1 March 2025: Prof. Manukid Parnichkun has been appointed as the Vice President for Academic and Research (VPAR), effective 1 March 2025.
Prof. Manukid was selected following a rigorous process that included an online public presentation by two shortlisted candidates. They discussed their visions, the implementation of the Blueprint, and critical academic and research issues with the faculty and staff. Based on the feedback received and the Selection Committee’s recommendation, the Board of Trustees confirmed his appointment through a postal ballot, as decided in the February 6, 2025 board meeting.
Prof. Pai-Chi Li, AIT President, said he looks forward to working with Prof. Manukid in his new role and is confident that the community will support him in advancing AIT’s academic and research missions. He also extended his sincere appreciation to Prof. Nitin K. Tripathi for his leadership and dedication as Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs during this transitional period.
Prof. Manukid has been with the School of Engineering and Technology (SET) since 1996. He currently serves as a Professor and the Academic Program Chair for the Mechatronics and Machine Intelligence Program. Additionally, he is the Chairperson of the AIT Academic Senate. Previously, he held the position of Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees. He holds a Ph.D. in Precision Machinery Engineering from the University of Tokyo.
Upon his appointment, Prof. Manukid stated, “It is an honor to be appointed as the Vice President for Academic and Research. I am committed to this prestigious role and pledge my utmost effort. AIT is at a crucial juncture. To navigate the evolving challenges and trends, we must transform our academic, research, and outreach endeavors. I set my highest priorities on AIT’s transformation, enhancing academic and research quality, and uplifting the morale of our faculty and staff.”
A founding member of the Thai Robotics Society (TRS), Prof. Manukid also served as its Editor-in-Chief and President from 2003 to 2005. He has organized and chaired several international conferences, such as IEEE ICIT 2002 and IEEE ROBIO 2008, and has led various robotics competitions including the Thailand Intelligent Vehicle Challenge (2007-2009) and the ABU Robocon Thailand Championship (since 2002). His research interests include Mechatronics, Robotics, Control, and Measurement.
