By AIT Public Affairs
22 March 2024: Mr. Renaud Meyer, UNDP Resident Representative in Thailand, along with Ms. Anuk Serechetapongse, Development Economist at UNDP Thailand, delivered an institute-wide seminar titled “Making Our Future: New Directions for Human Development in Asia and the Pacific Implications for Thailand.” This seminar presented key findings from the Asia Pacific Human Development Report, prompting rich dialogue among AIT’s faculty and students.
The seminar discussed the recent Global Human Development report published by the UNDP, which focuses on addressing the challenges facing human development globally and in specific regions like Asia and the Pacific. The discussion further explored the Human Development Index (HDI), which encompasses income, life expectancy, and education to provide a more comprehensive view of human progress. The Asia-Pacific region, despite making the most rapid progress in human development over the past decades, faced setbacks during the pandemic but showed resilience and recovery post-pandemic. However, disparities within and between countries, as well as environmental sustainability, remain significant concerns.
The workshop stressed on the urgent need to address these disparities and environmental challenges to ensure a sustainable and inclusive development trajectory. The disparities in human development indices both between and within countries, the widening gap between the richest and poorest countries post-pandemic, and the environmental impact of development were all discussed. The emphasis was on reimagining collaboration and policies to navigate the current challenges, ensuring that development is people-centric and capable of transforming aspirations into reality while also addressing environmental sustainability. The presentation prompted meaningful interactions with students, staff, and faculty members.
Before the seminar, Mr. Renaud Meyer and Ms. Anuk Serechetapongse engaged in discussions with AIT President, Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto, alongside Vice Presidents, Deans, faculty members, and officials. The discussion focused on exploring and deepening collaboration across several strategic areas, including health, LGBTQI inclusion, digital advancements, gender practices assessment, integrated flood and drought risk assessment, energy transition, and making infrastructure functionally resilient. Both institutions discussed leveraging AIT’s innovative research capabilities and UNDP’s mission-aligned goals to address these issues. Specific proposals included examining an innovative gender practices indicator tool, potential collaborations in flood and drought risk management, engaging AIT alumni in relevant fields, and working together on projects related to just energy transition and infrastructure resilience. The meeting also highlighted opportunities for cooperation in technological advancements. The visit marked a significant step towards a strengthening partnership between AIT and UNDP to contribute towards Sustainable Development Goals..
From AIT, the meeting was attended by Mr. Russell Rein Vice President for Administration (VPA); Prof. Nitin Kumar Tripathi, Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA); Prof Sangam Shrestha, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology (SET); Prof. Abdul Salam, Dean of School of Environment Resources and Development (SERD); Prof. Mokbul Morshed Ahmad, Head of the Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS); Dr. Indrajit Pal, Associate Professor and Chair of Disaster Preparedness Mitigation and Management (DPMM); Dr. Joyee S. Chatterjee, Associate Professor, Gender & Development Studies (GDS); Dr. Gopi Krishna, Coordinator, Sponsored and Contracted Projects Unit; Mr. Sanjeet Amatya, Director, Public Affairs, OIPA and Ms. Yati Oo Project Development Officer.
