By Office of Advancement and Alumni Affaiirs
On November 11, 2024, AIT President Prof. Pai-Chi Li met with Mr. Vikrom Kromadit, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Acting Chief Executive Officer, Amata Corporations PCL to explore potential collaborative initiatives that align industry with academic excellence. Also present at the meeting was Mr. Yeap Swee Chuan, President and CEO of AAPICO Hitech PLC, whose company will be providing full scholarships to students enrolled in AIT’s master’s degree programs from January 2025 semester onwards.
AIT President Prof. Li expressed his sincere gratitude to Mr. Vikrom for his long-standing association with AIT. He highlighted AIT’s dual approach to addressing global challenges: tackling existing problems while preparing for future issues. He emphasized AIT’s commitment in offering innovative solutions through research in its five thematic areas: Climate Change, Smart Communities, Technology, Policy and Society, Food-Energy-Water Nexus, and Infrastructure. One of the key ways AIT is addressing these global concerns is through the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its academic and business practices. The AI Center at AIT focuses on practical applications that have a direct impact on humanity, such as healthcare projects, mitigating climate change, enhancing energy efficiency systems, reducing road accidents, and supporting clean environmental initiatives through AI-based decision support systems.
Mr. Vikrom Kromadit warmly welcomed President Prof. Li to Thailand, congratulating him on his appointment as AIT’s President. He reflected on his own undergraduate studies at National Taiwan University. Mr. Vikrom provided an overview of the significant growth in various industrial sectors within Amata Industrial Cities at Chonburi (around 800 companies) and Rayong (around 450 companies), highlighting Thailand’s appeal as a hub for foreign investment, particularly from the automobile and electronics sectors, including firms from China and Taiwan. Acknowledging the increasing demand for capacity building and talent acquisition, Mr. Vikrom expressed his intent to facilitate AIT’s engagement with industries within the Amata Industrial City. He offered support through Amata Facility Services (AFS), enabling AIT to connect with companies in Chonburi and Rayong.
Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Executive Director of OAAA, expressed his appreciation to Mr. Vikrom for his time and the opportunity to connect AIT with the industries within Amata Cities at Chonburi and Rayong. He underscored the significance of fostering academic-industrial collaborations, which play a pivotal role in enhancing research, knowledge transfer, and professional development. He also highlighted the progress on organizing the first seminar titled “Decarbonization – Options, Challenges, and Opportunities in Business” through AIT Extension, scheduled for the end of Q4 2024. He thanked Mr. Aukkares Choochouy, Managing Director, AFS and his team for their ongoing support in understanding industry requirements related to decarbonization, targeting mid- to senior-level executives.
Also attending the meeting were Mr. Aukkares Choochouy, Managing Director, Amata Facility Services, Ms. Saritar Kromadit, Assistant to Manager, Amata Foundation, Ms. Jutharath Jongsiri, Education Project Manager, Amata Foundation and Mr. Bhaskaran Jacob, Senior Advancement Officer, Office of Advancement & Alumni Affairs, AIT.
