By the Office of International and Public Affairs
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) welcomed a distinguished delegation from the MIT Sloan School of Management on 28 October 2024 as part of its ongoing effort to foster collaboration in addressing pressing sustainability issues across Thailand and the ASEAN region.
The meeting, organized by AIT’s Office of International and Public Affairs, brought together key academicians from both AIT and MIT. The visiting professors are part of the MIT Sloan Food Supply Chain Analytics and Sensing (FSAS) Initiative, which focuses on using advanced data analytics to optimize food systems. The initiative based at MIT Sloan in Cambridge, USA, aims to address issues of food security, agricultural resilience, and environmental sustainability through cutting-edge research and technology.
AIT President Prof. Pai-Chi Li, along with several other faculty members, engaged in discussion with the MIT Sloan delegation represented by Dr. Stacy Springs, Executive Director, FSAS; Prof. Retsef Levi, J. Spencer Standish Professor of Management; Assoc. Prof. Y. Karen Zheng, Operations Management, Director, Leaders for Global Operations Program and Assistant Prof. Ali Aouad, Operations Management.
Delegates shared insights on how their respective institutions are tackling sustainable development. The MIT team outlined their research focus areas, particularly in food security and environmental resilience, illustrating the ways in which their analytics and sensing technologies are being developed to optimize food supply chains and environmental monitoring.
AIT experts shared aspects of the institute’s ongoing work in environment and resources, computational modelling, analytics and decision support models, agribusiness and artificial intelligence (AI). Both sides expressed optimism for identifying entry points for research collaboration through continued discussions.
President Li commented on the possibility of working with a globally renowned institution like MIT to address development challenges in Asia. “Our research on the ground and knowledge of the regional offers a unique opportunity to work together to address some of the most critical issues facing our part of the world,” President Li said.
The visit was linked to the inauguration of the new MIT Sloan ASEAN Office in Bangkok, which will serve as a regional hub for advancing partnerships and projects within Southeast Asia. The MIT delegation’s stop at AIT reflects their interest in working closely with Thai-based institutions that are at the forefront of sustainability research and applications. The new office, alongside initiatives like FSAS, strengthens MIT’s presence in the region, reinforcing its commitment to addressing sustainability and food security on a global scale, MIT officials said.
AIT officials, including AIT Board of Trustees member Dr. Sarasin Viraphol, attended a dinner organized by MIT Sloan which celebrated the opening of the ASEAN Office. The event provided additional networking opportunities with stakeholders from various sectors invested in sustainable development within Southeast Asia.
Executive Director of International and Public Affairs Shawn Kelly and Head of Emerging Markets Danielle Duan represented the institute at MIT Sloan Global Programs’ “Beyond Years: The Future of Longevity” conference in Bangkok on October 31 – November 1. The event convened MIT faculty, experts, researchers, policymakers, and innovators who explored the challenges and opportunities presented by aging societies under the themes of Imagining Wellbeing for Longevity, Designing the Context for Longevity, and Financing Longevity.
