The Institute

The International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) is a postdoctoral research centre based in Leiden and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. IIAS was jointly established in 1993 by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Leiden University, the Universiteit van Amsterdam (UVA) and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). Its main office is locatedat Leiden University.

The permanent staff is responsible for the coordination, organisation and administration of the activities of IIAS. The Director answers to a Board, made up of academics in the field of Asian studies.

Activities

The study of Asia

IIAS objective is to encourage the multi-disciplinary and comparative study of Asia and to promote national and international cooperation. Its research focus is on urbanisation, heritage and globalisation, but IIAS is always open to new ideas for other important research topics.

IIAS hosts many postdoctoral researchers (fellows) in Asian Studies, who are selected by an  academic committee on the basis of merit, quality, and available resources.

Clearinghouse of knowledge and information

IIAS acts as an international mediator, bringing various parties together. In keeping with the Dutch tradition of transferring goods and ideas, IIAS works as a clearinghouse of knowledge and information. This entails activities such as providing information services, constructing international networks and setting up international cooperative projects and research programmes.
In this way, IIAS functions as a window on Europe for non-European scholars and contributes to the cultural rapprochement between Asia and Europe.

IIAS organizes seminars, workshops and conferences as well as outreach activities for the general public. It publishes an internationally renowned newsletter, and supports various academic publication series. It operates a comprehensive database containing information about researchers and institutes in the field of Asian Studies in Europe and world-wide.

At a broader level, IIAS strives to link up with other groups in society, including business people, civil society organisations, policy makers, and the media with the purpose of making expertise on Asia available to non-academic organizations.

Academic co-operation and networks

IIAS considers (academic) cooperation indispensable to top-level research and public service. In the present environment of globalisation, the distinctive national traditions of research and scholarship need to be brought together into complementary partnerships with the aim of enhancing their relevance. IIAS therefore works closely together with national and international strategic partners to set up new research projects and networks.

IIAS plays a strategic and leading role as initiator and lead partner of a number of institutional networks, including the "Leiden Consortium for Asian Studies", the "European Alliance for Asian Studies" and the "International Convention of Asian Scholars".

Besides the promotion, facilitation and initiation of academic cooperation, IIAS also seeks to collaborate with cultural, social and political organisations in Asia or with Asia as their focus.

See Partners and network for a comprehensive list of partners, networks and sponsors.

The IIAS logo

The IIAS logo is a chandrasa, or bronze axe-head, found in East Java. It was probably produced during the Early Bronze Age (c. 500 BC) in North Vietnam (Dong Son). The flying bird holds another chandrasa in its claws. The function of the object is unclear.

For publishing purposes (print or web), please download and use the logo (eps format) provided below.