Agreements boost Southeast Asian studies at CityU

Chan Pui-fun

15 Jun 2015

Framework agreements signed with Cornell University and Northern Illinois University (NIU) on 12 June establish long-term collaboration for joint research projects and academic exchange activities between City University of Hong Kong’s (CityU) Southeast Asia Research Centre (SEARC) and two of the most important centres for Southeast Asian Studies in the US.

The agreements were signed by Professor Mark Thompson, Acting Head of CityU’s Department of Asian and International Studies and Director of SEARC; Dr Chiara Formichi from the Southeast Asian Studies Program, Cornell University; and Dr Kikue Hamayotsu from the Department of Political Science, NIU, during a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at CityU.

Professor Way Kuo, CityU President, and Professor Arthur Ellis, Provost of CityU, were among the attendees.

Professor Kuo welcomed the collaboration. “SEARC is the only centre for the study of Southeast Asia in Hong Kong. CityU is taking the lead in this area.” He also stressed CityU’s long-standing partnership with Cornell University.

Dr Formichi said SEARC had notable expertise in this area. “My colleagues at Cornell University are very excited about the partnership,” she said.

The Center for Southeast Asian Studies at NIU was actively promoting research on Southeast Asian Studies, Dr Hamayotsu added.

CityU is one of the leaders in Southeast Asian studies. The agreement reflects CityU’s extensive global reach.

Meanwhile, a two-day workshop on Religious Minorities in Asia jointly organised by the three institutions at CityU on 12 and 13 June attracted leading Southeast Asian Studies scholars from Australia, China, New Zealand, UK and US.

The workshop addressed key issues pertaining to religious minorities in societies across Asia from historical, legal, political and social perspectives.

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