By Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (OAAA)
On 26 September 2025, the official donation agreement signing ceremony took place between AIT President, Prof. Pai-Chi Li and Mr. Pote Narittakurn Lee, Chairman of iGroup (Asia-Pacific) Limited, at AIT. Mr. Lee, a distinguished alumnus of AIT and former member of AIT’s Board Executive Committee, who earned his Master’s in Engineering in Water Resources Engineering in 1974 continued his longstanding commitment to education in donation agreement signing, which encompassed both an in-kind book donation to the AITIS (valued at THB 867,569), which consists of a collection of 474 carefully selected books that has been donated to enhance the AITIS library resources. And student scholarship support for two deserving Myanmar master’s students (valued at THB 576,000 for two students) under the prestigious “Mr. Pote Narittakurn Lee Scholarships,” covering 18 credits of tuition fees per student.
The iGroup (Asia Pacific) Limited is a Hong Kong-registered multinational organisation with offices spanning over 20 countries in the Asia-Pacific region with a total workforce of over 1,500. The company aims to be a one-stop station for information products and library technologies. Mr. Lee has consistently given back to his alma mater, emphasising the values of his company such as transparency, respect, and community service.
AIT President Prof. Pai-Chi Li expressed immense pleasure to welcome a truly distinguished AIT alumnus, Mr. Lee. He mentioned that “Mr. Lee’s professional success and enduring commitment to AIT are truly an inspiration to all of us.” He highlighted that the in-kind books donation was an immediate enhancement to AITIS learning resources and the student scholarships are “life-changing investments” that remove barriers for deserving students while empowering future leaders.” President Prof Li concluded by stating, “On behalf of the AIT community, we thank you for your remarkable generosity and unwavering belief in the power of education. And AIT looks forward to continuing working with Mr. Lee for years to come”.
Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Executive Director of the Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (OAAA), extended his sincere appreciation to Mr. Lee and a warm welcome to Mr. David Shawah and iGroup (Asia-Pacific) delegates. He highlighted that today is auspicious because we are not only signing an agreement for in-kind donations on the books which have been already delivered to AITIS but also have the two scholarship recipients who are benefiting from the prestigious Mr Lee scholarship stating that this is not the first time; there have been several other students in the previous years who have been supported by Mr. Lee. Mr. Sanjeev also added that many of these students, when they graduate, make use of this scholarship opportunity at AIT to do well in their careers and lives as they are indebted and grateful for such support. He thanked Mr. Lee for all the contributions you have given in kind, monetarily, and also through mentorship and guidance, and AIT is really grateful for his wonderful support.
Mrs. Oluwayemisi Thomas, Principal of AITIS, expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership with iGroup (Asia-Pacific) Ltd. that began in 2020, acknowledging Mr. Lee’s sustained support through various educational technology initiatives, including the BSD (Build Something Different) program, CodeMonkey, Viva Achiever, and coding adventure platforms that have been integrated across different grade levels. And she highlighted that the in-kind book donation will enrich the AITIS library and mentioned that AITIS greatly appreciates Mr. Lee’s generosity towards the school.
Mr. Pote Narittakurn Lee, Chairman of iGroup (Asia-Pacific) Limited, expressed enthusiasm for supporting AITIS’s educational initiatives, highlighting ongoing programs like the BSD (Build Something Different) coding platform, CodeMonkey, Viva Achiever, and Coding Adventure, which have been provided since the COVID-19 era to help students. He stated exciting future developments, including new AI-focused courses for young learners and an innovative essay writing system designed to help students understand proper citation practices and ethical research methodologies. He also added that “iGroup is developing programs that will help the younger generation learn AI and understand how to use these tools responsibly for research.” Addressing the scholarship recipients, Mr. Lee offered wonderful advice, noting that: “After you finish your degree, first of all, you have to help the country. Number two is help the lower-income people. And then you have to take care of your two parents.”
Mr. David Shawah, Director of Business Development at iGroup (Asia-Pacific) Ltd., echoed these sentiments, noting the last five-year partnership with AITIS and the advancement of the transformative potential of AI-integrated content for students. He emphasized the transformative potential of AI in making educational content, stating that “With AI integration, any student can engage with advanced academic content regardless of their current proficiency level, making all educational resources truly accessible to everyone.” He highlighted how such tools could enable high school students to engage with advanced materials like PhD dissertations, fostering forward-thinking education at AIT.
The scholarship recipients expressed profound gratitude to Mr. Lee for the scholarship opportunity. Ms. Nwe Ni Aye, a student in master’s of Business Analytics & Digital Transformation (BADT) at the School of Management (SOM), described the opportunity as “This scholarship is not only a financial assistance but also encouragement and motivation for me to continue my studies with dedication. I would like to follow your example (Mr. Lee) by contributing to the community in the future.”
Mr. Yan Linn Oo, studying a master’s in Geotechnical and Earth Resources Engineering (GTE) at the School of Engineering and Technology (SET), added, “This scholarship has eased my financial burden and given me the chance to study hard for my future. This scholarship is truly impactful for my academic journey.”
The event concluded with a visit to AITIS, where Mr. Lee was briefed by Prof. Siddhart K. Jabade, Vice President for Administration and Development (VPAD), on the vision and blueprint under development for AITIS for the next 5 years. The delegation witnessed firsthand the impact of their continued support on the learning environment and student experience.
AIT expresses its heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Pote Narittakurn Lee for his visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to education, and his continued belief in AIT’s mission to develop future leaders and contribute to sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.
The ceremony was also attended by Ms. Nattaporn Boonmee, Project Manager and Mr. Thien Zin from Book Promotion & Service Co., Ltd; Mr. Bentai Santivejkul, Business Development, mangoSTEEMS Thailand Co., Ltd; Ms. Lucena D. Talaid, Senior Alumni Affairs Officer and Bhaskaran Jacob, Senior Advancement Officer from Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (OAAA).
