108th AIT Graduation Ceremony

Photo was taken a day before the celebration. Purple symbolizes the color of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

Just sharing a few updates of AIT's latest milestone. Below is the weekly letter that AIT employees received coming from the President of this Institution (Mr. Said Irandoust).

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided over AIT’s 108th Graduation Ceremony, during which she conferred the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (honoris causa), to His Excellency Mr. Anand Panyarachun, former Prime Minister of Thailand. The degree was in recognition of His Excellency Mr. Anand’s outstanding contributions as a diplomat, business executive, constitution writer, and twice Prime Minister of Thailand and more importantly for AIT as its former Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The citation was read by Dr. Tej Bunnag, Chairman, AIT Board of Trustees.

Her Royal Highness also conferred doctoral and master’s degrees to 181 AIT graduates from 39 countries and delivered a Royal Address on the occasion. H.E. Mr. Anand Panyarachun, and the most outstanding student, Ms. Laongtip Wanasuwannakul, also addressed the gathering. Our children from the AIT Community School wearing their different nationalities sang a few intermission numbers including a song composed by His Majesty the King of Thailand, which was greatly appreciated by all present.
 
Over the years, AIT has been honored by the good graces of Thailand’s Royal Family. AIT and fortunate to receive Royal Patronage and support of His Majesty the King and members of the Royal Family throughout the Institute’s history. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has long been associated with AIT and is an honorary faculty member and alumna of the Institute.

During the luncheon which was hosted in honour of HRH Princess Sirindhorn, Her Royal Highness informed us that she had met with His Majesty the King of Thailand prior to her visit to AIT, who conveyed through Her Royal Highness, His Majesty’s continued interest and support for AIT and its work. Her Royal Highness also made a personal contribution of 1 million Baht towards scholarships for needy students to pursue their studies at AIT. Her Royal Highness had very fond memories and recollections of the time she spent at AIT in 1984, when she attended a two-month course at the Asian Regional Remote Sensing Training Center. Her Royal Highness remarked that she had enjoyed her time at AIT, and also greatly appreciated and benefited from the international and multicultural environment which AIT provided, and which Her Royal Highness viewed as one of the Institute’s unique strengths.