Creating Synergies, Strengthening Interactions and Supporting Networks

Curriculum Development

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