Winter Education Camp and Study Tour at AIT, - A report by Ananya Chakraborty, 3rd Year, ECE

JIS Group Educational Initiatives had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, to pursue, promote and reinforce cooperation in the common interests of teaching, training and research. The main objective of this training was to give an awareness of technological advancement for Engineering students who are pursuing their Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and facilitate them to interact with qualified and committed professionals. The collaboration aims to foster advancement in training, teaching, research and cultural understanding. Carrying forward this initiative 49 students from DSCSDEC, JISCE, NIT and GNIT along with two faculty members formed a GROUP and started their journey from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata, India to Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, on 2nd February, 2017 around 12:05 a.m. This cultural heritage tour was covered within well planned stipulated time frame of 14 days.

A bus from AIT took us from airport to our hotel D-LUXX. Though we were very tired and sleepy we were taken to the college and served an Indian meal Lunch (which surprised us) followed by the Opening Ceremony of the tour.

We attended back to back lectures on various topics (e.g. remote sensing, internet of things, GPS, emotional intelligence, nano-technology, packaging, GIS map making) and the evening time was very eventful to all of us where we interacted with our group members for the next course of actions. On Mondays and Thursdays, we visited the Night Market famous for their inexpensive goodies and food. Evenings were busy with presentation and cultural program rehearsals and map making. On the first Saturday afternoon, we were taken to the National Science Museum, three buildings filled with modern gadgets and innovations and also historical remains of Thailand. From paleontology to the traditions and cultures of Thailand, from latest gadgets to centuries old inventions and discoveries, from lasers to the sun’s rays everything had a place of its own at this dreamland of exhibition hall.

The very next Sunday breaking the monotonous routine of regular classes we had a visit to the . We saw zebras, giraffes, tigers, bears and thousands of birds of wonder in open fields in the . In the Marine Park, we saw some shows where sea , dolphins, elephants and Orangutan showed stunts. But the best show was Spy War, a real time action scene with special effects. We all got wet as the speedboat zoomed past us. The AIT team treated us with an amazing buffet lunch at the Jungle Cruise Restaurant thereafter.

. We visited two malls (Future Park and MBK Center) and during our stay. The river front view at Asiatique was just fabulous. Students had boat riding and a giant wheel ride too. The ambience and warmness of the place just blew our mind.

The students had the opportunity to visit the various laboratories present at AIT according to their groups. AIT usually does not allow outsiders into their labs as some patent filed research works are continuously going on there. As a result of Prof. Nitin Kumar Tripathi’s effort we got a chance to visit the Energy Lab and Nanotechnology Lab.

We also visited the BANGKOK UNIVERSITY. The technical session for the day took place at Bangkok University which is the oldest and largest private university in Thailand, established in 1962. The students were mentored by Dr. Saengudomlert Poomphat. The students were introduced to the next generation of communication lab equipment. An in house coded FPGA board was used which was controlled by codes written by the faculty of the university. Various coding techniques used in digital communication such as PAM, PCM, PPM and PWM were introduced to the students.

On day 10th, Seminar on: "Make in India" and "Startup India" took place. On this day we all got a chance to meet the THE INDIAN EMBASSY. The entire AIT faculty along with AIT President, Prof. Worsak attended the seminar

We also had a get together with AIT students. On that Saturday evening we had a gala dinner along with some interesting games to play and DJ dance at night in Korea House.

On the last day the students performed in the closing ceremony. An insightful speech was made by Prof. Nitin kr Tripathi, while a vote of thanks was given by the JIS GROUP faculties, student’s speech, group songs, group dances and finally the union of Thai and Indian national songs marked the show of the day. Winners of GPS pack rat game and GIS map making were awarded with certificates and participation certificates were distributed among students. The day ended on a high and eventful note with emotions and gratitude flooding the atmosphere. A farewell dinner was also organized by the AIT team to mark an appreciation and to show how much they had enjoyed our presence & our cultural program at their institution. Finally the day ended with DJ night show at Korea house.

No one could believe our stay came to an end so fast. We concluded our journey by visiting the historical place Ayutthaya.

We had learnt not only about technological advancements but also the true meaning of teamwork and brotherhood and were taught by the experience of their life.

The journey from the Asian Institute of Technology Campus to the airport was silent and peaceful, as students and the faculty members itself flashed back and traced their best 14 days. We are greatly thankful to the JIS GROUP for giving us such an unique opportunity which has made a landmark in our hearts forever.