Old AIT board returns to power
Supervision of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) will return to its old Board of Trustees, a step seen as crucial in solving the crisis surrounding the institute's charter.
The crisis arose after the AIT enforced its new charter early this year, despite the fact that the Parliament has not yet ratified it. As the Thai government has not recognised its new charter, the status of AIT’s degrees and its new board are in doubt. For months, AIT president Said Irandoust has refused to back down on the new charter, aggravating the crisis to the point that students and alumni pressed for his resignation.
At a meeting yesterday at which Irandoust was also present, it was agreed that the old board – whose status is recognised by Thai authorities – would return. This board will confer degrees for graduates, including those who received degrees under the new charter earlier this year. It was also resolved that Foreign Ministry deputy permanent secretary Nopadol Gunavibool will chair the board in place of Tej Bunnag in the issuance of degrees.
