Network Support
In the Nordic region researchers and students focusing on Asia may be scattered or isolated in small research environments. In order to strengthen Nordic Asian studies, NIAS initiates and support networks across different institutions within the five Nordic countries.
Networking is integral to NIAS’ mode of operation: networks are essential for maintaining a dynamic programme of research, dissemination, research education, library services, conferences, workshops and guest lectures. The SUPRA programme can provide financial support for networking activities of these kinds.
If you wish to apply for support to a workshop/seminar or other activity organized by your network, please send an e-mail to info@nias.ku.dk, containing the name of the network, where it is based and a short description of the event.
General
The Nordic Himalaya Research Network seeks to build collaboration and scholarly exchange among Himalayan researchers of different disciplinary backgrounds and with different regional expertise: It connects Nordic scholars who work on India, China, Nepal and Bhutan but who are otherwise part of more nationally-oriented research networks. The Himalayas, as a region, traverses national borders and addresses issues of minority populations and peripheral societies with its syncretic mixture of political and religious systems, ethnic groups and unique environmental features. The aim of the network is to strengthen Himalayan studies in the Nordic region and to help to facilitate international collaboration.
Visit the webpage of the Nordic Himalaya Research Network here.
The Network for Asian Studies (Asianettverket) is a Norwegian research network which promotes studies, research, and information about the history, society, culture, politics and environment of the Asian region (except for West Asia). The network was founded in 1996 and is led by a group of scholars in Norway with a research interest for Asia.
The Network:
- organizes academically stimulating conferences, seminars, and lectures.
- promotes contact between disciplines and institutions.
- encourages recruitment to and promotion of Asian research.
- facilitates and encourages academic cooperation between researchers and research institutions.
The network does not carry out its own research, but promotes research activities on the Asian region.
The Finnish University Network for Asian Studies was established in 1996 and has provided e-learning courses on Asia since 1999.
Goal
The goal of the Network is to complement and strengthen teaching, doctoral education and expert activities on Asia at the Network’s member universities. In addition, it aims to promote multidisciplinary cooperation and distribution of work among the universities in the Network. The Network also promotes international cooperation in particular with universities in the Asian region.
Activities
The Asia Network arranges online courses on the Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD level. In addition, it annually organises Asian Studies Days, which provide a national platform for discussions and networking in Asian studies. During the Asian Studies Days, the Network publishes the annually updated catalogue “Academic Research Projects on Asia in Finland”. The Network actively disseminates information related to Asian studies and research for example via the asianet-mailing list and through social media. The Network also takes part in the discussions on science and education policy with regard to Asia.
Organisation
The Director of the Network is University lecturer Outi Luova, Vice-Director of the Centre for East Asian Studies at the University of Turku. The coordination unit of the Asia Network is located in the Centre for East Asian Studies at the University of Turku. During the agreement period 2021-2025 member universities are:
- University of Jyväskylä
- University of Turku
- Tampere University
Also, other Finnish universities may become members of the Network. The decision on new members is made by the Network Board.
Visit the webpage of the Finnish University Network for Asian Studies (Asianet) here.
Central Asia
The Danish Society for Central Asia aims to promote knowledge about and interest in Central Asia then and now by serving as a multidisciplinary forum for coordination and strengthening of activities involving Central Asia.
DSCA is an apolitical and non-profit based organisation. The term "Central Asia" covers in the society's auspices primarily: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; province of Xinjiang in China; the southern Siberian provinces in Russia, the northern provinces of Pakistan, as well as emigrants from those areas wherever they may be.
Our activities include:
- Debates, lectures and seminars dealing with Central Asia
- The DSCA Journal - an electronic yearbook (in English)
- Oxus - a quarterly magazine (in Danish)
Visit the webpage of the Danish Society for Central Asia (DSCA)
East Asia
Nordic Association for China Studies (NACS) was established in 1991 to promote scholarly interaction between the members of the Nordic Chinese Studies field. NACS is an active academic network for Nordic scholars, teachers and students specializing in Chinese Studies with a focus on humanities and social sciences. Moreover, NACS provides a network for distribution of relevant information and events on the field of Chinese Studies in Nordic countries, such as the Nordic China Studies conference held every other year. NACS is open to all China postgraduates, scholars, teachers and research fellows. More information about applying the membership and current events can be found on NACS’s website.
Visit the webpage of the Nordic Association for China Studies (NACS)
The NAJS was established in 2002, with the aim to provide a border-crossing network for research on various facets of modern and contemporary Japanese society. Our major activity is the annual 2-day conference, where researchers and doctoral students gather to meet, share information and experiences, but mostly to discuss each other’s research.
Although our conferences are organized in the Nordic countries, they are open to all interested, and we are very glad that researchers and doctoral students from many different countries and continents are increasingly joining our network.
Visit the webpage of the Nordic Association for The Study of Contemporary Japanese Society here
NAJAKS, the Nordic Association of Japanese and Korean Studies, was established in 1988 and connects scholars within the fields of Japan and Korean studies from all the Nordic countries. NAJAKS´ main activities are its symposiums, which are held every three years and gather contributors from all over the world. Most active NAJAKS participants are researchers working in Nordic universities within the humanities and the social sciences.
Contact:
- Japanese Studies: Lasse Lehtonen, lasse.a.lehtonen@helsinki.fi
- Korean Studies: Jeong-Young Kim, jeong-young.kim@helsinki.fi
Visit the webpage of the Nordic Association of Japanese and Korean Studies (NAJAKS) here.
The aim of the Sino-Nordic Gender Studies Network is to develop trans-national, cross-cultural and inter-disciplinary perspectives on studies of women and gender. The main focus is on China and the Nordic countries.
The primary network activity is to convene a series of Sino-Nordic Women & Gender Studies Conferences, that have been held every third year since 2002. The conferences bring together academics and students, as well as activists and practitioners, from China and the Nordic countries to engage in cross-cultural comparisons and discussions on the specific theme of each conference. The conferences aim to include both theoretical and policy relevant research.
An additional network activity is to convene PhD courses in connection with the conferences. Three PhD courses have been held in 2009, 2012 and 2015 at the Nordic Centre Fudan.
The series of Sino-Nordic Gender Studies Network was established in 2002 in collaboration between the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies and the Nordic Centre Fudan. In 2015 the Network became associated to the Fudan-European Centre for China Studies.
Contact: Dusica Ristivojevic, dusica.ristivojevic@helsinki.fi
Southeast Asia
The Nordic Indonesia Studies Network is a scholarly, non-political, non-profit professional initiative to foster scholarly cooperation within the Nordic countries in the field of Indonesian studies.
The aim of the network is to bring together a variety of researchers; from the most experienced Indonesia hands to the youngest researchers who are just commencing their studies, and from all disciplines within the social sciences. NISN seeks to promote and encourage the study and teaching of all aspects relating to the society, culture and literature of the Republic of Indonesia. The network organizes seminars, and workshops for scholars, Ph.D. students, MA students, and other interested parties. We aspire to facilitate discussion among members on topics of Indonesian interest, and to promote and enhance the interest in Indonesian studies within the Nordic countries.
Our activities receive support from a variety of private and public sources. NISN is hosted by the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies, and all NISN funds are administered by NIAS staff under the University of Copenhagen. For past and upcoming activities, please check AU's information page about us.
For more information please contact: norindostudies@gmail.com
In April 2013 more than twenty Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and non-Nordic researchers met in Copenhagen for a workshop aimed at presenting current research on Southeast Asia, and at launching a Nordic Network of Southeast Asian Studies.
Against the move away from area or regional studies that characterizes much scholarly thinking today, we have found the need to re-invigorate a conversation about Southeast Asia as a region. We do so with humility and mindful of integrating the insights from thematic approaches and the increasing globalization. This conversation is important for several reasons. Firstly, as more and more focus is being lavished on India and China, it seems as though Southeast Asia is being forgotten despite the fact that the region is growing in economic and demographic importance. Furthermore, the region is increasingly globalized through mass-migration, especially from Thailand and the Philippines, but also from the rest of the region. Hence, Southeast Asia is constantly and increasingly present also in Denmark and in North in general. Finally, Southeast Asian Studies has always contributed with original conceptual developments that cannot be reduced to the study of China and India or the rest of the world.
The aim of the network is to bring scholars together from the Nordic countries through events that are either organized by the network or individuals within the network or events where it would be fruitful to bring aboard a specific Southeast Asian dimension. To facilitate the exchange between students will be of particular importance. Finally, the network will also be used as a vehicle for fundraising and common projects.
South Asia
The South across the Nordic Region (SANR) was established in Copenhagen in June 2017. The inaugural meeting brought together scholars and policy practitioners from the Nordic region and South Asia together where future pathways for scholarly and policy collaborations were discussed.
The prime aim of SANR is to facilitate presentation of cutting edge research undertaken by Nordic scholars, and to generate greater collaboration between scholars and practitioners across Nordic universities and research policy institutions. The forum is particularly geared to support young scholars in need of mentorship in the early career stage. The scholarly meetings are an important step towards building up future frameworks of cooperation on South Asian research, policy and teaching.
NoFSA is a network linking Nordic resources on South Asia within research, culture, business, public administration, NGOs, the media, etc. The idea is to help people across sectors draw on each other´s experience and expertise, primarily though our mailing list and ourfacebook group. NoFSA is an independent organisation hosted by the Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages at the University of Oslo. We are the first network of its kind in the Nordic region, and we welcome anyone with a professional interest in South Asia.
SASNET is an interdisciplinary network for the production and dissemination of research, education, and information about South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka).
SASNET produces and disseminates knowledge and research about South Asia in three principal ways. First, SASNET produces knowledge about South Asia through research, seminars, workshops, and conferences. Second, SASNET supports research, seminars, and international collaborations at Lund University. Third, SASNET collaborates with Swedish and Nordic universities that have a strong focus on South Asia.
For further information contact: sasnet@sasnet.lu.se
Visit the webpage of the Swedish South Asian Studies Network (SASNET) here.
Funded by NordForsk
NordForsk funds and facilitates Nordic research cooperation and research infrastructure. Read more on the webpage of NordForsk.