By AIT Public Affairs
18 January 2024: In a significant step towards strengthening their collaborative efforts in global health and development, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) welcomed Dr. Tessie San Martin, CEO of Family Health International (FHI 360), along with her senior executive team, on January 18, 2024. This visit underscores the deepening relationship between AIT and FHI 360, following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed last year, aimed at fostering joint initiatives and research in areas critical to public health, education, and sustainable development.
During their visit, Dr. San Martin and her team engaged in a comprehensive exploration of AIT’s facilities, including the Environmental Engineering and Management (EEM) Laboratory, NATS Laboratory, IDEA-EEM Lab, and the AI Center. The interactions with AIT’s deans, center directors, and researchers provided FHI 360’s leadership with an in-depth understanding of AIT’s capabilities and potential areas for collaboration. These discussions focused on leveraging AIT’s research strengths and FHI 360’s global health expertise to address pressing global challenges, highlighting the synergies between the two organizations. The visit culminated in discussions on expanding the scope of the partnership, focusing on research initiatives, academic exchanges, and capacity-building projects that align with both institutions’ goals of fostering sustainable development and innovation.
Prof. Abdul P. Salam, Dean of the School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) at AIT, underscored the significance of international collaboration by emphasizing the diverse programs and research endeavors undertaken by AIT. He expressed confidence that by harnessing the expertise from both AIT and FHI 360, these institutions can collectively make a substantial impact on both regional and global scales.
The partnership between AIT and FHI 360, initiated in February 2018, fosters active cooperation. AIT and FHI 360 collaborate on various mutually beneficial initiatives, including joint proposal development and concept note creation for resource mobilization. Their joint applied research and innovation involve incorporating big data and analytics into projects. The agreement facilitates expert exchange and provides AIT students with internship opportunities for real-world experience. The collaboration spans technical areas like Health, Environment, Education, and Civil Society Engagements, among others.
Furthermore, the partnership was celebrated at the Prince Mahidol Award Conference 2024 from 22 -27 January 2024 in Bangkok, organized by Mahidol University where FHI 360 served as a sponsor. The event, held at the Centara Grand Hotel, aimed to explore the impact of geopolitics on global health since World War II, adopting a historical perspective, and deliberating on how these influences can be contested or mitigated as we strive to create a fairer and more equitable world in the face of polycrises. It provided a platform for AIT and FHI 360 to participate in a commitment to advancing health and development outcomes and network with seasoned professionals from all around the globe.
FHI360 invited the AIT President and senior executives to attend the award ceremony, as well as to their side event on Health Equity Amidst Polycrises: Climate-Smart Healthcare in Asia-Pacific, and finally to a private reception emphasizing the importance of their partnership in contributing to global health initiatives. This series of engagements between AIT and FHI 360 marks a pivotal moment in their collaboration, setting the stage for impactful joint efforts in the future.
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