Why study at Asia Institute?
The Asia Institute is a preeminent teaching and research institute that brings together disciplinary and linguistic expertise on Asia. The Institute has a strong record of teaching, publications and research grants, and over thirty academic staff.Through its undergraduate and postgraduate study programs, the Institute promotes the study of the languages and the rich intellectual, cultural, political and religious traditions of Asia and of the Islamic world. Language programs include Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian and Japanese.
Our staff
The Institute's staff have a broad range of research strengths that include:• Anthropology
• Economics
• History
• Linguistics
• Politics
• Sociology
• Study of Religion
Our staff provide expertise across a number of Asian and Middle Eastern countries.
Our research
Research grants and linkages are supported by national and international agencies, including those from Asia, Australia, and North America. The Institute's establishment of the National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies (NCEIS) and a new Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies are prime examples of the inter-relationship between fundamental research and our engagement with the broader community.
Multidisciplinary approach
The study of Asia at the Asia Institute and the University of Melbourne is multidisciplinary. Large numbers of students from the Faculties of Arts, Law, Music, Medicine, Architecture and Economics, amongst others, undertake Asian language or studies programs, thus greatly increasing their academic and future career options. Students can also benefit from "in country" study through Melbourne Global Scholarships in Language Studies. These scholarships provide opportunities for students to practice their learnt Asian languages by spending a period of time living as participant-observers within the societies and cultures of Asia. For more information please see the Melbourne Global Mobility Study Abroad funding web page.
Staff of the Asia Institute hold joint appointments in the Faculty of Medicine, in the disciplines of Political Science and History, and are co-located in the Faculty of Law. These appointments have been important in "mainstreaming" Asian studies across the University, as have the Asia Literacy Awards for University staff, who now have enhanced opportunities to study Asian languages.
Award-winning Sidney Myer Asia Centre
The Asia Institute is located in the award-winning Sidney Myer Asia Centre (Builidng 158) at the University of Melbourne. In the centre we offer a vibrant and varied program of public lectures, seminars and events hosted in our state of the art 500-seat lecture theatre. These programs present high profile Asian specialists to our students and to the community at large.
The Sidney Myer Asia Centre is a purpose-built facility to house the Asia Institute (formerly Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies) and the Asialink Centre. The centre's purpose is to be a catalyst for Australia's understanding and engagement with contemporary Asia, and to foster awareness of the importance to civilization of the diverse Asian cultures, both ancient and modern.
As part of the University's external profile on Swanston Street, the $18.5 million Sidney Myer Asia Centre project by Bob Nation of Nation Fender Katsalidis was designed to form a 'book-end' to the award-winning Ian Potter Museum of Art. The building was erected by Probuild Constructions and in 2002 it won the Master Builders Association of Australia award for 'Excellence in New Construction (Buildings) $10-50 million'. The building comprises the 500-seat Carrillo Gantner Theatre and five levels of teaching and learning, research and academic office space.
To mark the centenary of the arrival in Melbourne of one of Australia's most successful immigrants - Sidney Myer - the Myer family reinforced its commitment to Asia-Australia relations in 1999 with a $2 million grant to the University of Melbourne for the design and building of the Sidney Myer Asia Centre.
For more information about the Asia Institute, please contact the Arts Student Centre.
Photo by Michael Ewing