By Alistina Shrestha
The AIT School of Engineering and Technology (SET) and National Chung Hsing University (NCHU), Taiwan, officially signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on 30 April 2025 to deepen academic collaboration through a student exchange program. The agreement aims to strengthen scholarly ties and promote mutual understanding by facilitating joint coursework and research opportunities for students in civil and infrastructure engineering.
The NCHU delegation, led by Prof. Ming-Der Yang, Dean of the College of Civil Engineering, was warmly welcomed at AIT by a delegation led by Prof. Sangam Shrestha, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology (SET), and Dr. Geoff Chao, Head of the Department of Civil and Infrastructure Engineering. The two-day visit also included a tour of the AIT campus, research facilities, laboratories, and discussions on SET’s research and innovation ecosystem.
The NCHU delegation included Prof. Yen-Wei Chu (Director, Graduate Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, NCHU), Assoc. Prof. Yi-In Lee from Tunghai University, Mr. Gui Chou Liang (Research Assistant, Graduate Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, NCHU), Mr. Xuan-Yu Chen (Research Scholar, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, NCHU), and Dr. Ryan Joshua Liou (Research Assistant, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, NCHU). Similarly, Ms. Sirima Sirimattayanan (Senior Program Officer, International Affairs, OIPA) and Ms. Alistina Shrestha (Marketing, Recruitment & Digital Strategy Manager, SET) were also present on behalf of AIT.
During the MoA signing ceremony, both institutions also explored potential areas of collaboration, including faculty exchanges, joint research projects, and dual degree opportunities. In his welcome remarks, Prof. Shrestha emphasized the institute’s long-standing relationship with Taiwan, stating, “We look forward to a fruitful collaboration that not only strengthens our academic ties but also furthers our mutual goals in research and education.”
Prof. Yang expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, noting that AIT is widely recognized for its research excellence and international focus. He underscored NCHU’s interest in forging meaningful academic and research partnerships with AIT.
During the visit to AIT’s AI Simulation Lab, Dr. Sarawut Ninsawat, Head of Information & Communications Technology, and Dr. Sanit Arunplod, Senior Lab Supervisor and Research Scientist in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems, shared ongoing research projects on AI-enhanced medical diagnostics and segmentation tools designed to assist radiologists, as well as drone-based 3D point cloud imaging for documenting large-scale cultural heritage sites like Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Prof. Ming-Der Yang noted several similar research interests between NCHU and AIT, highlighting strong potential for collaborative research and innovation.
At the AI Center, the delegation was presented with several notable projects commissioned by Thai government agencies such as the Ministry of Transportation and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Mr. Saswot Nepal, the Center’s Research Associate, highlighted its work on AI systems developed for analyzing traffic flow, enforcing road regulations, and detecting accidents in real-time. The Center also contributed to healthcare innovations with tools such as elder care systems for fall detection, AI-assisted diagnosis of thyroid nodule cancers, and early screening for dementia. The session concluded with a guided tour of the AI Center’s lab, offering a closer look at the technologies and researchers behind these impactful advancements in AI applications to solve real-world issues.
The visit concluded at Drone Entry (Thailand) Co., Ltd, established at the AIT BOI Science and Technology Park (AIT BOI-STP) that focuses on delivering innovative drone-based solutions and engaging with the talented and creative minds of AIT students. Dr. Donald M. Ugsang, President at the company, showcased several drone models of different structures and operations developed by the company, where SET’s former and current students have also contributed significantly. Dr. Ugsang also introduced the delegation to the company’s diverse products, operation systems, and collaborative activities deployed worldwide.
This visit and collaboration reaffirm AIT School of Engineering and Technology’s commitment to expanding its global network and fostering impactful international partnerships that drive academic excellence and innovation in Asia and beyond.
