AIT and Sustainability

Sustainable development has been central to Asian Institute of Technology’s (AIT) research and development efforts since its inception.

AIT’s Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Development in the Context of Climate Change (CoE SDCC) was established on 24 September 2009 to support AIT’s vision of responding to global climate change challenges and concerted trans-disciplinary efforts leading towards a more sustainable society.

The goal of CoE SDCC is to integrate the Institute’s research efforts and broaden the networks and partnerships by providing a platform to discuss and launch shared initiatives and pool resources to effectively address issues and challenges in sustainable development and climate change in Asia and beyond.

Developing AIT’s Research Roadmap

The research strategic plan for 2012-2016 emphasizes the consolidation of research efforts and strengthening AIT’s niche technical areas to further harness the institute’s range of network, experience, and expertise. CoE SDCC served a strategic function during the formulation of the AIT Research Strategy (AITRS) 2012-2016 by conducting a series of in-depth analysis and discussions with key experts within AIT and many of the institute’s respected partners.

The formulated research strategy follows four strategic principles, the application of aims to consolidate AIT’s leadership in generating solutions to address real-life challenges to support AIT’s mission to the sustainable development in the Asian region and its integration into the global economy.

Thematic Areas

Co 2

Disaster Risk

Lower Carbon, & Sustainable Production & Consumption Technologies & Management Sustainable Land & Water Resources Management

The following are the four strategic principles of the research strategy:

1.

Research Focus: The AITRS (2012-2016) will focus on select thematic areas under the broad umbrella of Sustainable Development in the Context of Climate Change involving relevant stakeholders.

2.

Research Quality: AIT will continue to focus on continuous quality assurance and systemic quality improvement of its research processes and research outputs.

3.

Quality Collaboration in Research: AIT will continue to promote and sustain quality collaborations with relevant stakeholders, existing and new ones, for research, and implementation of research applications to address real-life challenges. While supporting research institutions in the region to build their capacity, AIT will also proactively seek engagements with leading research institutions to continue increasing the institute’s capacity and assist creating and strengthening linkages between institutions.

4.

Research Resource Mobilization: AIT will seek to diversify its resource portfolio through the implementation of this strategy. AIT will seek to increase its research resources by 10% every year and pursue active engagement of public-private partnerships for resource mobilization.

Management

Urban and Rural Quality of Life & Sustainabillity

Business and Innovation Models for a Green Economy

With contributions from Prof. Kanchana Kanchanasut, AIT’s Vice-President for Research, and Amandeep Sangha of AIT's Center of Excellence in Sustainable Development in the context of Climate Change.