The
EU through the Eyes of Asia | Lecture
Tours | Young Academics' Workshop
Series | Advisory Group Meetings
THE
EU THROUGH THE EYES OF ASIA
|
The
“EU through the Eyes of Asia” is the inaugural project of the ESiA
network. It pioneers a rigorous attempt to scientifically measure
the media, public and elite perceptions of the EU specifically in
the Asian region. Focusing on selected Asian countries
that are part of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process [1],
the pilot study was undertaken in China , Hong Kong , Japan , Korea
, Singapore and Thailand from 2006 to 2007 (Phase I and II). In
all locations, the methodology involved monitoring images of the
EU in the media; administering a public opinion survey; and conducting
a series of elite interviews.
The
project has recently been expanded to Indonesia, the Philippines
and Vietnam in the beginning of 2008 (Phase III), with the view
of eventually including the remaining Asian ASEM countries by 2010.
In
the meanwhile, however, the initial phase has already produced a
wealth of data regarding the perceptions of the EU in Asia that
can enrich European studies scholarship in both Asia and Europe.
Click
on the links below for more information:
[1]
The
Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is
an informal process of dialogue and co-operation. It brings together
Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, The Netherlands,
Pakistan, The Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United
Kingdom, Vietnam, the ASEAN Secretariat and the European Commission.
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"THE
EU THROUGH THE EYES OF ASIA" MEETINGS
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Workshop
on the Future of European Studies in Asia
Manila,
the Philippines
5-7
December 2007
The
Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), the National Centre of Research on
Europe (NCRE), Ateneo de Manila University (the Philippines) and
the University of Warsaw (Poland) co-organised a "Workshop
on the Future of European Studies in Asia" in Manila, the Philippines,
on 5-7 December 2007.
Hosted
by Ateneo de Manila University, this two-and-a-half day meeting
kicked off with a public session on 5 December to launch
the new ESiA publication "EU through the Eyes
of Asia: Media, Public and Elite Perceptions in China, Japan, Korea,
Singapore and Thailand". Two keynote speakers, H.E. Prof. Dr.
Edilberto de Jesus (Former Secretary of Education of the Philippines)
and H.E. Ambassador Alistair MacDonald (Head of the EC Delegation
to the Philippines), addressed the approximately 70 guests invited
to the event.
The
following session was devoted to the findings of the last leg of
ESiA's "EU through the Eyes of Asia" project which involves
a series of interviews regarding the perceptions of the EU among
the political, business and media elites of five different Asian
countries, namely, China (including Hong Kong), Japan, Korea, Thailand
and Singapore.
The
last session focused on the special topic of curriculum development
for European studies in Asia and Europe.
40
prominent European studies academics throughout Asia and Europe
were invited as well local observers from the government, international
organisations, the media and the business community.
Click
on links below to retrieve workshop documents:
Concept
Paper
Agenda
Abstract
of Presentations:
1.
Introduction to the “EU through the Eyes of Asia ” Project: elite
interview highlights
2.
Summary of Elite Interviews in China
3.
The EU in the Eyes of Hong Kong Elites
4.
The EU in the Eyes of Japanese Elites
5.
The EU through the Eyes of Korea
6.
The EU through the Eyes of Singaporean Elites
7.
The EU through the Eyes of Thai Elites
8.
Comparison Analysis and Synthesis: Asian elite perceptions of the
EU: Asian elite perceptions of the EU
9.
The Landscape of European Studies Curriculum Development in the
Asia-Pacific: case study of Japan
10.
The Landscape of European Studies Curriculum Development in Europe
11.
European Studies: some considerations on curriculum development
in and outside the EU
12.
A Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in China
13.
A Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in the Czech Republic
14.
An Independent European Institute: promoting European studies in
India
15.
An Independent European Studies Centre in Poland
16.
Developing an e-learning Curriculum in European Studies: the Philippine
experience
17.
Developing an e-learning Curriculum in European Studies: the Belgian
experience
18.
Enhancing Academic Co-operation in Curriculum Development for European
Studies in Asia and Europe
19.
A Case for Higher Education Co-operation between Asia and Europe
Summary
of Discussions (not available)
"The
EU through the Eyes of the Asian Media" Workshop
Hong
Kong, China
11-13
December 2006
After
last year's inaugural advisory group meeting and the creation of
the ESiA platforms (website and newsletter), the purpose of this
workshop was to disseminate and discuss the findings of the first
phase of ESiA's flagship project “EU through the Eyes of Asia: A
Comparative Study of Public, Elite and Media Perceptions of the
EU in Korea, Singapore, Japan, Thailand and China”. More importantly,
it was also an opportunity to launch the second phase of the project
as well as consolidate plans for future activities.
Thirty-two
prominent European studies academics from Asia and Europe were invited.
Click here for more.
Click
on links below to retrieve workshop documents:
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"THE
EU THROUGH THE EYES OF ASIA" PUBLICATIONS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW
PUBLICATION!
The
EU through the Eyes of Asia: Media, Public and Elite Interviews
in China , Japan , Korea , Singapore and Thailand
Editors:
Martin Holland , Peter Ryan, Alojzy Z. Nowak and Natalia Chaban
Publication
Date: November 2007
ISBN
Number: 978-83-89069-74-0
Pages:
305
Fifty
years since the Treaty of Rome, the European Union (EU) continues
to realise Jean Monnet's vision for a unified Europe . Spanning
twenty-seven countries with a combined population of close to 500
million and a nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of €11.6
trillion, is the EU primarily a successful example of economic and
political integration? Or is it also, and perhaps most of all, a
community of values? According to European Commissioner Margot Wallström
in her 2005 “Plan D” initiative, an obstacle between the EU and
Europe 's citizens is a lack of any “common narrative” about the
nature of European integration. She noted “the real problem in Europe
is that there is no agreement or understanding about what Europe
is for and where it is going”. This absence of an EU consensus on
the final goal of European integration – be it among policy-makers
or ordinary citizens – has also created a confused and perplexing
image for those outside the borders of the EU27. As a result, the
EU's international role often appears ambiguous both within and
outside the EU.
Misperception
or ill-informed views of the EU's global role puts the EU at risk
of being overlooked or undervalued by third countries with whom
the EU is a significant partner. Similarly, low awareness of the
EU exposes third countries to the risk of slipping under the EU's
‘radar'. This publication presents the findings of the first two
phases of "EU through the Eyes of Asia", the inaugural
project of the ESiA network, undertaken in China (including Hong
Kong), Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand.
The
findings reported here will help to develop a wider knowledge about
the international perceptions of the EU: the external image of the
EU constitutes a fundamental component of an ongoing process of
EU identity linking the perception of “Others” and self-perception.
The analysis provides scientifically valid feedback that can better
assisted informed policy and suggests recommendations to the EU,
third countries and the media, contributing to more effective public
diplomacy.
The publication is a partnership between ASEF, the National Centre
for Research on Europe (NCRE), Ateneo de Manila University and University
of Warsaw , with the support of the European Commission and the
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
To
order a copy, please contact info@asef.org
Click
on the links below to retrieve other relevant documents:
Publication
in PDF Format
Executive
Summary (March 2008)
2nd
Interim Report (January 2007)
1st
Interim Report (July 2006)
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"THE
EU THROUGH THE EYES OF ASIA" BOOK LAUNCHES
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The
publication "The EU through
the Eyes of Asia: Media, Public and Elite Perceptions in China,
Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand" marks the
completion of the first two phases of the "EU through the Eyes
of Asia" project, the inaugural project of the ESiA network.
Already,
this endeavour has resulted in a substantial body of work on Asian
perceptions and attitudes toward the European Union (EU). It has
given the opportunity for both better-established as well as emerging
Asian institutions to contribute meaningfully to European studies
scholarship. For it is not only a demonstration of European studies
academic excellence in Asia, but also contains concrete recommendations
for policy-makers in Asia and Europe. Thus, a timely and
wide dissemination and distribution of copies of the book to targeted
audiences in Asia and Europe is crucial.
A
soft launch for the book was organised on 22 November 2007, on the
occasion of the visit
of H.E. José Manuel Barosso, President of the European
Commission (EC), to the ASEF premises.
Following
that, ASEF successfully held a formal book launch in Manila
, the Philippines , on 5 December 2007, in partnership
with the NCRE, the University of Warsaw and Ateneo de Manila University,
as the local host.
The
book was further publicised during the 2nd ESiA Lecture Tour “The
EU through the Eyes of Asia: The Case of China and Hong Kong” which
brought Dr. Kenneth Chan of Hong Kong Baptist University to Warsaw,
Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Ljubljana and Cork
from 4-15 February 2008.
In
addition to the abovmentioned book launch in Manila, in 2008, ASEF
will organise book launches in seven cities across Asia, the full
schedule is as follows:
| Venue/Date
|
Partners |
Documents |
| Manila,
Philippines
5
December 2007 |
Ateneo
de Manila University
National
University for Research on Europe
University
of Warsaw |
Programme
Keynote
Speech by H.E. Prof. Edilberto de Jesus
Keynote
Speech by Ambassador Alistair MacDonald
Press
Release |
| Singapore
18
April 2008
|
National
University of Singapore European Studies Programme |
Programme
Welcome
Remarks by Ambassador Wonil Cho
Welcome
Remarks by Prof. Lai Choy Heng
"The
EU through the Eyes of Asia: The Case of Singapore" by
Prof. Barnard Turner
"The
EU in Asia" by Ambassador Holger Standertskjold
Press
Release
|
| Hanoi,
Vietnam
7
May 2008 |
National
Centre for Research on Europe
University of
Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University-Hanoi
The
Delegation of the European Commission in Vietnam |
Programme
Welcome
Remarks by Dr. Pham Quang Minh
Welcome
Remarks by Governor Truong Trieu Duong
"The
EU through the Eyes of Asia" by Prof. Martin Holland
Keynote
Speech by Ambassador Sean Doyle
Keynote
Speech by Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kanh
Press
Release
|
| Seoul
Korea
26
May 2008
|
SNU-KIEP
EU Centre, Korea Institute for International Economic Policy
EU
Research Center, Korea University
Graduate
School of International Studies, Korea University
|
Programme
Press
Release
Opening
Address by Dr. Wook Chae
Welcome
Address by Ambassador Wonil Cho
Keynote
Speech by Ambassador Brian McDonald |
| Bangkok,
Thailand
5
August 2008 |
|
Programme
Press
Release
Opening
Address by Professor Pirom Kamolratanakul,
Welcome
Address by Ambassador Savanit Kongsiri
AboutESiA_TheESiATeam
Keynote
Speech by Prof.
Martin Holland , Assoc.
Prof.
Apirat Petchsiri,
and, Ambassador Friedrich Hamburger
Closing
Remarks by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chayodom Sabhasri and
Peter Ryan |
| Tokyo,
Japan
25
September 2008 |
Keio
University
|
Programme
Press
Release
Opening
Address by Ambassador Hugh Richardson
Keynote
Speech by Prof
Toshiro Tanaka |
| Hong
Kong, China
15 October
2008
|
|
Programme
Press
Release
Opening
Address by Prof. Jean Pierre Cabestan
Keynote
Speakers and Panel discussants: Maria Castillo Fernandez,
Jean Pierre Thebault,
Prof. Martin Holland, and, Dr.
Kenneth Chan.
Moderated
by Peter Ryan |
| Beijing,
China
22
October 2008 |
|
Programme
Press
Release
Opening
Address by Prof. Chen Yulu
Keynote
speakers and panel dicussants:
Prof.
Martin Holland, Prof.
Dai Bingran, and, Dr.
Kenneth Chan
Panel
Moderated by Prof.
Xinning Song
Closing
remarks by Ambassador Wonil Cho |

An
Audience member asks a question while the expert panel looks on,
Beijing Book Launch, October 22 2008
Both
Asia and Europe have produced remarkable thinkers whose works are
valuable
toward bridging differences between the two regions. The Asia-Europe
Lecture Tour series is designed to give an opportunity to both promising
young intellectuals and well-established leaders of opinion to address
an informed audience in the opposite region on a wide range of relevant
issues. Each “lecturer” conducts a series of presentations in four
to six cities during a 12-15 day trip in the other region. ESiA
harnesses the series to provide a platform for European
studies academics to bring their work to wider audience.
2nd
ESiA Lecture Tour
The
EU Through the Eyes of Asia: The Case of China and Hong Kong
4-15
February 2008
Warsaw
| Prague | Vienna | Budapest | Ljubljana | Cork
Relations
between the European Union (EU) and Asia have expanded rapidly over
the last decades. Since its enlargement in 2004, the EU has become
the largest economy in the world. Similarly, the Asian economy is
booming, including in the countries of East Asia that were affected
by the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997. The globalisation of the
world economy means that the level of interdependence between the
two regions is now at unprecedented levels. Strengthening EU-Asia
relations is thus one of the EU's external policy priorities.
Discourse
regarding the EU's strategy toward Asia has concentrated mainly
on the promotion of trade, good governance, civil society development,
bi-regional dialogue, as well as programmes on economic, commercial
and development co-operation. In recent years, political and security
co-operation have contributed to a wider spectrum of EU-Asia relations,
presenting new opportunities for diplomatic maneuver. Certainly,
what is needed is more than analyses of trade figures, tourist numbers,
policy issues, common stances or areas of discord. Thus, a
key aspect of the European Commission's September 2001 Communication
has been “to strengthen further the mutual awareness between Europe
and Asia and to reduce persisting stereotypes.”
The
two regions and indeed most of the world owe their sustained growth
to the sheer size and appetite of the Chinese market. China is the
world's largest producer and consumer of steel, the second biggest
user of energy and the world's second-largest economy. In the context
of its relations with the EU, China is the EU's second-largest trading
partner, just behind the United States ; and the EU is China 's
largest trading partner. It is therefore not surprising that contemporary
EU-China dialogue is developing a much more prominent international
profile than the EU's dialogue with the rest of Asia .
Trade
and economic co-operation are of course a fundamental part of EU-China
relations. However, the “comprehensive strategic partnership” –
as it has become known – is based on much more than that. Yet, there
is little information about how the EU is perceived in China . Further,
given the conventional emphasis on the activities and importance
of political elites, public perception of ordinary Chinese citizens
toward the EU has received little attention.
This
lecture sought to fill this gap by examining what Europe and the
EU means to the citizens in China and Hong Kong , comparing the
perceptions of the EU among the media, general public and elites.
Key questions that were addressed include:
Is the EU a recognisable actor in the eyes the citizens of China
and Hong Kong ?
What are the most mentioned images of the EU in China and Hong Kong
?
How would people in China and Hong Kong evaluate the current and
future state of relationship with the EU?
How important is the EU to China and Hong Kong when compared to
the United States and other neighbouring nations?
Has the enlargement process and other internal developments of the
EU influenced how it is perceived by its Asian counterparts?
What are the major sources news and information about the EU in
China and Hong Kong ?
Looking ahead, as the EU's relevance to China and Hong Kong is expected
to grow, what are the opportunities and obstacles concerning the
roles and expectations of the EU?
To
the extent that EU political leaders pay attention to the various
aspects of public perceptions in the process of policy formulation,
this lecture will provide scientific and rigorous information regarding
the attitudes and perceptions of citizens of two of the EU's long-term
partners in the Far East . This lecture invited participants to
ponder upon the strengths and weaknesses of European foreign policy,
trade and development policy towards China and Hong Kong, and the
emergence of China as a global player.
This
lecture tour was organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation in partnership
with the University of Warsaw, Charles University in Prague, the
Austrian Institute for International Affairs, Corvinus University
Budapest, the University of Ljubljana and the University College
Cork.
Profile
of Lecturer
Chan
Ka-Lok, Kenneth, received his D.Phil. in Politics from Nuffield
College, University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom, and
is currently Associate Professor at the Department of Government
and International Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University ,
China . He has also taught at the University of Warsaw and
the University of Gdansk in Poland. In recent years he has
taught for the Masters programme in European studies at the
Institute of European Studies at the University of Macao .
His interests include post-communist politics, democratisation,
British politics, European union politics, Hong Kong politics
and East European languages. Recent research outputs concern
the politics of electoral reforms in post-Communist Europe
and the perceptions of the European Union in the Asia-Pacific
region. He has published articles in Europe-Asia studies,
electoral studies, party politics, West European politics,
the Oxford International Review, the Central and East European
Political Science Review, the International Journal of Social
Psychiatry, the Asian Journal of Social Science, Studia Polityczna
(Poland), Druzboslovne Razprave (Slovenia), Open Times (China),
and the Hong Kong Journal of Social Sciences.
|
Click
on the links below to retrieve other relevant documents:
PowerPoint
Presentation
Final
Paper (not available)
1st
ESiA Lecture Tour
The
European Union through the Eyes of Asia: A Comparative Study of
Media Perceptions
12-21
September 2006
Paris | Preston | Derry | Bristol | Pamplona | Brussels
According to Vice-President of the EU Commission Margot Wallström,
an obstacle to creating a better connection between the EU and Europe
's citizens is a lack of any "common narrative" about the actual
nature of European integration: "the
real problem in Europe is that there is no agreement or understanding
about what Europe is for and where it is going".
This
absence of an EU roadmap or consensus on whether a federal "United
States of Europe" is the end goal-or something else altogether-has
created a confused and perplexing image for those outside the borders
of the EU25. But how the EU is understood and seen from the outside
is important as reflections from countries external to the EU, or
"third countries", may help to more clearly identify and define
Europe for itself. As a think-tank has argued regarding the EU's
public diplomacy, for the Union to prosper it must project a positive
image of itself to opinion-formers and to the 'man in the street'
both within and beyond its borders. Yet, research on the external
perceptions (both public and elite) of the EU is rare, as are analyses
of how the international media represent and present the EU image
abroad.
This
lecture went someway to address this issue by presenting the findings
from a series of third country studies in Asia undertaken from 2004-6
focused on the media and public opinion. Leading newspapers and
TV channels in each selected country - Japan, South Korea, Singapore,
Thailand and China - were analysed on a daily basis to ascertain
the relative levels of EU news coverage, the topics chosen and the
news sources used. This information was the analysed in terms of
the images, metaphors and neutrality of the news stories used to
represent the EU to citizens across the Asian region. Opinion surveys
were then conducted to determine the attitudes and perceptions held
both by the general public and by each country's elite.
This
research has provided a unique insight into how the EU is perceived
in Asia, hinting at serious ramifications for Europe 's influence
in the region. Any public misperception or ill-informed media representation
concerning the EU's global role is potentially detrimental, particularly
if it results in an overly simplified Asian view of the EU's capabilities
(it is more than "just" an economic player, for example).
This
lecture dealt with the media's coverage of the EU as well as examine
both public and elite opinion towards the EU across five Asian countries.
The questions that are raised include: is there a communication
gap between the EU and Asia ? If so, what is the nature of this
gap and how might this be addressed if left unaddressed, what are
the potential implications for the EU and for the EU-Asian dialogue?
What policy recommendations for both the media and for the EU can
be suggested? And, what might be the wider implications of a concerted
EU public diplomacy strategy to raise EU "visibility" abroad?
This
lecture tour was organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation in co-operation
with Sciences-Po, the University of Central Lancashire, the University
of Ulster, the University of Bristol, the University of Navarra
and the European Policy Centre.
Profile
of Lecturer
Martin
Holland holds the Jean Monnet Chair of European Integration
and International Relations and is the Director of the National
Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) at the University of
Canterbury . Since writing his PhD at the University of Exeter,
United Kingdom, on the 1979 direct elections to the European
Parliament, he has specialised in the analysis of the European
Union (EU)'s external relations, initially in terms of European
Political Co-operation and latterly through the Common Foreign
and Security Policy (CFSP).
His
research on EU-South African relations during the apartheid
and post-apartheid eras is particularly well-known and saw
Holland involved as a practitioner in one of the EU's first
election observer missions to monitor the first democratic
non-racial South African election in 1994. More recently,
he has focused his research interests most broadly on the
EU's global development policy and on the perceptions of the
EU in third countries.
|
Click
on the links below to retrieve other relevant documents:
PowerPoint
Presentation
Final
Paper
THE
YOUNG ACADEMICS' WORKSHOP SERIES
|
ESiA's
Young Academics' Workshop is a new series initiated specifically
to provide a platform for next generation European studies
academics in Asia and Europe to exchange ideas, acquire
new skills and present their work to the larger European studies
community.
ESIA
YOUNG ACADEMICS WORKSHOP!
How is
the EU Perceived in Asia? Media, Public and Elite Perceptions, 1-5
September 2008.
Dr.
Natalia Chaban, NCRE, addresses the participants during the workshop

Bruges,
Belgium
1-5 September 2008
The
Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), the National Centre for Research
on Europe (NCRE) and the College of Europe brought together 20 young
academics from across Asia and Europe for the European Studies
in Asia (ESiA) 1 st Young Academics' Workshop “How is the EU Perceived
in Asia: Media, Public and Elite Perceptions”, which took place
in Bruges, Belgium, from
The
five-day event trained a select number of young European studies
academics (at the Masters and Doctoral levels) on how they may be
able to analyse and utilise the unique dataset that has been generated
from “EU through the Eyes of Asia” project in their own research
work.
The
inaugral workshop brought together 20 (10 Asian and 10 European)
young academics from the two regions. The participants cames from
a very broad academic background, which added great value to the
multi-disciplinary nature of the workshop. Each workshop participant
will produce an 8000 word paper, the best of which will be published
in a special edition of the Asia-Europe
Journal. The candidate who presents the best
paper, as selected by the ESiA selection panel, wil
be rewarded with a three month fellowship to the National Centre
for Research on Europe (NCRE), University of Canterbury.
"This
was a great and memorable learning experience for me because of
the truly hands-on nature of the workshop and the research skills
we acquired. Not only did we learn from the trainers, Martin and
Natalia, we also learned a lot from one another and have made contacts
that will help us later in our academic careers. I especially enjoyed
the various innovative activities Martin and Natalia had us do from
day one!"
Bruce
Avasdanond (Thailand)
PhD Candidate
School of Public Administration, National Institute of Development
Administration (NIDA)
Participants
and Co-organisers of the ESiA 1st Young Academic Workshop held at
the College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium. September 1-5 2008
CALL
FOR PROPOSALS
1st
ESiA Young Academics' Workshop
How
is the EU Perceived in Asia? Media, Public and Elite Perceptions
Bruges,
Belgium
1-4
September 2008
The
Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), the
National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) and the
College of Europe welcome proposals for participation in the
European Studies in Asia (ESiA) 1 st Young Academics' Workshop
“How is the EU Perceived in Asia: Media, Public and Elite Perceptions”,
which will take place in Bruges, Belgium,
on 1-4 September 2008.
Click
here for Call of Proposals in PDF format.
Click
here for Application Form in Word format.
Background
The
European Studies in Asia (ESiA) network initiated the “EU through
the Eyes of Asia” project, a pioneering attempt to scientifically
measure media, public and elite perceptions regarding the
EU specifically in the Asian region.
Focusing
on selected Asian countries that are part of the Asia-Europe Meeting
(ASEM) process [1] ,
the pilot study was undertaken in China , Hong Kong , Japan , Korea
, Singapore and Thailand from 2006 to 2007. In all locations, the
methodology involved monitoring images of the EU in the media; administering
a public opinion survey; and conducting a series of elite interviews.
While
the project continues to expand, having recently been launched in
Indonesia , the Philippines and Vietnam in the beginning of 2008,
the initial phase has already produced a wealth of data regarding
the perceptions of the EU in Asia that is unique and can enrich
European studies scholarship in both Asia and Europe.
Relevant
information about this project can be accessed on the ESiA website
at http://esia.asef.org/AboutESiA_Meetings.htm#euthroughtheeyesofasia
[1]
The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an informal
process of dialogue and co-operation. It brings together Austria,
Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India,
Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, The Netherlands, Pakistan, The
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam, the
ASEAN Secretariat and the European Commission.
Introduction
The
ESiA 1 st Young Academics' Workshop “How is the EU Perceived
in Asia: Media, Public and Elite Perceptions”, will be
held in Bruges , Belgium , on 1-4 September
2008.
The
four-day event will train a select number of young European
studies academics (at the Masters and Doctoral levels)
on how they may be able to analyse and utilise the unique
dataset that has been generated from “EU through the Eyes of Asia”
project in their own research work.
Applicant
Eligibility
Nationals of countries that are part of the ASEM process.
Students or institution-affiliated researchers in European studies
or other relevant fields such as Asian studies, political science,
international relations, public policy and so on, with preference
for those pursuing Masters or Doctoral degrees at the time of the
application (31 May-31 July 2008).
Outstanding academic achievements.
Excellent command of the English language, written and spoken.
Prior to submitting the application, interested parties should access
information regarding the “EU through the Eyes of Asia” project
by logging on to
http://esia.asef.org/AboutESiA_Meetings.htm#euthroughtheeyesofasia
Selected participants are expected to fully participate in all workshop
activities.
Your
Proposal
Interested
parties are required to write a 2,000-word proposal in
English, in Franklin Gothic Book type 11 font, to answer the following
question:
The
“EU through the Eyes of Asia” study has generated a wealth of data
regarding perceptions of the EU in the media and among the public
and elites in China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand. The study
is also currently expanding to Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
How do you plan to use the findings of the study in your own planned
or existing research work? How would your research work benefit
from a training on how to use the dataset generated from this study?
All
proposals need to demonstrate:
A strong European studies dimension.
Originality of research topic.
How to use the findings of the “EU through the Eyes of Asia” study
in a meaningful way.
Other
Submission Documents
A completed application form.
Most recent curriculum vitae or resume (maximum two pages long).
An official letter from your university in English bearing the official
university stamp verifying your status at the time of application
(31 May-31 July 2008).
A certified true copy of latest academic transcript.
Optional: A sample of previous work in English (relevance
of topic an added advantage).
Deadline
for Submission of Proposals
Interested
parties should write in to the co-organisers with their proposal
and other
submission
documents by 31 July 2008.
Deadline
for Applicants Selected to Participate in Workshop
Upon
completion of the training workshop in September, applicants selected
to participate are expected to complete an 8,000-word paper on their
proposed topic by 31 December 2008.
Benefits
The workshop participant who writes the best paper will be offered
a three-month
fellowship
at the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) – University
of
Canterbury.
A selection of the best papers will be published in a special edition
of the Asia-Europe Journal.
Additional
Support from the Co-organisers
Point-to-point economy class airfare to Belgium (or nearest European
city).
A subsidy to cover visa application fees, if necessary.
Airport transfers to and from Bruges .
Accommodation during the workshop.
Meals throughout the duration of the workshop.
Objectives
To widely disseminate findings of the “EU through the Eyes
of Asia ” study by encouraging the use of the dataset in
other relevant research projects.
To support and stimulate the work of young European studies
academics, by giving them an opportunity to be a part
of an innovative and groundbreaking project.
To encourage the forming of networks and information-sharing
processes between European studies academics in Asia and
Europe within the ESiA framework.
Participants
Up
to 20 students or researchers from Asia and Europe.
Enquiries
and Submissions
Mr.
Ronan Lenihan
Intellectual
Exchange Department
Asia-Europe
Foundation
31
Heng Mui Keng Terrace
Singapore
119595
Tel
+65-6874-9744
Fax
+65-6872-1207
E-mail
esia@asef.org
Website
http://esia.asef.org
3rd
ESiA Advisory Group Meeting
Manila,
the Philippines
6
December 2007
The
3rd ESiA Advisory Group Meeting was held on 6 December 2007 on the
sidelines of the ESiA event "Workshop on the Future of European
Studies in Asia". which was held in Manila, the Philippines,
on 5-7 December 2007. The meeting was a partnership between the
Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), the National Centre for Research
on Europe (NCRE), Ateneo de Manila University and the University
of Warsaw.
The
meeting welcomed two new Advisory Group members, namely, Ambassador
Rosario Manalo, Director of Ateneo de Manila University's
European studies programme; and
Prof. Alojzy Nowak, President of the University of
Warsaw's Research Council, Center for Europe.
2nd
ESiA Advisory Group Meeting
Hong
Kong, China
13
December 2006
The
2nd ESiA Advisory Group Meeting was held on 13 December 2006 on
the sidelines of the ESiA Workshop "The EU through the Eyes
of the Asian Media", which was held in Hong Kong, China, on
11-13 December 2006. The meeting was a partnership between the Asia-Europe
Foundation (ASEF), the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE)
and Hong Kong Baptist University. Below are the main conclusions
and recommendations:
- ESiA
is a sustainable platform for European studies academics, institutions
and networks in the Asian region;
- Particularly
through the Hong Kong Meeting, ESiA has successfully created a
conducive gathering of European studies academics from both Asia
and Europe, most of whom have previously never been in contact
with each other, thus creating unparalleled networking and collaborative
opportunities;
- Together,
the ESiA website http://esia.asef.org
and electronic newsletter, the eMonitor, have successfully
provided a concrete and widely-accessible forum for information
exchange between European studies academics, institutions and
networks in Asia and Europe. Continuously improving the contents
of the ESiA website and eMonitor is crucial to maintain their
relevance;
- The
ESiA project serves as a good reference of how other high-quality
and relevant collaborations between European studies centres in
Asia can be implemented concretely within the ESiA initiative.
The study should be extended to other Asian countries going forward;
- A
major conference at the end of 2007 to present the final report
of the ESiA project and a publication thereafter is a natural
outcome and worthwhile follow-up; and,
- ESiA's
uniqueness is its ability to not only serve the interests of European
studies partners from Asia but also to bring on board those from
Europe. Thus, ESiA should continue to deepen
academic co-operation in the field of European studies, including
by supporting the creation of a critical mass of next generation
European studies experts, through spearheading new collaborations
as well as effectively work with and complement the existing work
of other platforms in both Asia and Europe.
1st
ESiA Advisory Group Meeting
Singapore
21
October 2005
The
inaugural ESiA Advisory Group Meeting held at the premises of the
Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), established European Studies
in Asia (ESiA) with the objective of stimulating European
studies in the Asian region, not only by strengthening interaction
between existing networks in Asia but also by creating synergies
between European study centres in both Asia and Europe.
ESiA
will be created as an inter-disciplinary and open platform that
embraces any institution in Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) countries
offering European studies research and networking. The strategic
objective of ESiA is not to duplicate the work of existing networks,
rather to complement them by pragmatically bringing together some
of the most relevant institutions in East Asia focused on Europe,
into an unprecedented, sustainable forum for information exchange
and the promotion of mutual interests.
The
following were decided as initial activities to help form the foundation
of ESIA's work in the future:
1.
EU through the Eyes of Asia: A Comparative Study of Public, Elite
and Media Perceptions of the EU in Korea, Singapore, Japan, Thailand
and China
This
comparative trans-national study is the pilot test project for future
co-operation among European Studies centres in Asia through the
ESiA platform. It will be an unprecedented
mobilisation of Keio University (Japan), Hong Kong Baptist
University (China), Fudan University (China), Korea University,
National University of Singapore and Chulalongkorn University (Thailand)
– all recognised focal points for European studies academic excellence
in Asia – in a collaboration to extensively analyse media
content and conduct public surveys and elite interviews in five
selected countries in Asia. The results and findings will
be shared and broadly distributed in Asia and Europe.
2.
ESiA Website
The
ESiA website will serve as a platform upon which academics, institutions
and networks in the field European studies in Asia and Europe can
exchange information and foster relationships. It will contain articles,
conference and publication announcements, vacancies and an extensive
database of leading European studies institutions and networks in
the two regions. Its
contents will be highly dependent on inputs from the ESiA Advisory
Group and the European studies community.
3.
eMonitor -- the electronic newsletter of ESiA
As
an eletronic newsletter, the eMonitor is a a low-cost and effective
way of proactively providing timely information of interest to academics,
institutions and networks in the field of European studies. It will
contain the latest highlights of the ESiA website.
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