WEEK 4, 19 - 25 January 2026
In this issue:
C. Visitors/ MoU/ Agreement Signing
1) Bad Air Quality on Campus
Email from AIT President on 15 January 2026
- Limit Outdoor Activities: We strongly advise everyone to limit outdoor activities, particularly strenuous exercises, during this period.
- Stay Indoors: If possible, stay indoors to reduce exposure to the polluted air. Ensure that windows and doors are closed to minimize the influx of outdoor air.
- Use Air Purifiers: Consider using air purifiers in enclosed spaces to help reduce indoor air pollution. Ensure that the purifiers are properly maintained and filters are clean.
- Wear Masks: If you need to go outside, wearing a mask (preferably N95 or equivalent) can provide additional protection against inhaling particulate matter.
- Stay Informed: Keep yourself informed about the current air quality levels by checking local air quality monitoring stations on campus (operated by EEM and IntERlab).
- Air quality sensors on campus: https://ait.thaiaqms.com/air-quality
2) Invitation to the Institute wide Workshop: From Research to Public Impact: Curation and Outreach for Global Visibility
Email from SCPO on 8 January 2026
This workshop shall be conducted by Dr. Woei Fuh Wong and Mrs Iris Hsu from iGroup Asia (please see attachment for details) and aims to provide participants with key insights towards transforming research findings into clear, engaging stories that resonate with wider audiences while maximising public impact and outreach with global visibility.
Date: Tuesday, 20th January 2026
Time: 9 am – 12 noon
We look forward to your participation and kindly find the registration link here .
3) Change of Social Security Registered Hospital 2026
Email from Office of Human Resources Services on 8 January 2025
Dear AIT Employees,
Social Security (SS) members who wish to change their registered hospital may now submit their request to OHRS. Please ensure all requests are completed no later than 15 March 2026. To facilitate this change, you may either submit a copy of your Thai ID card or passport directly to OHRS. Alternatively, you may apply online at www.sso.go.th. Please be advised that new users must first register an account on the SSO website before they can manage their hospital preferences.
To access Social Security medical benefits, members are required to visit their specifically registered hospital. When seeking treatment, Thai employees should present their Thai ID card, while non-Thai staff are required to present both their passport and Social Security card.
For your convenience, the updated hospital list and a summary of Social Security benefits information are attached for your reference. If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact Khun Parin at parin@ait.asia or by phone at extension 5018.
Office of Human Resources Services
4) Request to fill the survey for 2025 Commuting Data – emission calculation - Supporting AIT’s Net Zero Campus Goal
Email from the Director OSC on 9 January 2026
Dear AIT Community,
As part of AIT’s continued commitment to achieving the vision of a “Botanical Garden Net Zero Campus by 2030,” the Campus Sustainability Committee (CSC), chaired by the Vice President of Administration and Development and coordinated through the Office of Sustainable Campus (OSC), is undertaking the annual assessment of AIT’s carbon emissions.
Transportation—including daily commuting to and from campus and official travel—is a significant contributor to institutional emissions. To accurately assess transport-related emissions for the year 2025, we are conducting a short online survey to collect commuting data from faculty, staff, and students.
We kindly request your participation from those who have been with AIT in 2025 by completing the survey using the link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSduuRY7TStxDdcf8AtIq13Y5HJ51x2x...
Survey deadline: 31 January 2026
Please note: The survey can only be accessed using your AIT email account only.
The survey takes less than two minutes to complete. Maximum participation is critical, as higher response rates directly improve the accuracy of AIT’s emissions calculations and strengthen evidence-based planning for mitigation strategies.
Your cooperation is essential to ensuring a robust and reliable carbon footprint assessment. Should you have any questions or require clarification, please feel free to contact the Office of Sustainable Campus.
Thank you for your valuable contribution to AIT’s sustainability journey.
5) Gentle Reminder : Call for Support: Old AIT Calendar Recycling Campaign
Email from Director OSC on 16 January 2026
Dear Faculty and Staff,
6) Thai Course for Beginners – Listening & Speaking Level 1
Email from Language Center on 13 January 2026
Registration is now open for the Thai Course for Beginners: Listening & Speaking Level 1.
This course is designed for learners with no prior knowledge of Thai and focuses on developing essential listening and speaking skills for everyday communication.
Please find the course details in the poster below.
For registration, please click the link, scan the QR code, or visit the Language Center, Room 216.
Email from Director OSC on 16 January 2026
Yellow Bin Observation Report (January 2026) –give 2 min to read the key Issues - Community Support is mandate
Dear AIT Community (Students, Staff, Faculty, and Residents),
Warm greetings from the Office of Sustainable Campus (OSC).
As part of AIT’s ongoing Waste Management Model implementation, OSC—supported by our student assistants, volunteers, and interns—conducted Yellow Bin Observation-1 (January 2026), which was observed from 12 to 16 Jan 2026 across campus residential zones and academic areas. We are pleased to note that recyclable plastics were visible in most yellow bins, reflecting increasing awareness and participation in the recycling system. However, the attached monitoring report also identified several recurring issues that significantly reduce recyclability, slow down sorting operations, and increase waste handling burdens.
Key Observed Issues (Campus-Wide)
The following problems were repeatedly observed across many locations:
1. Food-contaminated containers and empty drinking cups
This remains the most frequent issue, making recyclable plastics unusable.
2. Black/opaque bags inside yellow bins
Opaque bags prevent visual inspection and delay sorting, reducing recycling efficiency.
3. Mixed waste is placed inside single bags.
This indicates improper segregation habits.
4. Non-recyclable items in yellow bins
Items such as Styrofoam, tissues, and mixed household waste were found in multiple bins.
Specific Area Observations (As per Report)
/ Student Dormitory Areas
- Dorm A–K Area: Styrofoam was observed and black/opaque bags continue to hinder sorting.
- Dorm M–Y Area: Continued issue with black bags; Styrofoam and tissue paper were found; aluminum cans were also noted (must not go into yellow bins).
- Student Village 1–2: Black bags are frequently used; the recommendation is to switch to transparent bags or no bags for easier inspection.
- Student Village 3: Black bags and Styrofoam continued to appear.
/ Faculty & Staff Housing Areas
- Styrofoam was observed and black bags continue to hinder sorting in residential housing areas.
- Hard plastic (non-recyclable) and aluminum cans were also noted in yellow bins.
/ Academic & Other Campus Areas
- Improper disposal included black/opaque bags and hard plastic items in yellow bins.
- Food waste disposal was observed in yellow bins, along with Styrofoam and mixed waste in multiple academic zones.
What We Request from the AIT Community
To ensure the success of this initiative, we kindly request all community members to follow these simple rules:
/ Yellow Bin = Clean Plastic & Recyclable Paper ONLY
x Do NOT put:
- Food waste/leftovers
- Food-contaminated packaging
- Styrofoam
- Tissues/napkins
- Mixed household waste
- Mixed waste packed in one bag
- Black/opaque bags
Important reminder: if plastic containers/cups/bottles are recyclable, they must be empty, rinsed, and dry before disposal.
Moving Forward Together
This initiative can only succeed through shared responsibility. Every correctly sorted item reduces landfill waste, improves recycling outcomes, and supports AIT’s long-term sustainability vision.
OSC sincerely appreciates the community members who are already practicing proper segregation, and we kindly urge others to improve compliance—especially in residential and high-use bin locations.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and commitment to keeping AIT clean, responsible, and sustainable.
International Training on Climate-Resilient Digital Agriculture with Emerging
16 – 27 March 2026 | Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok, Thailand
Course Overview
This intensive 2-week international training program brings together hands-on practice, field demonstrations, and expert-led workshops to equip participants with essential skills in digital agriculture, precision farming, IoT-based automation, drones, hydroponics, regenerative agriculture, and climate-smart advisory systems.
Participants will experience real-world learning through farm visits, government agency interactions, plant factory tours, and immersive cultural activities in Thailand.
Course Objectives
By the end of the training, participants will be able to:
Understand key concepts of climate-resilient digital agriculture.
- Apply IoT-based smart agriculture tools for irrigation and greenhouse automation.
- Conduct drone flight planning, mapping, and data interpretation for precision agriculture.
- Implement hydroponic and vertical farming systems, including nutrient preparation and EC/pH management.
- Explore regenerative agriculture practices and small-scale biochar production.
- Use ICT and digital marketing tools to enhance market access for agricultural products.
- Interpret agro-meteorological forecasts and translate them into actionable field advisories.
- Learn from real-world models through visits to plant factories, smart farms, and government agencies.
Who Should Apply
This program is ideal for:
- Agricultural professionals, extension workers, and agronomists
- Government officials working in agriculture, environment, and rural development
- University faculty, researchers, and graduate students
- Agritech start-ups, innovators, and private sector practitioners
- NGOs and development agencies working on climate resilience or digital transformation
- Anyone seeking practical, hands-on experience in modern smart farming technologies
Registration Details
– USD 1,350 (Includes accommodation, meals, local transport, field trips)
– Early-bird rate: USD 1,250 (for the first 10 applicants)
– Limited seats: Only 25 participants
How to Apply
Scan the QR code on the poster or use the link below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf61_53CUhHNZuKc9niK3OEjMPef0hy...
Application Deadline: 15 January 2026
Contact
Dr. Sushil Kumar Himanshu, Associate Professor and Chair
Agricultural Systems and Engineering
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand
Line/WhatsApp: +66-972956188
Email: sushil-kumar@ait.ac.th, aselab@ait.ac.th
Visit of Mr. Manish Kothari, Vice President of International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), Monday, 19 January 2026
- Dr. Ram C Bhujel /Nepal/ 11 - 25 January 2026
- Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal /Norway/ 11 - 18 January 2025
- Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Executive Director, OAAA /Taiwan/ 18 - 20 January 2026
- Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Executive Director, OAAA /Australia/ 12 - 26 February 2026
| Ref.no | Position | Type | Posted date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fac 1/26 | Faculty Position, FCC | Faculty | January 16, 2026 |
| Fac 10/25 | Faculty Position, SERD/FANR/FINH | Faculty | December 8, 2025 |
| Fac 9/25 | Assistant/Associate Professor, SET/ISE | Faculty | December 2, 2025 |
| Fac 8/25 | Assistant/Associate Professor, SET/AIoT | Faculty | November 26, 2025 |
| 1/26 | AQMx Wildfire Management Expert (Consultant) | Staff | January 19, 2026 |
| 28/25 | Dean of Faculty Business Management | Staff | November 27, 2025 |