By Danielle Duan
Invited by the National Research Center on Lancang-Mekong Area Studies of Hohai University, a delegation from the Asian Institute of Technology conducted a faculty and staff exchange at Hohai University in Nanjing, China, from November 12 to 15, 2024.
The four-day program featured campus tours, academic dialogues, and participation in an international conference on social and environmental preservation in the Lancang-Mekong region. The AIT team included the Executive Director of the Office of International and Public Affairs, the Head of Emerging Markets International Cooperation, and faculty members from the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering.
The delegation visited key facilities at Hohai University, the International Office, the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs, the National Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention, and the Hohai University Museum. Meetings with students and faculty focused on advancing collaboration between the two institutions.
On November 13, the AIT delegation participated in the international seminar themed “2024 Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Sustainable Development.” Scholars from across the region exchanged insights on cooperation for water resource development and sustainable practices. Keynote speakers at the opening ceremony included Professor Zhang Jisheng, Director of the International Cooperation Office at Hohai University, Mr. Shawn Kelly, and Professor Nguyen Viet Thanh, Vice Dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Transportation in Vietnam.
Senior engineers and scholars from China’s Ministry of Water Resources and related agencies presented on topics concerning water resource cooperation, development, protection, and climate change in the Lancang-Mekong region. AIT faculty members Associate Professor Dr. Ekbordin Winijkul, Head of the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, and Dr. Natthachet Tangdamrongsub, Assistant Professor of Water Engineering and Management, delivered scientific lectures.
The seminar welcomed more than 60 students from six Lancang-Mekong countries – Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Professor Wang Dawei, Director of the Lancang-Mekong National Regional Research Center, moderated the academic exchange session. In his remarks, Professor Wang expressed appreciation for the speakers and lecturers’ contributions to fostering international collaboration on sustainable development of the Lancang-Mekong region, noting that such gatherings are welcomed by students and young scholars. He encouraged the students to actively engage in ecological preservation efforts.
During the visit, both institutions explored detailed and constructive avenues for collaboration, particularly in the fields of environmental engineering, civil engineering, and digital technologies.
Earlier in 2024, AIT and Hohai University co-hosted the “International Leadership Training Program for Lancang-Mekong River Young Professionals in Water Sciences” at AIT’s campus. The event convened scientists, engineers, researchers, and students from both institutions to address pressing challenges facing the Lancang-Mekong River. The program emphasized scientific and environmental engineering solutions, attracting participation from 15 students and seven faculty members from Hohai University, alongside 26 AIT students.
The exchange and ongoing collaboration underscore the commitment of AIT and Hohai University to fostering regional cooperation and advancing sustainable development initiatives in the Lancang-Mekong region.
Danielle Duan is Head of Emerging Markets International Cooperation, Office of International and Public Affairs, AIT.
