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ABSTRACT: The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) demonstrates a strong institutional commitment to advancing gender equality (SDG 5) through integrated research, education, policy engagement, and public outreach. AIT’s initiatives promote women’s leadership in energy, STEM, climate resilience, aquaculture, digital transformation, and peace and security, while fostering inclusive participation in innovation and decision-making. Notable efforts include regional leadership programs for women in energy, gender-responsive monitoring frameworks for naturebased aquaculture, feminist AI research, workforce development initiatives, and scholarship support for
women scholars from vulnerable communities. AIT has also contributed significantly to national and regional policy, including supporting the development of Thailand’s first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). Through strategic international partnerships, multidisciplinary research, and capacitybuilding programs, AIT advances gender-responsive solutions that strengthen social inclusion, improve livelihoods, enhance leadership opportunities, and promote equitable and sustainable development across Asia and beyond.
NEWS: WePOWER SAR100-2.0 Capstone Week Showcases Collaboration and Women’s Leadership in Energy at AIT
Description: WEPower SAR100 2.0 Capstone Week at AIT highlighted regional collaboration and women’s leadership in energy. Participants presented projects addressing sustainable energy challenges. The event emphasized leadership development and policy relevance. It aligned with gender and clean energy goals. AIT designs, develops, delivers, and assesses ten training modules for the SAR100 program, building technical capacity of 100 women energy professionals in South Asia. The program is part of the World Bank-led SARIC LSTP, funded by the Australian Government through Palladium International. 100 women from seven designated countries would be trained in power and energy areas. These professionals would work on clean energy transition in the region, which would improve energy supply, mitigate climate change, etc.
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Regional
AIT celebrated Capstone Week showcasing projects led by emerging women leaders in the energy sector across South Asia. The event highlighted innovation, leadership, and policy-relevant solutions for energy sustainability. Participants presented applied projects addressing real-world energy challenges. The initiative reinforced AIT’s commitment to gender equity and clean energy leadership. 🌐 https://ait.ac.th/2025/06/wepower-sar100-2-0-
capstone-week-showcases-regional-collaborationand-womens-leadership-in-energy-at-ait/
🌐 https://ait.ac.th/2025/05/ait-celebrates-capstone-
week-honoring-south-asias-emerging-womenleaders-in-energy/
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Women in STEM: Innovating for a Sustainable Future
Description: This article marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and notes that women make up under 30% of researchers globally, citing UNESCO Institute for Statistics. It profiles Kingkan Pongtong, a PhD candidate working on plant-based protein innovation and sustainable food technologies. Her research covers methods like germination, fermentation, and even 3D-printed food, aiming to increase value and reduce waste in food systems. It also shares her motivation, linking Thailand’s agricultural abundance with the need for better preservation, processing, and value addition. 🌐 https://ait.ac.th/2025/02/women-in-stem-
innovating-for-a-sustainable-future/
Championing Transformative Change: AIT Celebrates International Women’s Day 2025
Description: AIT marked International Women’s Day 2025 by celebrating women’s contributions to education, research, and leadership. Activities highlighted gender equity, inclusion, and institutional commitment to empowerment. The event reinforced the importance of diversity in driving innovation and development. It aligned with global efforts to promote gender equality across sectors. 🌐 https://ait.ac.th/2025/03/championing-
transformative-change-ait-celebrates-internationalwomens-day-2025/
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Tracking Pathways to Gender Equality: Co-production of Technical Innovation in Nature-Based Aquaculture to Tackle Climate Change
Description: This article examines gender equality through co-produced technical innovation in aquaculture. Nature-based solutions were linked to climate adaptation and inclusion. Research emphasized participatory approaches. The work supports equitable sustainability outcomes. 🌐 https://ait.ac.th/2025/08/tracking-pathways-to-
gender-equality-co-production-of-technicalinnovation-in-nature-based-aquaculture-to-tackleclimate-change/
AIT Champions Inclusive Digital Transformation at Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2025
Description: AIT participated in Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2025 to promote inclusive digital transformation. Activities focused on empowering young women in technology fields. The event emphasized skills, access, and opportunity. It aligned with gender equality and digital inclusion goals. 🌐 https://ait.ac.th/2025/08/ait-champions-
inclusive-digital-transformation-at-girls-in-ict-daythailand-2025/
GAF9 Unites Global Experts to Advance Gender Justice in Aquaculture and Fisheries
Duration: 1 November 2024 - 30 July 2027 Partners: The Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries Section of the Asian Fisheries Society (GAFS/AFS) Funded by: Conference participants & donors News Description: GAF9 brought together global experts to advance gender justice in aquaculture and fisheries. Discussions emphasized equity, inclusion, and policy reform. The forum highlighted women’s leadership and participation. It supports socially just sustainability transitions.
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Project Description: The 9th Global Conference on Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries (GAF9) of the Gender in Aquaculture & Fisheries Section of the Asian Fisheries Society on the theme Transforming aquaculture and fisheries for gender justiceâ was held from 1-3 October
2025 at the Asian Institute of Technology, Pathum Thani, Thailand. 🌐 https://ait.ac.th/2025/10/gaf9-unites-global-experts-
to-advance-gender-justice-in-aquaculture-andfisheries/
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PROJECTS: Making Nature-based Climate Solutions in aquaculture in Southeast Asia monitoring more gender responsive: What gets measured, gets done (GeNA project)
Duration: 1 September 2023 - 30 September 2027 News Description: Women play a significant role in aquaculture production across Asia, yet their contributions are often overlooked and insufficiently documented. The lack of sex-disaggregated and gender-sensitive data in aquaculture remains a persistent challenge. Although several indicators and guidelines exist to monitor gender equality in fisheries and aquaculture, most are not designed to capture the processes and impact pathways of women’s empowerment. Given women’s active participation in Nature-based Climate Solutions (NbCS) aquaculture in Southeast Asia, there is a need for a gender monitoring tool that reflects the social contexts shaping women’s and men’s roles, relationships, and decision-making in production systems. Such a tool should not only measure outcomes but also track empowerment processes and amplify women’s voices to support transformative change. This project aims to: (1) develop a gender-responsive monitoring schema for NbCS aquaculture in Southeast Asia; (2) apply the schema to three pilot projects— seaweed culture in the Philippines and rice–fish culture systems in Thailand and Cambodia—where women are actively engaged; and (3) examine how the schema can identify bottlenecks and support the transformation of aquaculture initiatives toward more gender-responsive and inclusive practices. 🌐 https://ait.ac.th/2025/10/gaf9-unites-global-experts-
to-advance-gender-justice-in-aquaculture-andfisheries/
🌐 https://www.facebook.com/GeNAproject/
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Women’s Leadership Development and Institutional Development of Women-Led Organizations in Bangladesh
AIT Research Theme: Technology, Policy and Society Contributed by Faculty/School/Center: FCCS
norms. Activities include institutional strengthening and community engagement with partner WLOs.
Partners / Funded by: Women’s Empowerment Organization, Bangladesh Expected Social Impact: Through skill development, leadership training, and capacity building, women will gain the tools and knowledge needed to take on leadership roles and contribute effectively to their communities. Description: This project supports Women-Led Organizations (WLOs) and women leaders in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh to strengthen women’s leadership and advocate for changing gender-related social
Supporting feminist scholars from Myanmar and strengthening connections within and across diverse feminist movements in Thailand and the broader region.
Duration: 1 January 2024 - 31 December 2026 AIT Research Theme: Technology, Policy and Society Contributed by Faculty/School/Center: Education and Research Laboratory
Internet
Partners / Funded by: NIS, Nordic International Support Foundation Expected Social Impact: Advancement of gender equality in Myanmar. Description: Implementation of a scholarship initiative, providing Gender and Development Studies students with
grants to undertake research on topics jointly identified and agreed on by NIS and AIT. The scholarship initiative is intended to provide flexible support, which may include partial fellowships to new students, additional research funding for existing students, and grants to assist certificate students. Delivery of three dialogue sessions bringing together feminist practitioners, scholars, and analysts to present, analyze, and discuss current and emerging issues of relevance to diverse feminist movements in Thailand and the broader region.
Feminist Al Research: Incubating Feminist AI FAIR: From Paper to Prototype to Pilot (FAIR)
Duration: 1 May 2024 - 30 June 2026 AIT Research Theme: Smart communities Contributed by Faculty/School/Center: Gender and Development Studies Partners / Funded by: AIT, Instituto Technologico de Costa Rica Expected Social Impact: 1) Among vulnerable groups (2) Victims of trafficking (3) Helping vulnerable population
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Description: A research project aimed to produce and publish a full-length research paper which should provide a clear answer as to how one should implement a program
of activities that promote the use of AI in a positive way. The paper should propose a new model for thinking and taking action.
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At the Edge of (Human) Security: Gender, Borders and Violence Mitigation along the Thailand-Myanmar Frontier
Duration: 1 May 2025 - 30 April 2027 AIT Research Theme: Technology, Policy and Society Partners / Funded by: Asian Institute of Technology Initiation Grant Expected Social Impact: (1) Journal article (2) Policy briefs submitted to ACWC, AWPR and AICHR. Description: The study aims to apply the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) framework to assess the inclusion of women in border governance and develop collaborative policy strategies that support gender-responsive border management and violence prevention.
Research and Knowledge Generation on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) in Bangladesh
Duration: 15 August 2025 - 15 June 2026 AIT Research Theme: Technology, Policy and Society Partners / Funded by: Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS), Bangladesh Expected Social Impact: Six research and briefing papers, including two in-depth thematic reports with actionable policy recommendations, dissemination-ready advocacy materials, including executive summaries, talking points, and visual content, delivered in coordination with research rollout, and four workshops delivered and
a comprehensive training resource pack produced and shared with BNPS teams and partners. Description: The study analyzes the possible impact on women and maintaining employment from the current economic policies, especially focusing on the S-curve industry promotion and BCG (bio, circular, and green economy) model, and provides policy recommendations for gender-responsive labor and economic policies in Thailand.
Development of Thailand’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security
Duration: 2023 - 2025 Description: Dr. Duanghathai Buranajaroenkij from the Gender and Development Studies (GDS) Program is a significant contributor to the development and adoption of Thailand’s National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) is a member state of ASEAN and the United Nations, Thailand endorsed UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000). Recognizing the need to institutionalize its commitments to the Women, Peace, and Security agenda within a comprehensive national framework, the Ministry of Social Development and Human
Security (MSDHS) initiated the development of Thailand’s first WPS National Action Plan (NAP). AIT was invited to conduct the foundational research and lead the drafting process. The development of the NAP was participatory and nationwide, involving consultations with stakeholders from the North, Northeast, South, and Bangkok. The process included multiple rounds of technical review, interagency coordination, and negotiation to refine priorities, indicators, and implementation mechanisms through the relevant national subcommittee. Thailand’s WPS NAP was formally adopted in December 2025. The plan is now being
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implemented by key state agencies, including MSDHS, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Health,
Ministry of Justice, and the Royal Thai Police, marking a significant milestone in institutionalizing the WPS agenda at the national level.
TOTAL ENROLLED STUDENTS OVER THE YEARS 3,000
2,500
2,454
2,672
2,500
Female Students Male Students Total Students
2,103 2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
2022
2023
2024
2025
GRADUATES BY GENDER OVER THE YEARS 700 600
522
500
503
542
560
566
Female Students Male Students Total Students
400 300 200 100 0
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2021
2022 2023
2024
2025