The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) will provide NOK 15 million to the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok as its assistance in human resources development for the period of 2003-2005.
The agreement was signed at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok on May 14 by Norwegian Ambassador to Thailand, H.E. Mrs. Ragne Birte Lund and AIT President, Professor Jean-Louis Armand.
The NORAD-AIT cooperation programme for the period of 2003-2005 aims to strengthen the institutional capabilities of the NORAD programme countries, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, East Timor, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, through higher education and training.
The funds will be utilized to offer master degree scholarships to nationals from NORAD programme countries in Asia, and to support faculty in the Gender and Development and Regional and Rural Development Planning programmes at AIT. In addition, the grant will facilitate the publication of the AIT’s Gender, Technology and Development (GTD) Journal.
The signing of the agreement also marked the 25th year of cooperation between NORAD and AIT that dates back to 1978, when the Norwegian government provided 10 scholarships for Asian nationals (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) at AIT. The cooperation has expanded over the years, and up to April 2003, through its partnership with NORAD, AIT has produced 384 graduates, a significant number of whom are women.
The strength of this long-standing cooperation and partnership lies on the foundation of AIT mission to develop highly qualified and committed professionals who will play a leading role in the development of the region and its integration into the global economy, and that of NORAD’s goal of poverty alleviation and sustainable development.
