Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Asian Studies in Madrid University

One of the largest and oldest universities in the world, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (founded in 1293, 126,000 students) is about to start an Asian Studies programme. It is not easy to explain why Spain is comparatively late compared to other countries in launching such a programme, but perhaps the reasons can be traced historically. The Spanish presence in Latin America has led to more emphasis and academic interest being placed on those countries, just as the Mediterranean countries tended to focus more on the Arab countries. In East Asia, Spanish rule over the Philippines until 1898 may have stood in the way of relations with other countries in the area. This, combined more prosaically with the lack of funds, may explain the lack of specialists on Asia in Spain. In contrast to Italy, Spanish universities do not have an Oriental school or an institution that could function as a key centre, maintaining relations with Asia.

By Florentino Radao

Recently, however, there have been various initiatives in Spain relating to Asian Studies. In the last decade, some universities have started to teach Chinese or Japanese languages in their undergraduate programmes, and have set up centres dedicated to research on Asia (mostly China and Japan). In 1993, Madrid University established the Instituto Complutense de Asia, which is an autonomous institution that serves as intermediary for Spanish companies wishing to invest in Asia, in particular China. The institute publishes a weekly report on political and economic news from China. In 1994 a new section was added to the institute, which concentrates on cultural relations and education, and a newsletter, aimed at Spanish professors in Asian Studies was launched, called Memoria de Asia. It has been decided that those professors who all work on Asia in some way, will meet regularly, and try to form a research group. These meetings can also be used as a way to exercise more pressure to increase the amount of Asia-related subjects in the programme. The Revista de Estudios Asiaticos is the first Asia-related journal edited by Madrid University, and the second nationwide, after Revista Espanola del Pacifico. The first issue, which was published recently, was dedicated to the ASEAN countries (Los Países Emergentes) with articles focusing on the future of Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. The journal will appear twice a year and the next issue will concentrate on China after Deng XiaoPing. There are also plans to start a monograph series, including a 'guide' to studying and working in Asia.

Degrees and programmes
The 1995-1996 course will be a turning point for Asian Studies teaching in Madrid. At the undergraduate level, Japanese language will be taught for the first time. The language courses will be held on the two campuses of the university, Moncloa and Somosaguas, and will be financed by the Japan Foundation. The course can be chosen by students from all disciplines. At the (post)graduate level three degrees will be offered: the Diploma de Estudios Asiáticos (Sept.-Dec. 1995), the Master sobre Asia (Jan-Dec. 1996) and the PhD programme (Nov '95-June '97). The Diploma on Asian Studies will include 150 hours of teaching divided into areas: China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. The Diploma is aimed at people who already work on the area and feel they need extra cultural background to Asia. Half the time will be dedicated to courses on Economics. The Master's degree on Asia will focus more on language training, Japanese or Chinese in particular with the possibility for other Asian languages depending on demand. One-third of this course will be spent on acquiring a good language ability. Other subjects will cover the whole of Asia, including the Indian subcontinent. The PhD programme is entitled 'Economic Perspectives on East Asia: an Interdisciplinary Approach' and is given not only by teachers from Madrid University but also by foreign professors.
By offering these degrees, the Complutense University Madrid is hoping to convince Spanish society that working in or with Asia requires specific language and interdisciplinary training, and that such a training should take place in the university. We hope that this only marks the beginning of flourishing Asian Studies in the Spanish universities.

For more information:
Instituto Complutese de Asia
Prof. F. Radao
Somosaguas
28223 Madrid, Spain
Tel: +34-1-394 24 91
Fax: +34-2-394 24 88 





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