Centre, IGES.
About IGES
The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) was established in March 1998 under an initiative of the Japanese government and with the support of Kanagawa Prefecture based on the “Charter for the Establishment of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies”. The aim of the Institute is to achieve a new paradigm for civilization and conduct innovative policy development and strategic research for environmental measures, reflecting the results of research into political decisions for realizing sustainable development both in the Asia-Pacific region and globally.
