By School of Engineering and Technology
31 July 2023 – AIT School of Engineering and Technology is pleased to welcome Associate Professor Iftekhar Ahmed from the University of Newcastle, Australia. Associate Prof Ahmed’s visit marks a significant collaboration between the two prestigious institutions.
Associate Prof Ahmed will be an integral part of the AIT community for the next three months, from mid-July to mid-October 2023. During this period, he will serve as an Adjunct Faculty member in the Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation, and Management Program at AIT. This collaboration builds upon previous successful partnerships and an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AIT and the University of Newcastle. Assoc. Prof Ahmed is working closely with AIT’s Associate Professor Indrajit Pal on various research, teaching, and engagement initiatives. Furthermore, he is actively establishing connections with industry leaders, including the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) in Bangkok, and engaging with local stakeholders in the field of disaster resilience.
His presence at AIT is part of his sabbatical, supported by the University of Newcastle’s Special Studies Program (SSP). The program focuses on professional development for academic staff, benefiting both the University and the staff member. During his time at AIT, Assoc. Prof Ahmed will focus on teaching topics related to policy and the social dimensions of disaster risk reduction, disaster resilience, management in the built environment, and UN sustainable development goals.
Assoc. Prof Ahmed is renowned for his extensive research in disaster resilience, climate change adaptation, participatory development, and urbanization in the Asia-Pacific region. He has authored several books, professional reports, and numerous peer-reviewed publications, including the lead authorship of the book ‘Disaster Resilience in South Asia’ (Routledge UK, 2020).
As part of his SSP, Assoc. Prof Ahmed will later continue his research, teaching, and engagement activities in Bangladesh, collaborating with BRAC University and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The cumulative impact of his sabbatical is expected to strengthen collaborations, networks, and capacities among partner institutions, fostering long-term initiatives and engagements. Asian Institute of Technology is honored to host Assoc. Prof Iftekhar Ahmed and looks forward to a fruitful period of knowledge exchange and collaboration.
