AIT’s multicultural environment 2,300+ Students from 50+ Countries /Territories 18,000+ Alumni from 70+ Countries/Territories 28,000 Short-term Trainees from 70+ Countries/Territories 120 World Class Faculty from 20+ Countries 33 board of trustee members from 19 countries School of Environment, Resources and Development Regional and Rural Development Planning The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) is an independent, international autonomous institution based in Thailand, promotes technological change and sustainable development in the Asian-Pacific region through higher education, research and outreach. Established in 1959, AIT has become a leading regional institution and is actively working with public and private sector partners throughout the region and with some of the top universities in the world. School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) A key strength of AIT is its ability to respond to regional needs by mobilizing and enhancing capabilities for socially, economically and environmentally development through SERD. The School emphasizes on thematic areas including Bio-resources, Energy and Environment, Development Studies, and Interdisciplinary that integrates technology and natural and social science knowledge in its academic, research and training activities. REGIONAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING (RRDP) The RRDP focuses on rural poverty, improvement of the quality of life and social and economic development of rural areas. Practice oriented rural-regional planning is carried out regularly at district and sub-district levels following a participatory and integrated approach. Attention is paid to management of development institutions, infrastructure and physical resources. Sectoral and spatial planning is equally emphasized along with the management of rural development programs and local development projects to strengthen rural communities for sustainable development. Selected areas of concern are: poverty analysis; concepts and processes of rural and regional development; community development planning; agricultural development and planning; planning and management of rural development programs and projects; regional planning techniques; rural-urban relations; NGO management policy and development administration; sustainable development theories and practices; and decentralization and governance. Coursework and Research The curriculum offered by the RRDP program includes courses in: Rural and Regional Development Agricultural Development Planning Sustainable Development Theories and Practices Rural-Urban Relations Community Development Planning NGO Management Policy and Development Administration Decentralization and Governance Social Research Methods in Development Planning Regional Planning Techniques Project Planning and Management Research Design and Methods Rural-Regional Planning Workshop Civil Society and Globalization Adaptation, Coping & Community Resiliency and Natural Disaster Management Community Development and Participation Decentralized Planning (Local Development Planning and Governance) Natural Resources Management and Sustainable Agriculture Regional and Rural Development Planning Inclusive of Methodology, GIS Applications and Evaluation of Projects Rural Urban Relations Watershed Management Our approach to learning Professionalism across Disciplines Individualized Academic Advising Flexible Curricula Real-Life Development Problems and Industrial Practice Small Class Sizes in Multicultural Environment Global Network of Colleagues Opportunity for Student Exchange and Double-Degree Programs