An unusually strong Nordic association for Asian Studies

The Nordic Council of Ministers’ long term focus on Asia continues its success: An international evaluation team concludes that NIAS–Nordic Institute of Asian Studies – in which University of Copenhagen is a main partner – provides and communicates accomplished research on Asia. NIAS Research is timely in addressing issues of great international concern. In addition, NIAS successfully supports students and scholars in the Nordic region and acts as expert advisors to Nordic governments and firms as well as commentators and disseminators in the mass media.

40 years experience in communicating Asia Insights

The Nordic Council of Ministers has supported NIAS since 1968 as a means to develop research and education on Asia in the Nordic region. Today the partnership is extended to include 26 Nordic universities and research institutes who all benefit from NIAS services. The evaluation team notes that NIAS Library and Information Centre is using the newest internet tools to develop a Nordic AsiaPortal which ‘will bring new services to users in their own information environment and enhance NIAS’ outreach to user communities’. Anja Møller Rasmussen, Chief Librarian at NIAS, adds: ‘The AsiaPortal is also a window to Nordic research on Asia as we invite our partner universities to promote their activities and recourses on the Portal.’

Strengthening education, research training and mobility in the Nordic region

As Asia continues to develop, the Nordic countries need more people with general and specialized knowledge about Asian nations, their cultures, economies, and political systems, as well as their regional and global role. The NIAS Support Programme for Asian Studies (SUPRA) is established to meet these needs. Says the evaluation report: ‘NIAS SUPRA plays a significant role in the training of Masters and doctoral students in the Nordic countries.’ Adds Jørgen Delman, NIAS Director: ‘Master education and research training has high priority and besides inviting students to NIAS we expect that in the future we will also be able to support many more students traveling within the Nordic region to participate in courses and seminars or to meet with supervisors and other specialists.’

Playing a more supportive role for the Nordic Council of Ministers

Jørgen Delman concludes: ‘At NIAS we are extremely proud of the conclusions of the evaluation. It shows that we are not only moving in the right direction but that our work is also useful to our partners throughout the Nordic region. We will therefore continue the current line of work. We will also utilize our knowledge and network and play a more prominent role in relation to the Nordic Council of Ministers in efforts to make Nordic cooperation more globally oriented. Asia should be a top priority in this context.’

For more information contact: Director Jørgen Delman, NIAS: Phone: +45 35 32 95 23 // email: Jorgen.delman @ nias.ku.dk
 

NIAS – Nordic Institute of Asian Studies is a research and service institute that focuses on contemporary Asia. NIAS’s mission is to communicate Asian Insights. NIAS works in partnership with Copenhagen Business School, University of Copenhagen, Lund University and the Nordic NIAS Council. www.nias.ku.dk

Posted 13 February 2007