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Background of Institute of East Asian Studies (IEAS)

Institute of East Asian Studies (IEAS) was established on the 1st of March 1997 at the centre of University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) in Kota Samarahan. The strategic location of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak renders it ideal as an institutional environment for the establishment of the Institute of East Asian Studies (IEAS) to promote better understanding of current and projected future socio-economic change impacting Borneo in the regional and global context. The role of the institute is to promote research in all relevant areas to ensure deeper and holistic understanding of the socio-political dynamics of the East Asian region in the global context by taking into account the social, cultural, religious, historical, and civilizational aspects. The focus of research at IEAS is the island of Borneo and Malaysia in the context of South-east Asia and East Asia – a region undergoing drastic transformation as a consequence of unprecedented economic development and globalization.

Mission IEAS

Stretching from China in the north to Indonesia in the south, Japan in the east, to Burma/Myanmar in the west, East Asia is one of the most dynamic and challenging regions of the globe. Understanding this key region requires a variety of skills and perspectives, a combination of familiar and new forms of knowledge , and the development of new networks. It will also require an understanding of the Asian region's evolving political economy in global context taking into account the social,cultural, religious and historical character of the nations, states and civilizations in the region. The Institute of East Asian Studies (IEAS) at UNIMAS is the first of its kind to be set up in an ASEAN country. It coordinates and promotes a range of interdisciplinary programmes and activities to advance a better understanding of the East Asian region. Taking advantage of the university's strategic location, IEAS encourages a deeper understanding of current and projected change in the regional and global socio-economic environment Recent Conferences/Workshops.

IEAS Objective

To initiate contemporary research that will enhance understanding of the processes of change. Where possible the IEAS will do so in conjunction with other organizations, and with scholars, both from within and outside Sarawak.

• The IEAS has postgraduate students by research for the Unimas degrees of MSS and PhD. In addition research students enrolled at other Universities may be given Associate Fellow status, and work with staff and students of IEAS.

• Visiting scholars may be appointed as Research Fellows, and work together with Unimas on research projects.

• The IEAS seeks to foster research through organizational links with Sarawak-based organizations including those listed below, plus a wide range of overseas organizations such as Kyoto University, the University of the Philippines and Academia Sinica.

• Presently the IEAS hosts active Dayak Studies and Nusantara Studies research programs.

To disseminate research findings through the publication of monograph, bibliographies and working papers, and to assist the distribution and marketing of scholarly books produced by Unimas, the Yayasan Budaya Melayu Sarawak, the Sarawak Literary Society, the Borneo Research Council and the Dayak Cultural Foundation. The IEAS has in place a number of exchanges with research institutes throughout the world, and thus acts as a gateway, as a portal for research on Borneo/Kalimantan from a regional perspective.

To expand the availability of research materials to local scholars, in order to extend and deepen available holdings on Borneo, available in Borneo.

• Through the selection and copying of key archival documents on the history and development of Sarawak, original documents held in the UK, USA and Australia-working in conjunction with the Pustaka Negeri Sarawak.

• Obtaining gifts and bequests from academics and former administrators;

• Locating existing holdings of materials as a founding participant in k@Borneo a consortium of libraries throughout Borneo who are compiling a union catalogue and subsequently will digitize rare texts.

To facilitate the exchange of ideas through an active series of open seminars [to which a broad range of interested persons are regularly invite], convening of international forums, workshops and conferences, and participation of IEAS academic staff in international conferences.

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