By AIT Public Affairs
24 May 2025: The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) celebrated its 143rd Graduation Ceremony on 23 May 2025 with powerful messages from three distinguished graduation speakers who encouraged graduates to lead with purpose, determination, and integrity.
The event was held in two sessions: a morning session for the School of Engineering and Technology (SET), and an afternoon session for the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) and the School of Management (SOM). Notable dignitaries, diplomats, AIT Board of Trustee members, faculty, and family and friends of the graduates came together to commemorate their success and achievements.
In the morning session, Ms. Deepali Khanna, Vice President of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Asia Regional Office, delivered a motivational graduation speech to SET graduates. She praised them not just as scholars but as innovators who will help shape the future of Asia.
Highlighting challenges such as climate change, digital divides, and inadequate infrastructure, she urged graduates to lead with ethics, optimism, and collaboration. Ms. Khanna shared five key principles to guide them: lead with a positive mindset, combine knowledge with ethical leadership, build partnerships, focus on meaningful impact, and continue learning throughout one’s life.
She encouraged the graduates to embrace setbacks as opportunities, build strong teams, and stay grounded while dreaming big. Ms. Khanna reminded them that they are now part of a global AIT alumni community, and it’s their turn to make a difference.
Professor Dr. Kriengsak Chareonwongsak, Senior Fellow at Harvard University and Chairman of the Nation-Building Institute, also delivered a powerful and thought-provoking graduation address in the morning session, encouraging graduates to reflect on their values and purpose.
The NBII Chairman introduced the concept of the “Four Life Orders” that encompasses understanding ourselves as human beings, connecting with our communities, respecting nature, and seeking truth. He emphasized that a university degree is just a starting point, and what truly matters is how one applies their knowledge in real life. He urged the graduates to continue learning, think deeply about what is right and wrong, and live with intention.
Prof. Kriengsak encouraged AIT’s newest alumni of the School of Engineering to move beyond being viewed as “human resources” and to embrace their full human potential, reminding all that true success comes from living with meaning and serving others.
In the afternoon session, Dr. Dindo Campilan, Regional Director for Asia and Hub Director for Oceania at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), delivered an engaging and reflective address to graduates from SERD and SOM.
Opening on a lighter note, he shared that he used artificial intelligence to help draft his speech, highlighting how rapidly the transformative technology is reshaping our lives. He spoke about the evolving job landscape, where graduates will compete not only with people but also with machines, while reassuring them that human traits like creativity, empathy, and moral judgment remain irreplaceable.
Dr. Campilan noted that this graduation class, shaped by the post-pandemic era, stands at a crucial point in history, just five years from the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals. While acknowledging that many global targets are unlikely to be met, he encouraged the graduates to rise to the challenge and become “essential workers” in service of a more sustainable and just future. He emphasized that the graduates have not only received knowledge, but also the ability to keep learning, growing, and contributing. He closed with a heartfelt message: “You are AIT—Awesome, Inspired, Transformative.”
Together, the speakers delivered a united message: move forward not just with knowledge, but with wisdom, compassion, and a strong sense of responsibility. The graduates now join over 27,000 AIT alumni worldwide who share an academic affiliation and inspiration to make a lasting, positive impact.
