By Office of Advancement & Alumni Affairs
6 July 2023 – AIT President Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto undertook a significant official mission to Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 3rd to 5th July 2023. During this visit, he engaged in productive discussions with key representatives from prestigious institutions, including the University of Colombo (UoC), Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies (ACCIMT), and the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka (UoR).
Prof. Yamamoto was accompanied by Dr. Roger Levermore, Vice President of Development and Dean of the School of Management; Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Executive Director of the Office of Advancement & Alumni Affairs (OAAA), and Ms. Sirikate Owasit, Senior Advancement Officer, OAAA.
University of Colombo (UoC)
Prof. Yamamoto had a constructive meeting with Prof. Pradeep Dharmadasa, Acting Vice Chancellor and Dean, Faculty of Management & Finance at UOC. The meeting was arranged by H.E. Mrs. C.A. Chaminda I. Colonne, Ambassador & Permanent Representative Embassy and Permanent Mission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand who is an alumnus of UoC and Member of the AIT Board of Trustees.
The discussions mainly revolved around the possibility of a partnership to enhance the capacity of probationary lecturers through postgraduate programs at AIT. As a result, a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is set to be prepared and signed in November 2023, with implementation scheduled for August 2024. The meeting was also attended by distinguished representatives from UoC, including Dr. Prathibha Mahanemahewa, the Rector of the Sriplaee Campus; Prof. Sashika Abeydeera Manoratne, Professor in Management and Organization Studies, Department of Management & Organization Studies, Faculty of Management & Finance, Director, International Office (IOUC); Prof.Vidya Jothi Vajira HW Dissanayake, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Upul Sonnadara, Dean of Faculty of Science, Prof. RUK Piyadasa, Dean of Faculty of Technology, and Prof. AA Azeez, Dean of Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies (ACCIMT)
Another crucial meeting took place between Prof. Yamamoto and Dr. Sanath Panawennage, the Director General of ACCIMT. The discussions centered on exploring collaborative opportunities between the two institutions.
Prof. Yamamoto shared insights into AIT’s ongoing transformation and academic restructuring plans, particularly the establishment of the AIT School of Practice. Dr. Sanath highlighted the practical projects developed by ACCIMT, including Nano Satellite, Drone Development, Battery Testing Equipment, and Motorized Selective Tea Harvester, which could be showcased at AIT.
Both organizations found common ground in areas such as RS-GIS and A.I., paving the way for short-term training programs and delivering educational content for the proposed School of Practice at AIT. A draft MoU was prepared by AIT and sent to ACCIMT for review and approval. The signing is tentatively scheduled for November 2023, and the first quarter of 2024 will see the implementation of AIT’s tailor-made short-term training programs. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Shiran A. Welikala, Senior Deputy Director (Industrialization), and his team.
University of Ruhuna (UoR)
A significant milestone was achieved during Prof. Yamamoto’s visit as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between AIT and UoR. This MoU is aimed at enhancing the human resource capacity of UoR’s academic staff through enrollment in Master’s and M.Phil degree programs at AIT. The implementation of these postgraduate programs is set to commence either in January 2024 or August 2024.
UoR Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sujeewa Amarasena, expressed his enthusiasm for expanding collaboration with Thailand, making it UoR’s top priority country for cooperation. In response, Prof. Yamamoto affirmed AIT’s commitment to developing highly qualified professionals through its postgraduate studies program and expressed his honor in partnering with the University of Ruhuna to empower their young academic staff. Prof. Terney Pradeep Kumara, Professor in Oceanography, Department of Oceanography and Marine Geology, and Director Center for International Affairs (CINTA), also attended the meeting.
The visit proved fruitful and laid the foundation for further collaboration and mutual growth between the Asian Institute of Technology and the esteemed institutions in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
