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After several years of hard work and devotion, all six PhD Sandwich students enrolling in 2003 completed their studies
despite some difficulties they faced as the pioneers of the Program. Plus, one student enrolling in 2004 could graduate in less than three years. This can assure the
Program's effectiveness and that the three-year scholarship period is feasible. Here we have brief interviews of some graduates about their views toward the
Program.
Dr. Su Su Kyi, the Geological Engineering graduate from Gadjah Mada University, revealed that she learned a lot from
the Program that could be applied to her career. “I would like to express my deep appreciation to all promoters and teachers for their guidance, and I gratefully acknowledge
to JICA and AUN/SEED-Net for the financial support throughout my study. All my time within these three years were worthy invested and furnished with many achievements.
I was upgraded not only in geological engineering but also in other notions. As a Sandwich student, I got experiences from two universities concerning the way they teach,
how to handle the research and how to guide students properly. Based on these, I deeply hope to be a good teacher in this field.”
In spite of a small concern about the scholarship period, she viewed that it was manageable. “During the limited time,
students have to finish all requirements to fulfill the doctoral degree such as international papers, presentations and journals. Besides, some unexpected situations can delay
progress. It is better then to take the short-term study in Japan after the first year, so that students will have enough time for pubishing papers or journals and writing
dissertation after or during the research.”
Dr. Cho Cho Thet, the Electrical & Electronics Engineering graduate from Chulalongkorn University, also had a positive view
toward this program although she encountered problems with the experimental machine. “I met a perfect advisor and had a chance to conduct research in Nanotechnology
as expected. From the program, I have learned many valuable things such as how to guide a supervisee to be a good researcher, teaching technique, social dealing, and
training of physical and mental activities. Especially, learning of good literature and doing research made me successful.”
She confirmed that the program is highly recommended for students who want to do research in engineering field and
suggested those who are studying under this program seek advice and discuss with advisors regularly.
Dr. Le Thi Hong Tran, Environmental Engineering graduate from University of the Philippines, the second batch student who
could finish her study in 2.5 years, expressed her satisfaction with the program. “The Environmental Program offered by UP Diliman was very good for me. It gave me deep
knowledge in solid waste management focusing on anaerobic digestion of OFMSW and composting, which I can apply in giving lectures and training programs on
environmental courses for students.”
The PhD Sandwich Program of AUN/SEED-Net offers a great chance to study at host institutions in ASEAN and do research
for at most one year at Japanese Supporting Universities. Through attentive supervision of advisors, academic advice from Japanese co-advisors, and close connection with
other ASEAN fellows, students can obtain not only upgraded qualifications and research capacities but also memberships to the region’s largest engineering network. The
Program is open for application in October every year. More details are available at www.seed-net.org.
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List of the First Batch PhD Sandwich Graduates
- Su Su Kyi, PhD in Geological Engineering from Gadjah Mada University, now teaching at Dawei University (Myanmar)
- Cho Cho Thet, PhD in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Chulalongkorn University, now teaching at University of Yangon
- Nazrul Effendi, PhD in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Chulalongkorn University, now teaching at Gadjah Mada University
- Kham Khanthavivone, PhD in Information & Communication Technology from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, now teaching at National University of Laos
- Khampheth Bounnady, PhD in Information & Communication Technology from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, now teaching at National University of Laos
- Lim Sok Tay, PhD in Civil Engineering from Chulalongkorn University, now teaching at Institute of Technology of Cambodia
- Le Thi Hong Tran, PhD in Environmental Engineering from University of the Philippines, now teaching at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (JFY2004 student)
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Project Review 2006/07
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At the end of JFY 2006, AUN/SEED-Net has awarded 346 scholarships in total, 255 of which are under the Master’s Degree Program, 50 under the PhD Sandwich Program, 38 under the PhD Program in Japan, and 3 under the PhD Program in Singapore. We have produced 126 graduates, 37% of which continue their PhD degrees with the Project while 53% become faculty staff of their Sending Institutions and the rest work for government or industry. Our students and graduates have published 222 publications so far, more than half are proceedings presented at international conferences. |
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In JFY2006, 116 Collaborative Research (CR) projects involving 112 master’s and 38 PhD students were funded by
AUN/SEED-Net, with a budget of over USD 580,000. However, involvements of non-Host Institutions in CR projects were relatively low in several fields.
The Project supported 88 visits of Japanese professors to participate in CR activities and Field-wise Seminars, 57 visits of
Host Institutions’ staff to Japan, plus 20 and 16 visits of non-Host Institutions’ staff to Japan and Host Institutions respectively. Compared to 9 visits of non-Host Institutions’
staff to Host Institutions in JFY2005, it can be assumed that communication and collaboration among our Member Institutions have been more activated.
Last year we also encouraged more involvements of AUN/SEED-Net alumni, PhD students in Japan, and master’s and PhD
students in Singapore in research and networking activities. Thus, 13 alumni members, 5 PhD students in Japan, and 2 students from Singapore were invited to join the Field-wise Seminars for network strengthening.
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| Final Evaluation |
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Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) completed the Final Evaluation of Phase 1 and the Preliminary Study for Phase 2
of the AUN/SEED-Net Project after a series of interviews and visits to Member Institutions, ministries in charge of higher education in ASEAN countries, and Japanese Supporting
University Consortium during April-May 2007. The results of both studies have been summarized in form of minutes of meetings, to be signed by the ministries in charge of higher
education. It is expected that fruitful results revealed by the studies might promise the project continuation.
The initial phase of the AUN/SEED-Net Project was laid out for 5 years and would come to the end in March 2008. As a regular
practice of JICA, the Final Evaluation of the Project and, responding to the requests by member countries for the continued support, the Preliminary Survey for the next phase were
conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the project and to analyze the impacts as well as the issues arising from the project implementation. The Final Evaluation team distributed
questionnaires to all member institutions and visited the member institutions as well as the ministries in charge of higher education in the member countries to interview high-ranking
officials, government officials, faculty staff, current and graduated students who have been involved with AUN/SEED-Net. The evaluation results revealed that the main objective of
the Project, i.e. “to improve educational and research capacities of Member Institutions,” had been mostly achieved through active exchanges of resources among the member
institutions and relationship with the Japanese Supporting University Consortium (JSUC).
Firstly, AUN/SEED-Net successfully upgraded faculty qualifications of the member institutions through higher degree acquisition.
Until now, the Project had awarded 427 scholarships for Master’s and Ph.D. levels and had produced 140 graduates, about 60% of which are currently faculty members of the
member institutions while most of the rest continue their study in higher level. Finally, they will be the driving force for the sustainable development of ASEAN.
Secondly, AUN/SEED-Net encouraged the launch of new graduate programs or international programs at several institutions and
enhanced existing programs at some institutions to attain the international level. It also enhanced research activities, journal publications, conference papers and proceedings in
engineering field and supported so far around 163 Collaborative Research projects.
Thirdly, joint activities and human linkage among the member institutions are strengthened by the Project through visits and
exchanges of faculty staff, field-wise seminars, and research collaboration. Many Memorandums of Understanding among the member institutions and with the Japanese Supporting
Universities have been fostered by AUN/SEED-Net.
And lastly, AUN/SEED-Net could establish information dissemination system, activity management system, and communication
network among the member institutions, through attentive and devoted staff of all member institutions, the JICA Project for AUN/SEED-Net, and the AUN/SEED-Net
Secretariat.
There was no confirmation by the Japanese government or JICA yet whether they would continue the support to the Project but
all stakeholders strongly hoped for, and they were quite assured of, the second phase of the Project. The project continuation is deemed necessary and recommended because
there are a number of issues for the AUN/SEED-Net network to work on, for examples, further development of the member institutions especially those in less-developed countries,
research collaborations that meet critical needs of the region’s industry and society, strengthening of the engineering network, promotion of AUN/SEED-Net recognition, and most
importantly, sustainability of the network.
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| Final Evaluation missions in the member countries |
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Tokyo Institute of Technology is contributing as the Japanese Supporting University in three fields out of the nine fields of the
AUN/SEED-Net Project, namely Chemical Engineering (ChE), Environmental Engineering (EnvE), and Electrical & Electronic Engineering (EEE). And now, our professors
are also cooperating in other two fields, Materials Engineering (MatE) and Manufacturing Engineering (ManuE).
(Details are available at http://www.ide.titech.ac.jp/index.html.)
Especially, Dr.Toshio KAJIUCHI, now Professor Emeritus, had taken an active part as the Field Coordinator for ChE and
EnvE fields. After his retirement in March 2005, Prof. Junjiro KAWASAKI from Department of Chemical Engineering replaced him as the General Manager of both fields and
took charge of the EnvE field, while I took charge of the ChE field. After Prof. Kawasaki retires in March 2008, I will take charge of the EnvE field, and Prof. Hitosi KOSUGE
from Department of Chemical Engineering will take charge of the ChE field.
In the ChE field, it is possible to correspond to a wide variety of projects by involving the professors in Department of
Chemical Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, and I am managing this program in cooperation with staffs of De La Salle University, the Host Institution for
ChE.
In my laboratory there are 16 students, researchers and staffs including me. Among them, Mr. Nguyen Quang Long from
Vietnam is a student under the AUN/SEED-Net Doctoral Degree Program in Japan from October 2006, and Mr. Anton Purnomo from Indonesia is a student under the
Doctoral Degree Sandwich Program who has come for researching since February 2007. Both graduated from the AUN/SEED-Net Master's Program of De La Salle
University majoring in ChE.
(Details are available at
http://www.hinode.ide.titech.ac.jp/en/en.htm.)
In the EnvE field, we have a collaborative research project concerning polluted soil treatment under supervision of
Prof. Hideki OHTA. The doctoral student doing this research project, Mr. Wawan Budianta from Indonesia, is also the student under the AUN/SEED-Net Doctoral Degree
Program in Japan from October 2005, and gets benefits from both chemical engineering and civil engineering points of view.
Exploiting the network of AUN/SEED-Net, I invited Ms.Eden from De La Salle University as a research fellow of
"UNESCO International Research Course for the Environment” and Mr. Carl, also a De La Salle staff, as a doctoral student from April 2007 supported by Monbusho
Scholarship. They are contributing much in creating a very good atmosphere and an international ambience in our laboratory. I think this is one of the synergy effects of
the collaboration with AUN/SEED-Net.
Finally I want to say thanks to all staff of the AUN/SEED-Net Project in Bangkok and Japan for setting up and tightening the
collaboration between Tokyo Institute of Technology and the ASEAN Member Institutions.
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April 26, 2007: Seven national staff from JICA country offices joined the 2nd JICA National Staff Meeting for the AUN/SEED-Net Project at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, aiming at better understanding and smoother implementation of the Project..
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May 11-27, 2007: The Final Evaluation of Phase I and the Pre-liminary Survey for Phase II of the Project was conducted at Member Institutions and ministries of higher education in the ASEAN countries.
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May 18, 2007: Our Executive Director Assoc. Prof. Krisada Visavateeranon was invited to give a speech on “Success of AUN/SEED-Net: A JICA’s Pride” at the 120th Anniversary of Thailand-Japan Relationship Seminar, held by King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang.
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May 28, 2007: The 5th Joint Coordina-ting Committee Meeting for Thailand was held for the final time at the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) of Thailand.
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May 30, 2007: The Signing Ceremony of the Minutes of the Final Evaluation of Phase I and the Preliminary Survey for Phase II of the AUN/SEED-Net Project between CHE of Thailand and JICA was organized at the Pathumwan Princess Hotel, Bangkok.
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June 1, 2007: Chulalongkorn University and AUN/SEED-Net held an orientation for new AUN/SEED-Net students enrolling in the first semester.
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June 1, 2007: King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and AUN/SEED-Net organized a student orientation for new students under AUN/SEED-Net program as well as CHE program with AUN/SEED-Net collaboration.
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June 5-6, 2007: Field-wise Seminar in Materials Engineering was held by Universiti Sains Malaysia at the Gurney Resort and Residences, Penang, Malaysia.
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June 11, 2007: The Japanese Supporting University Consortium Meeting 2007 took place in Tokyo, Japan.
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