President addresses UN-ECOSOC member states in New York

In an historic first for the Asian Institute of Technology, President Prof. Said Irandoust recently gave a speech on civil society engagement for sustainable development to member States attending the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC) 2008 General Debate meeting held from 30 June ─ 3 July, at UN Headquarters in New York.

Addressing the 54-member Council meeting on 1 July, held on the theme “Calls for Concrete Action to Address Problems Afflicting International System”, President Irandoust offered AIT as a success story in relation to ongoing sustainable development work in Asia.

President Irandoust, speaking on behalf of civil society members attending the session of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO), informed the member States’ representatives that AIT had received support rom the United Nations for a regional centre of excellence to focus on Millennium Development Goals 1, 3, 7 and 8 (poverty alleviation, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and global partnership for development).

He told the international body that on 25 March 2008 AIT was formally endorsed by United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon as the site of the official ASEAN Centre of Excellence on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UN-ECOSOC. At the meeting, President Irandoust announced the Asian Institute of Technology’s plan to apply for membership to UN-ECOSOC, starting as an observer in July 2009.

By developing pedagogical modules, educational materials and tools for training of trainers for governments, academic and educational institutions, civil society, NGOs, and the private sector, the Centre in Thailand will serve as a regional nexus for promotion, education, and training on attaining the MDGs by the year 2015, President Irandoust told the high-level UN meeting.


The President added that through its support for sustainable development of the Asian region, AIT works closely with the public and private sector, with leading universities, and with many international institutions, to promote beneficial technological and socio-economic change. He also informed the United Nations body that AIT has established training and education centres in Vietnam and Indonesia, and plans to open additional centres in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, China, and possibly Africa.

Founded by the member States of the South-East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) in 1959 to advance technological and socio-economic development in the Asian region through higher learning and capacity building programs, today AIT is a leading, independent postgraduate development institution promoting advanced technology, sustainable development and management.

Since its founding, AIT has produced 16,000 master and PhD-level graduates and more than 23,000 professionals through short courses, representing more than 80 counties.