Photo Release: AIT explores collaboration with Thailand’s Panyapiwat Institute of Management (PIM)

Monday 29 September 2014 16:35
A large eleven-member delegation from Thailand’s Panyapiwat Institute of Management (PIM) visited the Asian Institute of Technology on 24 September 2014 to discuss possible cooperation.

Led by PIM President Prof. Dr. Sompob Manarangsan, the visitors were welcomed to the institute by AIT President Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, who praised the Bangkok-based institute’s strong record of success since it opened in 2007.

“PIM is new but you have started with fresh ideas,” the president stated. “AIT could learn from its successful education initiatives,” said the president, indicating the institute’s strong desire for cooperation.

Meeting with a large group of counterpart AIT administration officials, Prof. Sompob returned the compliment, calling AIT a “prestigious international institute” which is of great interest to PIM. The exploratory meeting was a follow-up to an initial meeting on June 25.

Some initial areas identified for potential research collaboration included energy, nanotechnology, geographic information systems for agriculture, remote sensing, food and bio-processing engineering, food processing management, industrial systems engineering, information and communications and social media analytics.

AIT faculty members representing the School of Engineering and Technology and School of Environment, Resources and Development envisioned numerous synergies between the two institutes and expressed excitement at the possibility for developing new programs with PIM.

The delegation was also welcomed to the School of Management by its Interim Dean Dr. Donyaprueth Krairith, and later toured the Nanotechnology Center of Excellence laboratories and Industrial Systems Engineering facilities.

Located in suburban Bangkok, PIM is a unique ‘Corporate University’ established by CP All Plc., which is a part of the Charoen Pokphand Group. It specializes in work-based learning programs to ensure that graduates are both academically skilled and prepared for the modern workplace.

Guided by its motto of “Create Professionals by Professionals”, PIM works to improve the quality of education, increase the level of human capital, and develop new bodies of knowledge to respond to Thailand’s needs, Prof. Sompob said.

Dr. Usanee Kulintornprasert, Deputy Director, Office of International Relations, presented details of the institute which currently boasts 8300 students, 77 percent of whom are enrolled in Bachelor’s programs. PIM offers a unique Business Chinese and Business Japanese programs, specialized MBA programs and a PhD program in Business Administration conducted in Chinese. The institute is also renowned for its program to educate and train mangers and personnel of the country’s thousands of 7-Eleven retail outlets.

PIM currently operates faculties in Business Administration, Liberal Arts, Engineering and Technology, Communication Arts, Management Science, Innovative Agricultural Management, and an International College. It offers English programs, Chinese programs, training courses, and Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees accredited by the Office of Higher Education Commission, Thailand.

Photo caption: Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai (left) and Prof. Dr. Sompob Manarangsan