Written by Arnab Barua and Dennes Bergado Jr.
On 22nd November 2024, the AIT School of Management celebrated a momentous occasion – the 20th Anniversary Reunion of the Class of 2004. It was a heartwarming event as 13 Alumni from across the globe gathered to reconnect, reminisce, and relive their cherished memories at AIT.
Led by Mr. Ahmed Saiful Islam, the alumni group met with the Dean, Prof. Yuosre Badir for a quick chat where they shared their life stories and career paths during the past 20 years. It concluded with a gift exchange and a group photo.
Next, they had a chance to meet current SOM students who were encouraged to mingle with the alumni group and ask them any questions. The visiting Alumni shared that during their time at SOM, the Class of 2004 experienced a transformative journey, combining world-class education, diverse cultural exposure, and a spirit of camaraderie that shaped their personal and professional lives.
After lunch with the Dean, the visiting Alumni were able to revisit their memories around the campus. It was clear that the vibrant green campus, engaging academic sessions, and collaborative projects not only built a strong foundation for their careers but also forged lifelong friendships.
The visiting Alumni included Durong Thao Tran, Yuthana Rodseesain, Devashish Thakur, Gaurav Ghosh, Arnab Barua, Akeanong Jangbua, Shahriar Moudud, Asher Yourey, Van Nguyen, Linh Hanh Truong, Soulinthone Leuangkhamsing, Apinya Buakla, and Ahmed Saiful Islam. The doors of SOM will always be open to all our alumni to welcome them back to their memories.
As SOM celebrates 37 years of success and keeps on going stronger, the event reminded us of the enduring impact of SOM's holistic approach to management learning and leadership development. Here's to many more years of creating leaders and changemakers!
#AITReunion #AITClassOf2004 #SchoolOfManagement #AITMemories #AITLegacy
Quotes from the visiting Alumni:
Devashish Thakur, Executive Director, Maximus Completion System, based in Mumbai, India
Revisiting any alma mater is a great experience in itself, reminiscing the old days, remembering the friends and the good times and often getting emotional about it all ! If it happens to be such a beautiful little place like AIT, it’s all the more easy because good days here far outnumbered the forgettable ones ! So when one November morning some of us SOM 2004 batch decided to assemble at AIT campus and walk down the memory lane it just turned out to be a truly memorable day!
Just walking into the campus and entering the SOM building itself were enough to make us all giddy headed with memories and emotions that were attached! Glancing around those classrooms, the teacher’s cabins (surprisingly some names still adorn the doors) or having a quick stopover by the good old SOM cafe were enough to stir up memory banks!
Best part was the interactive session with the current batch of students and the opportunity to exchange some of our cumulative experiences through the professional journeys that we traversed were not only interesting but very fulfilling!
Opportunity to meet some of the old staff along with new crop of professors and administrators were invaluable too.
Above all, the sheer opportunity of meeting some of the long-lost friends from the batch from far and wide were a gift we all felt grateful for.
Look forward to many such occasions and also contribute positively to growth and success of AIT, its student and alumni community!
Durong Thao Tran, Internal Audit Director, Thai Vietjet Air, based in Bangkok, Thailand
My recent visit to AIT brought back sweet memories and gratitude. My time here was truly the best period of my life, filled with invaluable learning, personal growth, and cherished memories with instructors and friends. The MBA program not only shaped my knowledge but also opened doors to opportunities that have significantly advanced my career. Thank you for continuing to inspire and empower future leaders. Proud to be an alumnus of such a remarkable institution!
Gaurav Ghosh, Senior Manager for Business Development & Quality, Valmet, based in Bangkok, Thailand
I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the warm welcome during my recent visit to Asian Institute of Technology. It was truly a nostalgic and inspiring experience to reconnect with the campus and see how much it has grown and evolved.
I deeply appreciate the time and effort the entire team took to show us around, allowing us to reconnect with some of the best years in life. The memories, life experiences, and education imparted I gained during my time there have shaped who I am today, and it was a privilege to revisit that part of my journey.
Thank you once again for all the arrangements. I look forward to staying in touch and continuing to support AIT in every possible capacity.
Ahmed Saiful Islam, Senior Manager, Wealth and Personal Banking South Asia, HSBC, based in Hong Kong SAR
It was truly a heartwarming experience to visit my alma mater, School of Management (SOM), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) with some of my dear alumni friends on 22 Nov 2024. We came back to our beloved institute after 20 years of our MBA graduation and spend almost a full day to relive our memories in the institute that re-shaped our lives through excellent education, world class facilities and significant international networking opportunities.
It was an absolute pleasure to meet the honorable Dean, current faculty and officials of SOM and find some known faces among them! The exchange session with the current MBA and DBA students was very engaging and I was delighted to see the enthusiastic forward-looking thoughts among the existing students. From the interaction with the Management and students, I felt that the leadership team is driving SOM in the right direction to establish it as a highly preferred Managment studies institute for Masters, Doctorate and Executive education in the Asia Pacific region.
I personally thank the Dean and the management team for their wonderful hospitality. I am keen to remain engaged in any future alumni activities and contribute to the continuous success and growth of SOM, AIT.