The Institute of Asian Research
Created in 1978, the Institute of Asian Research is the largest academic unit in Canada focusing on contemporary Asia. It is composed of about 12 permanent members of faculty who have all or part of their appointments in the Institute, about 25 other members of faculty who serve on management committees and participate actively in Institute activities, and roughly 25 visiting fellows, post-doctoral students and honorary professors in residence.
Under the banner of “local knowledge informing policy relevance”, its principal purpose is to facilitate inter-disciplinary research, collaboration and publication on contemporary Asia and trans-Pacific relations. It serves as a resource for UBC faculty and graduate students who are specialists on Asia or who have a significant professional interest in Asia; furthermore, it aims to connect research projects and findings to multiple audiences including academics, attentive publics and policy makers.
Main Areas of Research
Its activities include:
- The impact of globalization in Asia
- Socio-economic and political change in Asia
- Canada-Asia relations
- Urbanization in the Pacific rim
- Migration and Mobility in the Asia Pacific region.
- Cultural studies
