AIT president urged to step down
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) students and lecturers yesterday called on AIT president Professor Said Irandoust to step down to take responsibility over the fact the institute's degrees may not be certified by the Office of the Civil Service Commiss
Irandoust held a meeting of students and lecturers to discuss the problem and answered questions about the institute’s 2012 and 2013 budgets. Diplomats from nine countries attended.
Over 200 students dressed in black and white to express their dissatisfaction with Irandoust’s management. The problem emerged after the AIT issued a new charter in January this year, which the government has yet to ratify.
Pawat Traipattanakul, a former student leader, said the meeting failed to provide any answer to the problem that students would receive degrees after graduating that would be certified.
“We want a neutral agency to check the president’s management and make the institute adopt the old charter. We are not going to wait till December as requested. If we do not receive a clear answer, we will join forces in a mass protest,’’ he said.
Suchada Patia, a master’s degree student, said most graduates were worried that they would not be able to apply for jobs and further their education.
Dr Donyaprueth Krairit, an AIT lecturer, said he could not accept the president’s excuse that he did not receive three letters from the Office of Higher Education, and the Foreign and Education Ministries on the problem. He said the alumni association had already revealed details of the letters.
“We want the president to step down to take responsibility over this problem,’’ he said.
