Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided over the Thammasat University Graduation Ceremony at Thammasat University, Tha-Prachan campus, on July 28, 2000. In this ceremony, 236 SIIT students received a Bachelor's Degree (209 in Engineering and 27 in Science) and 10 graduates received a Master's Degree in Engineering. Since the establishment of SIIT in 1992, there have been 784 Bachelor's Degree graduates and 16 Master's Degree graduates.

Thanpuying Niramol Suriyasat, Member of the Thammasat University Council, Trustee of SIIT, and Chairwoman of Toshiba Thailand Co., Ltd., presided over the Cornerstone Laying Ceremony of the New SIIT Building at Bangkadee Center, Amphur Muang, Pathumthani, on Tuesday November 28, 2000.

Associate Professor Dr. Naris Chaiyasoot, Chairman of the SIIT Board of Trustees and the Rector of TU; Asst. Prof. Praphatsorn Leopairote, Trustee of SIIT and TU Vice Rector for Finance & Property Management; Professor Dr. Pakorn Adulbhan, Trustee of SIIT, Executive Board Member of Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), and President of The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Taketoshi Arikawa, Trustee of SIIT, President of Japanese Chamber of Commerce (JCC) in Bangkok, and President of Mitsubishi Co. (Thailand) Ltd., were the guests of honor. In addition, about 60 distinguished guests, SIIT executives, faculty members and staff also participated in this ceremony.

Thanpuying Niramol Suriyasat and Mr. Sohei Morita of Bangkadee Industrial Park, Co., Ltd. have kindly supported the extension of SIIT's building at Bangkadee Center by renting to FTI 5.6 rai of land, which includes an existing building, for a period of 30 years at a rent of 4,800 baht per annum. FTI in turn has donated this property to SIIT. In April 2000, the SIIT Board of Trustees approved an extension of SIIT to Bangkadee Center for teaching, research and industrial services. Renovation of the existing building and construction of a new building with laboratories and classrooms will be completed by December 2001.

Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University and Toyohashi University of Technology, Japan, have agreed to develop academic and exchange cooperation in education and research between the two universities. The Exchange Agreement (including exchange of students, faculty members and staff, scientific materials, publications and information, joint research and research meetings) and the Agreement Covering the Implementation of a Student Exchange Program were signed on November 1, 2000.

On November 17, 2000, Dr. Kazuo Tsutsumi, the Vice-President for Education and Research Affairs of Toyohashi University of Technology, met Prof. Dr. Prida Wibulswas, SIIT Director, Prof. Dr. Sawasd Tantaratana, SIIT Deputy Director, and five faculty members of SIIT at Pathumwan Princess Hotel, Bangkok, to discuss the implementation of the student exchange program. An SIIT delegation, led by Prof. Dr. Sawasd Tantaratana, visited Toyohashi University of Technology on December 6, 2000 to follow up the implementation of the exchange programs.

Open House at Thammasat University, Tha-Prachan Campus On November 24, 2000, the International Office of Thammasat University organized an Open House at Tha-Prachan campus for prospective students from international schools. Shown in the picture is the SIIT Deputy Director, Prof. Dr. Sawasd Tantaratana, presenting information on SIIT academic programs and admission process.

SIIT Team Wins Second Prize for Krathong in the Creative Category As part of their extra-curricular activities, SIIT students participated in the Krathong competition organized by Thammasat University at the Rangsit campus on Loy Krathong Day, November 11, 2000. The SIIT Team, led by the SIIT Volunteer Club and Createch Club, won the second prize for its Krathong in the Creative Category.

Sixty participants of the second Mini Kasetsart University Management Training Program, which is organized by the Faculty of Social Science, visited SIIT on November 10, 2000. They were welcomed and informed of the "Mission of SIIT", and its policy and overall management by Prof. Dr. Prida Wibulswas, the Director of SIIT.

The Deputy Director, Prof. Dr. Sawasd Tantaratana, Institute Secretary, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Banlue Srisuchinwong, System Manager of Computer Center, Asst. Prof. Dr. Komwut Wipusitwarakun, and Head of Library & Information Services Center, Mrs. On-Anong Suraniranat, informed the visitors of the operation and management of academic and research activities, financial and human resources, Computer Center, and Library & Information Services Center, respectively. They also toured the Computer Center and the Library and Information Services Center.

On December 4, 2000, Prof. Y. Aoyagi from Central Research Institute of Electrical Power Industry (CRIEPI), Japan, gave a presentation on "Dynamic Behaviors of Embedded Duct-Type RC Structures Subjected to Earthquake Effects" to SIIT faculty members and students. Prof. Aoyagi has been a visiting faculty member to SIIT on many occasions during the past few years.

After taking their final exams, hard working students deserve some rest. So what do they do during semester breaks? Some of the students, both male and female, decided that they should spend their time doing something worthy; and that's how the Volunteer Club originated in SIIT as far back as 1994. The club has been organizing an outreach activity every term-break, as well as arranging many other benevolent activities during semesters.

Recently, 60 club members from all faculties of Thammasat University collected warm clothing and, with hearts full of zeal, headed to Tung Yua village, in Chiang Mai, for a seven-day 'benevolent camp', as they called this outreach.

The first thing the students did was to hold a seminar for the villagers on the procedures of the new election system. This was important since the villagers have been given Thai citizenship just recently and they have never cast votes in an election before. The students had written an act (a kind of a play) to demonstrate the voting procedure during an election. The villagers do not understand Thai and hence there were language difficulties throughout the camp, but happily, the seminar ended with excited villagers participating in the simulated vote casting.

The students were also concerned about the villagers' lack of knowledge related to drug problems. They were able to borrow the village's one and only video player to show the terrible consequences which drug addiction can bring.

The team's biggest project, however, was to build a sports ground, which would also serve as a ceremony stage as well as a common ground where the villagers would come together on special occasions. Although members were assigned to different projects during their week with the villagers, everyone took part in this building project. In order to collect all the material needed, all the club members carried sand and stone uphill from early morning till late in the evening, until the site was completed.

Through many other activities such as teaching and interacting with the children and spending time with the villagers, the students were not only able to encourage the villagers in various ways, but also felt encouraged themselves as well; and by means of this sharing came to know that there are many people who care deeply for others in our society. Even though the club went to provide help to the villagers, the members themselves have received many lessons and warmth as gifts to take back home.

Through these camps, the members of the volunteer club hope to show society that there are young students wanting to express their brotherly/sisterly love for others, by action, rather than just words.