The Fourth College Inter-Games November 2008

The winning banner from Alexandria House shows the House Captain, Super BongBank.

The four houses, in the College at Asian University, have just enjoyed their annual competition in sports and associated activities. The College is located on the campus of Asian University on Highway 331, near Jomtien.

Rome House banner: the Joker

Troy banner: Super Lung Dang, (owner of the dormitory cafeteria)

All the students in the College are members of one of the four Houses: Rome (Green), Alexandria (Yellow), Troy (Red) and Constantinople (Blue). The House names were chosen by the students soon after the college opened.

Constantinople banner: Super Thor, the House Captain

Seven sports activities were on the programme for the two day event, including petanque, table tennis, badminton, volleyball, basketball, football and athletics as well as fun and games. There were fourteen trophies to be won, not just for the sports but also for the cheering and the most beautiful banner contest.

Boys' basketball

There were volley ball and football matches between teams of students and the staff.

Rome cheerers and Student president (in white shirt)

The trophies were presented by the head master, Mr. Bernard, the main awards being:

- The best sports award to Rome House.

- The most beautiful banner to Alexandria House.

- The most crazy cheering to Troy House.

- The best cheer leaders to Constantinople.

- The best personal performance at the 2008 Inter-games was awarded to Thor, the Captain of Constantinople House.

Athletics: 100m boys' race

The photographs show the House banners and some of the activities.

Troy's show

Dr. Mario hosts discussions at North Star Library

For the past few months, Dr. Giuseppe Mario Saccone, (Dr. Mario) a lecturer at Asian University, has been hosting a lecture and discussion group at the North Star library on Sukhumvit Road, Pattaya.

The lecture topics have included; What is Philosophy? Politics and Political Science, Philosophy and the problem of the relation between Mind and Body, and in November was The Role of Politics for Augustine and Aquinas.

Dr Mario, an Italian, has a degree in Philosophy and History from Genova University, and took his PhD in Politics at Exeter University. He also has a Master of Philosophy from the Faculty of Arts and a Master of Buddhist Studies from the Faculty of Social Sciences of The University of Hong Kong. Dr. Mario lectures and teaches in the Humanities Department of the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Asian University, to students from all the faculties. He is offering these public talks as part of the University’s Community Service programme. Asian University is located on Highway 331, about 20km from Pattaya and Jomtien.

November’s meeting was the last for 2008, but they will start again on the last Thursday in January (29 January 2009, 15.00 – 16.30) with a talk and discussion on “What is Philosophy of Science”. The talks are free to any interested parties, and each month a small, but lively group get together for a very open discussion. Members of the group include retired lecturers and teachers as well as people who are interested in philosophy, politics and history.

The photos show Dr. Mario with some of the regular attendees at the North Star Library.

Ladies from the NSO attend special weekend English Immersion Programme

Ladies from the NSO learn English at Asian University

Twenty seven ladies from the National Statistical Office, mostly from Bangkok, have just completed a special weekend English language programme at Asian University, to improve their English communication skills.

They have been at the university for eight weekends, arriving Friday morning and leaving Sunday midday with fourteen hours of class each week. The ladies were all very keen students, and their attendance record was exemplary. They stayed on the campus, alongside the regular university students, and, outside class times, they were able to walk on campus and use the sports facilities to keep themselves fit.

Some of the ladies had been on several other courses and commented that the Asian University course compared favourably.

They particularly liked having native speaker teachers, and appreciated the teachers’ patience. Several mentioned the variety of ways in which they learnt English, using songs and games; some of these methods were new to them and they found that having fun enhanced the learning process. The ladies learnt in two groups (different levels), so there was plenty of opportunity to practice their speaking and listening with each other.

The course was run especially for the NSO staff, as a part of the English Immersion programme.

New Dean of Business Faculty

Effective 15 October 2008, Asian University welcomes Dr. Prayoon Tranguan as Dean of the Faculty of Business.


Dr. Prayoon Tranguan comes to Asian University from Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, where he was Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Management.

His wide ranging experience includes employment with several international companies including RWTUV (Thailand), RWE Energie Agridrive, Daiwa Securities, CMIC Finance and Securities, and Citibank NA as well as academic appointments at Mae Fah Luang University and Dhurakijpundit University, Bangkok, where he was Dean of the School of Accountancy.

‘Black Modern’: The third success of our college pupils’ dance club

Black Modern's poster

On Sunday 5 October, Black Modern, a dance group of six pupils from the College at Asian University composing of Bo, Durian, Jay and Maratti (Grade 12, science), Ken (Grade 11, humanities) and Vor (Grade 10, science) received the Popular Vote prize at the ‘Honda Popping Dance Academy 2008’ dance competition.

The competition was organized by Mityon Pattaya Co.Ltd and A.P.Honda Co.,Ltd, to look for the best ‘Popping’ dance group in Thailand and assist teenagers making wiser choices in refusing drugs and spending their free time more enjoyably. The dancing contest was held in the car park area in front of X-Zyte night club, Central Pattaya.

Ten teams took part in the competition. Black modern was the fourth team to perform their dance. The competition was set over three time periods and Black modern performed during the second period. In accordance with the competition rules, all teams had to have three fundamental body language procedures which were; I Waving (Waving style), Heart Attack (Popping style) and Finding Freedom (Scarecrow style). In each period, three teams had to first show their dances and then they had to show those three fundamental body language procedures. After their performance, the Black Modern group was awarded the Popular Vote Prize.

The members of Black Modern were encouraged by their parents, younger members of staff including Ajarns Kanjana, Pinyo, Thanita, Patrica and Jirikanya as well as their friends. After Black Modern finished their dance, the audience gave them a big round of applause, to show their appreciation and enjoyment.

Tenth Anniversary celebrations

Last Saturday evening, 27 September, at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, there was a party to celebrate the first ten years of Asian university.

Hosted by the University President Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya with the students and staff of the University, and attended by shareholders, parents and friends, the party was a multi facetted celebration. Lord Ronald Oxburgh was there and gave an interesting and entertaining talk entitled “A decade from the top of the hill” making reference to the location of Asian University, on a hill overlooking the cassava fields and Jomtien.

Many alumni of the University and present day students were there to catch up with friends and compare their experiences. Dr. Worarut Khunsin was given the outstanding Asian U Alumni Award and Khun Rut (Anontawong Marukpitak) was presented with the Asian U Spirit award. Both are engineering graduates from the first batch in 2002, who have continued their support for the University.

An academic collaboration agreement was signed by Asian university and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) for a "Unified Asian U-AIT Bachelor-Master Programme”. This combines a four year Asian University bachelor degree (BEng) with a one and a half to two year Master programme at AIT into one continuous 5-year (Engineering) programme. Students who successfully complete the programme will earn two degrees, BEng and then MEng. The study programme will be available in the next academic year, starting August 2009.

Professor Said Irandoust, President of AIT and Dr. Vip of Asian University signed the agreement and looked forward to successful collaboration.

DJ Champ, from Channel 3 TV helped everyone to enjoy the celebrations and the reunion to the full.

Thanks to Ajarn Robert B for the photos

Graduation 2008

25 September 2008 was Graduation Day at Asian University. This year is also the tenth anniversary of the University which, over the last ten years, has given out over 100 scholarships, and generated almost 400 graduates.

The ceremony started with the academic procession, lead by Dr. Danai carrying the University Standard, entering the auditorium. The President, Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya, welcomed everyone, especially Lord Ronald Oxburgh, who had come from UK again to confer the degrees.

Dr. Vip then read a message from HE Anand Panyarachun, who has been a friend of the university since the start. Khun Anand congratulated the new graduates and wished them all success in their careers and lives. He mentioned that learning is never static, and the learning obtained at the university is just the beginning of their life long learning. Dr. Vip gave a brief report of the first ten years of the university and the College at Asian University, and then handed over to Lord Oxburgh for the most important business of the day.

The faculties presented their candidates in turn, starting with the Business faculty (MBA and BBA) then the Engineering and Technology faculty (BEng) and finally the newest faculty, Liberal Arts (BA). Each candidate was awarded their degree certificate, along with a few words of encouragement from Lord Oxburgh.

Lord Oxburgh addressed the audience, and asked the new graduates to show their appreciation to their parents for their encouragement and support. He spoke about the problems now confronting the world; water shortages, energy shortages and too many people. He also explained that these problems offer opportunities, especially for innovation to reduce energy use. He was sure that the world would never see the cheap energy of the last century, and therefore we all have to rethink how people live.

After the academic procession left the auditorium, there were numerous photographs taken, plus celebratory chocolate cake for all.

Thank you to Robert B for some of the photos