Steering Committee

Welcome Message from the Chair of the AOTULE Steering Committee

It is my great honor to serve as the Chair of the AOTULE Steering Committee for 2024 and 2025.

 

The Asia-Oceania Top University League on Engineering (AOTULE) is a dynamic alliance of leading engineering institutions across the Asia-Oceania region. Since its founding, AOTULE has aimed to foster academic collaboration, research excellence, and cross-cultural understanding through a variety of joint activities. I have had the privilege of being involved in AOTULE since 2010, and it has been deeply rewarding to witness its growth and impact over the years.

 

Tokyo Institute of Technology, one of the founding members of AOTULE, underwent a significant transformation in October 2024, becoming the Institute of Science Tokyo following its merger with Tokyo Medical and Dental University. This change reflects our evolving commitment to interdisciplinary education and research—a spirit that AOTULE wholeheartedly embraces.

 

I was delighted to attend the AOTULE Annual Conference and Dean’s Meeting in November 2024, hosted by the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB). This marked only our second in-person gathering since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted international travel. It was inspiring to reconnect with colleagues at the Deans’ Meeting, the Staff Meeting, and the Student Workshop. The energy, enthusiasm, and intellectual engagement on display were a strong reminder of the value and vitality of the AOTULE network.

 

Over the years, AOTULE has advanced its mission to strengthen academic and research programs across member institutions, while building deeper ties among students, faculty, and staff. The parallel student workshops and staff meetings introduced at our annual gatherings highlight our commitment to fostering collaboration at all levels. Despite our diverse cultures and academic systems, AOTULE provides a unifying platform to translate shared aspirations into meaningful and sustained partnerships.

 

As global challenges grow ever more complex and interconnected, AOTULE is well-positioned to contribute solutions by harnessing the collective strengths of our member universities. I look forward to celebrating AOTULE’s 19th anniversary at Tsinghua University in October 2025—a place I last visited during the 2011 AOTULE meeting. It will be a joy to return, and I am confident that AOTULE will continue to thrive and reach even greater heights.

 

Warm regards,

Jeffrey Cross
Chair, AOTULE Steering Committee (2024–2025)
Institute of Science Tokyo

President: Prof. Jeffrey Cross, Institute of Science Tokyo

Treasurer: Prof. Shanika Karunasekera, University of Melbourne

Secretary: Ms. Louisa Tobin, University of Melbourne

Welcome Message from the Chair of the AOTULE Steering Committee

It is my great honor to serve as the Chair of the AOTULE Steering Committee for 2024 and 2025.

The Asia-Oceania Top University League on Engineering (AOTULE) is a dynamic alliance of leading engineering institutions across the Asia-Oceania region. Since its founding, AOTULE has aimed to foster academic collaboration, research excellence, and cross-cultural understanding through a variety of joint activities. I have had the privilege of being involved in AOTULE since 2010, and it has been deeply rewarding to witness its growth and impact over the years.

Tokyo Institute of Technology, one of the founding members of AOTULE, underwent a significant transformation in October 2024, becoming the Institute of Science Tokyo following its merger with Tokyo Medical and Dental University. This change reflects our evolving commitment to interdisciplinary education and research—a spirit that AOTULE wholeheartedly embraces.

I was delighted to attend the AOTULE Annual Conference and Dean’s Meeting in November 2024, hosted by the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB). This marked only our second in-person gathering since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted international travel. It was inspiring to reconnect with colleagues at the Deans’ Meeting, the Staff Meeting, and the Student Workshop. The energy, enthusiasm, and intellectual engagement on display were a strong reminder of the value and vitality of the AOTULE network.

Over the years, AOTULE has advanced its mission to strengthen academic and research programs across member institutions, while building deeper ties among students, faculty, and staff. The parallel student workshops and staff meetings introduced at our annual gatherings highlight our commitment to fostering collaboration at all levels. Despite our diverse cultures and academic systems, AOTULE provides a unifying platform to translate shared aspirations into meaningful and sustained partnerships.

As global challenges grow ever more complex and interconnected, AOTULE is well-positioned to contribute solutions by harnessing the collective strengths of our member universities. I look forward to celebrating AOTULE’s 19th anniversary at Tsinghua University in October 2025—a place I last visited during the 2011 AOTULE meeting. It will be a joy to return, and I am confident that AOTULE will continue to thrive and reach even greater heights.

Warm regards,

Jeffrey Cross
Chair, AOTULE Steering Committee (2024–2025)
Institute of Science Tokyo

President: Prof. Jeffrey Cross, Institute of Science Tokyo

Treasurer: Prof. Shanika Karunasekera, University of Melbourne

Secretary: Ms. Louisa Tobin, University of Melbourne

Perspectives on AOTULE exchanges

Tokyo Tech 2013

A Student: I wish I could have stayed longer than 3 months in order to do more research.

B Student: Excellent program please keep it up.

Tokyo Tech 2012:

A Student: The best part of this program is that we are able to meet and communicate with overseas students from all around the world. It inspired me to work harder in order to be a world class researcher.

B Student: The summer research program at Tokyo Tech contained many events, like courses, factory tour and travel, besides our regular research work. I think these events were well organized and provides us a better of Japanese language, people, advanced technology and culture.

C Student: Great summer program but to do research unfortunately 3 months is too short.

AOTULE Deans met at Nanyang Technological Univ on Nov. 2-3 to review 2015 activities and plan for 2016. Tokyo Tech, Chula and ITB talked about their short term student exchange programs and plans for 2016.

The AOTULE deans also selected an AOTULE logo design based upon the student design competition from 9 submission with first prize being awarded to a Nanyang TU student. The design will be review by a professional designer before it is displayed on the AOTULE website.

In addition, the student conference and admin staff meeting was also held to promote research activities as well as information exchange activity among respective staff, respectively.

At the meeting new steering chairman and vice-chair were elected with Univ. Melbourne Prof. David Shallcross being selected as the steering chair for two years. He succeeds Tokyo Tech Prof. Jeffrey Cross, who has served as the chair for 4 years. To facilitate the leadership transition, Prof. Cross will serve as honorary chair for one year. The new vice-chair is HKUST Prof./Assoc. Dean King Lun YEUNG who succeeds NTU-T Assoc. Dean W.C. Chen. Finally, the executive chairmanship changed from Univ. Melb. Dean Iven Mareels to NTU-S Dean Tsuhan Chen.

The next AOTULE meeting which is also the 10th year from its founding will be held at HKUST in Nov. 2016.

AOTULE held its annual 2014 conference at the School of Engineering, Univ. of Melbourne in Melbourne, Australia on Nov. 26-28, 2014. The meeting was hosted by Engineering Dean Mareels and organized by Prof. David Shallcross with support from the engineering administrative staff.

At the meeting there were approximately 130 participants including Deans, faculty, staff and students. An admin staff meeting was held for the third time in a parallel session and allowed staff members to exchange opinions on best practices and issues relating to student exchanges. In addition, a third session was also held in parallel on engineering education.

In 2014, Tokyo Tech and ITB hosted students for overseas stays and research exchanges. Both programs were given high marks of satisfaction from the student participants

Two new university members joined AOTULE, IITM (India) and HUST (Vietnam), which brings the total number of members to 13. The University of Moratuwa also sent a delegate as an observer to the Deans meeting.

The steering committee is looking forward to the 2015 AOTULE meeting at Nanyang Technological Univ. Singapore, on Nov. 1-3, 2015.