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Creating Synergies, Strengthening Interactions and Supporting Networks
The European Studies in Asia (ESiA) network was launched by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) in 2005 to stimulate European studies in Asia by strengthening interaction between existing networks in Asia as well as by creating synergies between European study centres in both Asia and Europe. It is an inter-disciplinary and open platform that embraces any institution in Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) countries offering European studies research and networking.
ESiA is co-organised in partnership with the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) and is guided by an ESiA Advisory Group of 15 prominent academics representing various European studies centres in Asia and Europe.
Latest News
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ASEF expand perceptions study to look at European perceptions of Asia
From the 23rd to the 27th of August in Berlin, ASEF will hold the first methodology workshop for the researchers of the newly implemented research project, "Asia in the Eyes of Europe". The workshop will be hosted by the German Council for Foreign Relations (DGAP) and is a partnership between ASEF, DGAP, the Konrad Adenenauer Stiftung (KAS) and the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) at the University of Canterbury.
For more information on the project, click here
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EU through the Eyes of Asia Briefing Report
The organisers of the EU through the Eyes of Asia transnational research project have produced a comprehensive briefing paper to highlight the full findings of the research across the 12 locations. The briefing paper includes key data tracking the perceptions of the EU across Asia, gathered using a rigorous methodology, which includes media analysis, key informant interviews and public opinion surveys.
To download a copy of the briefing paper, click here
To download a copy of the cover sheet, click here
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EUforAsia Stakeholders Roundtable
How should the EU package itself to Asia?
While Europe and Asia are linked through the strength of existing economic, political, social and cultural partnerships, the understanding of the EU in Asia remains remarkably low. This communicative deficit breeds misperception and misunderstandings in terms of the clarity of EU objectives to promote stronger partnerships throughout Asia. To help address this weakness, the co-organisers of the Europe-Asia Policy Forum held a “Stakeholders” Roundtable to examine the issue of “How should the EU package itself to Asia?". The meeting took place on the morning of the 9th of April. The Roundtable brought together opinion leaders drawn from Academia, the EU institutions, the Media sector and Brussels-based think tanks to discuss the visibility of the EU throughout Asia and examine the current policies in place to communicate the external image of the EU in Asia.
The EUforAsia Stakeholders Roundtable featured a book launch for "The EU through the Eyes of Asia Volume II: New Cases, New Findings", by Natalia Chaban, NCRE (left) & Sol Iglesias, ASEF ( middle)
For more information, Click here.
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ASEF Conference: Call for Workshop Proposals
“Connecting Civil Societies of Asia and Europe: Changing Challenges, New Ideas”
An official side-event of the ASEM 8 Summit, Brussels 2010
2-3 October 2010, The Square
The global and regional environment in which the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) operates has changed significantly since its inception in 1996. The initial optimism about the benefits of globalisation and international cooperation has given way to a more sober recognition of the challenges of a globalised world and the limitations of multilateral processes and institutions. Financial, economic and food crises, terrorism, climate change, and pandemics have emerged as global threats that compound the insecurity and challenges facing an increasingly inter-dependent but fractious international community. In view of these common concerns, Asia and Europe bear the responsibility of deepening the essential work of dialogue and cooperation through the ASEM process.
For more information, click here
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ESiA "EU through the Eyes of Asia" Methodology Workshop
Media, Public and Elite Perceptions in India, Macau SAR , Malaysia
The Asia Europe Foundation, the National Centre for Research on Europe and Jawaharlal Nehru University organised the second of a series of three methodology workshops for the upcoming phase of “The EU through the Eyes of Asia” research project. The workshop took place in the lead up to the European Union Studies Association Asia-Pacific (EUSA-AP) annual conference entitled, "Connections and Dialogue: The European Union and the Asia Pacific, Perspectives, Perceptions and Policies". The conference took place on the 8th and 9th of January.
For more details, click here
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32nd Asia-Europe Lecture Tour
"How the EU is Perceived in Asia"
by Prof. Martin Holland, Jean Monnet Chair ad personam,
National Centre for Research on Europe, University of Canterbury
Asia and Europe have become increasingly interconnected over the last few decades; this growth in mutual interest is due largely to their economic, political, cultural, and historical ties to one another. Due to the deepening relationship between the two regions, it seems natural to ask, “How is the European Union perceived in Asia?” as the EU is the most significant economic partner for many Asian countries and is emerging as an increasingly prominent political and security dialogue partner for the region. In 2006, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) initiated the “EU through the Eyes of Asia” project to address this existing knowledge gap in “How we perceive one another”.
Prof. Martin Holland travelled to The Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam to launch the new publication and present the unique findings and key data collected throughout the course of the project. He linked up with the project's local partners, namely Ateneo de Manila University and Vietnam National University - Hanoi for events in two relevant capitals. This series of events was organised under the Asia-Europe Lecture Tour programme, an initiative by ASEF to bring “leaders of opinion” from each region to tour the opposite region, engaging in debates at a selected umber of institutions — typically think-tanks or universities and NGOs but all of which are open to the public.
For more details, click here
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Young Academics Fellowship winners Blog
The Young Academics Fellowship winners have begun there 3 month fellowship with the NCRE and the EU Centre in Singapore. Li Zhang (China) has already completed her two weeks at the EU Centre and is now at the NCRE, where she has been joined by Alessandra Brovelli (Italy), who arrived at the beginning of September to link up with the NCRE team.
This exciting opportunity will be tracked and documented in a series of online Blog entries and photographs.
To view the blog entries, click here
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ESiA "EU through the Eyes of Asia" Interim Methodology Workshop
Asia Europe Foundation, Singapore 4-5 September 2009
The Asia-Europe Foundation, in partnership with the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE), held an interim methodology workshop for the researchers of the latest phase of 'The EU through the Eyes of Asia', project in Singapore on the 4th and 5th of September. The latest phase sees India, Macau and Malaysia join the Asia wide research project, which continues to provide scientifically valid feedback on the perceptions of the EU in Asia. This feedback is drawn from three main sources; public opinion survey, media analysis and key stakeholder interviews. The EU through the Eyes of Asia project illustrates the unique perceptions of Asians towards the EU, highlighting a wealth of information designed to build better mutual understanding between Academics, Media, Policy Makers and private sector actors in Asia and Europe. To date the study has been carried out in nine research locations including China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, with, as mentioned above, India, Macau and Malaysia joining the latest phase of the research.
The meeting provided a great platform to follow up on the training provided in the initial methodology workshop held in Kuala Lumpur from the 16th to the 19th of June 2009. The meeting also provided a great chance for the research co-ordinators to evaluate the progress made and ensure that the data collected is of the highest standard.
The workshop involved the participation of each of the major research partners, Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Macau and the Asia Europe Institute - University of Malaya
For more details click here
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ESiA "EU through the Eyes of Asia" Methodology Workshop & Public Panel, “EU-Asian relations: Policies and Perceptions of the EU in Malaysia”
Asia-Europe Institute - University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
16-19 March 2009
ESiA "EU through the Eyes of Asia" Methodology Workshop
Media, Public and Elite Perceptions in India, Macau , Malaysia
The Asia Europe Foundation, the National Centre for Research on Europe and the Asia Europe Institute – University of Malaya organised the first of a series of three methodology workshops for the upcoming phase of “The EU through the Eyes of Asia” research project.
The Asia wide research project is a major academic collaboration to measure media, public and elite perceptions of the European Union (EU) in the Asian countries of the ASEM process. The analysis provides scientifically compelling feedback that can better assist in policy-making, suggesting recommendations to the EU, third countries and the media. It will hopefully help to develop a wider knowledge about the international perceptions of the EU. The latest phase of the research project will see the new locations of India, Macao and Malaysia join the previous nine research locations, which include China, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The methodology workshop brought together the research teams from India (Centre for European Studies – Jawaharlal Nehru University), Macao (University of Macao) and Malaysia (Asia Europe Institute) for an intensive four day training workshop. The workshop will help the research teams develop the skills necessary to collect and compile datasets taken from media analysis, public opinion surveys and key stakeholder interviews.
For more information on the programme, please click here.
Public panel Moderator, Datuk Prof. Roziah Omar introducing fellow panelists during the opening remarks
The public panel discussed the current state of play in relation to EU – Asian relations, while attempting to map the shifts and trends of EU policies and perceptions in Asia as a whole and Malaysia specifically. The two regions of Asia and Europe have become increasingly more interrelated and interdependent and over the past decade have strengthened their ties politically, economically and culturally. At present the strategic partnership between the two regions is of immense importance to one another.
The Panel aimed to spur dialogue between Asian and European experts to evaluate the current policies of the EU towards building stronger links and partnerships across Asia while discussing the popular perceptions of the EU in Asia. The panelists discussed economic, educational, environmental, political factors that are of paramount importance to forging a healthy relationship between the EU and Asia, paying particular attention to how these factors of mutual interest impact our perceptions of one another.
The Panel was attended by over 100 local and international stakeholders from various sectors including academe, government, local business and media. This provided for a lively and informed discussion during the Q&A session.
For copies of the panels presentations please see below
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Announcements of Young Academic Fellowship Recipients
1st ESiA Young Academics Workshop
The Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) are very proud to announce that the recipients of the 1st ESiA Young Academics Workshop Fellowship are Ms. Li Zhang (China) and Ms. Alessandra Brovelli (Italy). The competition for the Fellowships was very intense as we received very high quality papers on some very interesting and prevalent issues related to EU-Asia relations. Both fellows will spend up to three months working at the NCRE with a two week stopover in Singapore to link up with ASEF and the new EU Centre.
We are also delighted to announce that a select few of the papers have been chosen to feature in an upcoming publication, for a list of the papers chosen and the titles of the papers.please click here.
We thank everyone of the participants and supporters of this very important programme and we hope to make the next Young Academics Workshop as successful as the last.
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ESiA Interim Advisory Group Meeting and Public Seminar
University of Macao, China S.A.R
12 March 2009
The Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF) in partnership with the University of Macao organised an interim meeting of the European Studies in Asia (ESiA) Advisory Group, coupled with a public seminar entitled "Asian-EU relations: A Research Agenda".
The meeting took place to take advantage of the high numbers of the ESiA Advisory Group participating in the Network of European Studies Centres in Asia (NESCA), which took place in Macao from the 13th to the 15th.
The points up for discussion included:
• ESiA Phase III wrap up, Beginning of Phase IV and a future revisit
• Book Launch series
• ESiA Young Academic Workshop series
• Brussels Briefing
• Publications strategy
• Innovative Visions for the future of ESiA
• Role of the ESiA Advisory Group
Conference Particpants from Left: Dr. Pham Quang Minh, Prof. Cornelius Luhulima, Mr. Peter Ryan, Prof. Paulo Canelas, Prof. Sunghoon Park, Dr. Natalia Chaban, Ambassador Rosario Manalo, Prof. Roziah Omar, Prof Xinning Song, Prof. Dai Bingran, Mr. Ronan Lenihan, Prof. Apirat Petchsiri, Prof. Hamidin Abd. Hamid, (absent from photo: Dr. Kenneth Chan)
The Public Seminar included some very interesting presentations from ESiA Advisory Board members Prof. Sung-hoon Park (Korea University), Prof. Martin Holland (National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) - University of Canterbury), Prof. Dai Bingran (Fudan University) and Mr. Peter Ryan (ASEF). The seminar was chaired by Prof. Paulo Canelas de Castro of the Faculty of Law, University of Macao.
The seminar was attended by over 50 local stakeholders including students and faculty of the University of Macao, Media and AdvEsiA advisory group members.
Prof. Rui Martins, Vice Rector, University of Macao, weclomes the distinguished speakers the audience at the Public Seminar.
For a copy of Martin Holland's Presentation, please click here
For a copy of the Meeting Programme and Participants Profiles, please click here
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New Publication! The Future of European Studies in Asia
This volume brings together eminent European Union scholars from both Europe and Asia in a timely initiative to reflect on the record of European Studies in Asia , evaluate the current state of affairs, as well as to look for best practises to guide future developments. While intentionally introspective in focus, setting out for the first time a comprehensive ana lysis is enhanced by comparative reflections from the EU experience and through the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)'s institutional experiences.
Country chapters on the EU curriculum include experiences in China , Hong Kong and Macao SARs, India , Japan , Singapore , South Korea and Thailand . Thematic contributions offer wider perspectives on Asia-Europe relations, the ASEM Education Hub, "EU perceptions" as a pedagogical contribution and the complementarity of the various EU studies organizations and initiatives that co-exist and cooperate within Asia . The experience of the College of Europe, the European University Institute and EU programmes at other European universities are also explored in other chapters in an attempt to identify any potential trends that may impact upon EU Studies in Asia in the future.
This Volume is a collection of papers presented at two workshops on EU/European Studies curriculum developments, one supported by ASEF's European Studies in Asia network and hosted by Ateneo de Manila University in December 2007, the other by the EU Institute in Japan , Kansai, hosted by Kobe University in January 2008.
The volume was co-edited by Mr. Peter Ryan, Prof. Martin Holland and Dr. Silviu Jora. The publication is a partnership between: the Asia Europe Foundation, EU Institute in Japan , Kansai , and the National Centre for Research on Europe,with the support of: the European Commission and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For more information, please click here
© 2009, Asia Europe Foundation