Lecturers from Engineering Faculty win Best Paper award.

ECTI-CON is an annual international conference organized by the Electrical Engineering/Electronics, Computer, Telecommunications and Information Technology (ECTI) Association, Thailand. It has become a major conference in this field for this region of the world, providing an opportunity for researchers to get to know one another, exchange views and ideas, strengthen existing friendships as well as to exhibit their latest research findings. The conference aims to be an international forum for the presentation of technological advances and research results in the field of electrical engineering, electronics, computer, telecommunications, and information technology.

From the left: Congratulations to Dr Danai, Ajarn Suthasinee and Assist. Prof. Dr. Chuwong

The fifth annual ECTI-CON was held in Krabi Thailand from 14 to 17 May 2008. There were 480 papers submitted this year, and, after a careful and vigorous reviewing process by the international review committee, 269 quality papers were published. In the area of Communication Systems, the paper entitled “Measurement of BCITL Parameters” which was written about the research cooperation between Miss Suthasinee Lamultree and Assist. Prof. Dr. Danai Torrungrueng from the Engineering Faculty of Asian University (eFau) and Assist. Prof. Dr. Chuwong Phongcharoenpanich from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) was praised for its outstanding findings and was credited with the best paper award. The research provided a novel method to measure the characteristic impedances and propagation constant of bicharacteristic-impedance transmission lines (BCITLs). More details of this paper can be found in the published proceedings of the 2008 ECTI International conference.

There is more information about the engineering faculty, on the website at www.asianust.ac.th/aboutau/engineering.htm

New Pattaya Mayor opens Charity Bowling event

Pattaya Mayor joins Asian University MBA students and friends.

On Sunday 25 May, Mayor Ittipong Khunplome took time out from his busy schedule to open Asian University’s MBA students’ Charity Bowling Tournament.

The MBA students were joined by undergraduates, alumni, staff, friend and families for a Bowling Competition. A total of over two hundred people participated, and they were honoured to have Khun Itthipol to give a brief address and to cut the ribbon to open the event.

The money raised is to be used to help children in the remote Mae Hong Song Province, who are normally deprived of education and other developmental activities, and also to provide participation in the Chevron Royal Project for long distance learning / satellite learning.

The students were assisted by the University staff to organise the event at the blu O rhythm & bowl, at the Major Cineplex in Pattaya.

The winning team was made up of one part time MBA student and his friends from Mitsubishi.

For more information about the MBA programmes, see the University website at www.asianust.ac.th/mba/index.htm

USS Blue Ridge Rock Band plays at Asian University

Red joins Asian University students for a final photograph

Singer Nina Struts her stuff

The USS Blue Ridge has just left Laem Chabang Port after a short visit to Thailand.

USS Blue Ridge is the lead ship of the Blue-Ridge class of command ships of the US Navy and serves as the flagship for the Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. She was commissioned in 1970 and her home port is in Yokosuka, Japan. Asian University is grateful to the Community Liaison Officer of the Navy League of the United States, Mr. Peter Thorand, who provided the link between the University and the Naval visitors.

The final evening of term (2 May 2008) is traditionally a show by the faculty and students. This year there was a very special opening performance by the USS Blue Ridge Rock Band. They played a variety of up beat music with singer Nina leading the way. The faculty, students and Summer Campers all enjoyed the music and the opportunity to talk with the visiting Americans. After the performance, Ajarn James (Sports Director) presented a plaque to the Naval Officer (Khun Red) in charge of the band, and he has subsequently written to say “it is now proudly displayed aboard the USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), in our rehearsal room.” Thus, a little part of Asian University is travelling around the world with the US Navy!

It is hoped that this is the start of a continuing friendship between the USS Blue Ridge and Asian University.

USS Blue Ridge visits Asian University for basketball game

The two teams

The USS Blue Ridge has just left Laem Chabang Port after a short visit to Thailand.

Nicole with the USS Blue Ridge team

USS Blue Ridge is the lead ship of the Blue-Ridge class of command ships of the US Navy and serves as the flagship for the Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. She was commissioned in 1970 and her home port is in Yokosuka, Japan. Asian University is grateful to the Community Liaison Officer of the Navy League of the United States, Mr. Peter Thorand, who provided the link between the University and the Naval visitors.

On 2 May, the University basketball team played four quarters against the USS Blue Ridge team, with one of the younger players, Khun Pom scoring the most baskets. After the game the visiting team joined the Summer Campers for supper before returning to their ship. With several Summer Camp teachers from the USA there was plenty for everyone to talk about.

Pak reaches for the ball

Thanks to Ajarn Robert for most of the photos

Identity and Freedom in the 21st Century: A personal viewpoint from the Multimedia students at Asian University.

At the end of the academic year at Asian university, the BA Multimedia (BAM) students made their final presentations on the topic of identity and personal freedom.

Netty explained her model of hanging discs or coins comparing fantasy and reality; at first she thought they were totally different then with deeper thought realized that the borders are unclear. Sometimes we can’t differentiate one from the other. So the two sides of the “coins” represent fantasy and reality, and keep moving in the air.

Jo took a more literal view of the subject by meeting and talking to a family who are stateless; so have lost their identity and freedom. She had researched the UN convention on Human Rights, and discovered that the family concerned live like fugitives in spite of wanting to settle. Her photos of the family and their quotes were very moving.

Katha and Nat hung a full length mirror on the wall with the stencilled word “Fake”, to question whether the image you see is real or fake.

Fame and Pop presented masks of tears and pain. They researched the long history of masks used to hide true identities and then made their masks from plaster and sea shells. The masks show some of the feelings that we can not hide.

In the 21st century, people have less freedom and their identities are becoming vague, according to Nicole, who presented a painting to represent these ideas.

Self fulfilling prophecy can be summarized as follows: we form expectations of people and events; we communicate these expectations directly and indirectly; people respond by matching these expectations and the result is that the original expectations come true. Jessie based her reaching-out sculpture on this.

Using a dark room, with blue light only, A and Fai presented many images (photos, cuttings, memorabilia) depicting the room of the psycho paparazzi tracking and photographing a celebrity’s life.

The exhibition of Anna and Stamp was entitled Narcissism. It took the form of an altar or shrine, indicating that when we love ourselves very much, we are almost praying to ourselves.

The presentation of a web site by Jun and Sake was very dark. The freedom of the internet is used by many people to express their views, whether they are happy or sad. The final quote from Jun: “Embrace the darkness, there is nothing to fear … not even death itself”

The morning was concluded in the BAM studio with three short documentary films, produced by the BAM students. One looked at the use of skin whitening creams, one at tattoos and the third at make up for men. All looked at the topics in an imaginative way, with interviews, and the use of a variety of images.

Thanks to Ajarns Nui and Robert for the photographs.

1 May 2008