The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) had the honor of welcoming H.E. Ambassador Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, Ambassador of Malaysia to Thailand, to the AIT campus on 1 July 2026. The Ambassador was accompanied by Ms. Jarin Sijaya, Counsellor and Head of Chancery, and Ms. Nur Syarfa Aina, Counsellor, from the Embassy of Malaysia in Thailand.
The visit commenced with an introductory briefing and courtesy meeting with Gen. Dr. Boonsrang Niumpradit, Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees, and Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President of AIT. This was followed by a meeting with AIT’s senior leadership and staff comprising Prof. Manukid Parnichkun, Vice President for Academic and Research; Prof. Siddharth Jabade, Vice President for Administration and Development; Prof. Anil Kumar Anal, Dean, Faculty of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FFANR); Prof. Jai Govind Singh, Dean, Faculty of Climate Change and Sustainability (FCCS); Dr. Nurul Husna Hassan, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering (FCEE); Mr. Voravate Chonlasin, Executive Director, AIT Extension; Ms. Lucena D. Talaid, Senior Alumni Affairs Officer, Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (OAAA); Dr. Indra Kumari, Coordinator, Office of International Affairs (OIA); Mr. Sanjeet Amatya, Director, Office of Communications and Public Affairs (OCPA); Dr. Namita Sravat, Institute Deputy Secretary and Mr. Karma Rana, Institute Secretary.
Welcoming the Ambassador, Board Chairman Gen. Dr. Boonsrang Niumpradit highlighted the longstanding partnership between Malaysia and AIT, noting Malaysia’s active participation on the AIT Board of Trustees since 1968. He emphasized that, for nearly seven decades, AIT has served as a regional institution dedicated to developing leaders, professionals, and innovators who contribute to sustainable development and regional cooperation and expressed confidence that the visit would further strengthen the enduring partnership between Malaysia and the Institute.
In his welcome remarks, President Prof. Pai-Chi Li reaffirmed the close relationship between Malaysia and AIT, noting that more than 320 Malaysians have graduated from the Institute and have gone on to make significant contributions in academia, government, industry, and society. He highlighted AIT’s extensive collaborations with Malaysian universities, government agencies, companies, and professional organizations, and underscored the tremendous opportunities to deepen cooperation in sustainability, artificial intelligence, technology and innovation, capacity building, and human resource development.
During the discussions, AIT presented its strategic priorities, academic strengths, and ongoing collaborations with Malaysian universities, government agencies, and industry. Participants highlighted AIT’s role as a regional centre of excellence that combines world-class research with practical solutions to address pressing societal challenges. Discussions explored opportunities to expand collaboration in climate change, water resources, agriculture, food security, sustainable infrastructure, disaster resilience, energy transition, innovation, executive education, and research commercialization. Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening postgraduate education, joint research initiatives, professional development programs, and customized capacity-building for the Malaysian public sector.
Ambassador Wan Zaidi expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and reaffirmed Malaysia’s longstanding relationship with AIT, recognizing the Institute’s significant role as a regional centre of excellence in higher education, research, and capacity building. He commended AIT’s contributions in addressing critical regional challenges, including climate change, water resources, agriculture, and food security, while emphasizing the importance of developing highly skilled professionals and translating research into practical innovations that deliver societal and economic benefits. Reaffirming Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening ties with AIT, he expressed the Embassy’s readiness to support expanded collaboration through partnerships in education, research, technology, and capacity building.
Concluding the meeting, President Prof. Pai-Chi Li welcomed the productive discussions and sought the Embassy’s support for AIT’s planned mission to Malaysia in August 2026, a request that the Ambassador warmly endorsed as part of the shared commitment to advancing future collaborative initiatives.
