Mekong Studies Center – Institute of Asian Studies

Background of Mekong Studies Center

Mekong Studies Center was established under the Institute of Asian Studies (IAS) of Chulalongkorn University with a grant from the Ratchadapisak Sompoch fund in 2002 in order to conduct a research on the countries of the Mekong sub-region and to disseminate the acquired knowledge to the general public. In the early period, Mekong Studies Center was a research unit of IAS and was established as a Center of Excellence in December in 2009.

Mekong Studies Center aims to be a leading research center in Greater Mekong Sub-Region to conduct researches and studies and disseminate knowledge about countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS), namely Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam and Southern China.

Mekong Studies Center focuses on using the Area Studies methodology. Researchers conduct field work and have awareness, insight information and in-depth understanding on different issues in Greater Mekong Sub-region. Mekong Studies Center attempts to explain changes from the internal point of view of each country in order to thoroughly and accurately understand the changes.

In addition, changes are also viewed in the sub-regional aspect. All the countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region are geographically, socially and culturally close and they share common and similar experience in their development. Their connectivity, including physical, institutional and people-to-people connectivity, has also increased significantly in these days. All of the above factors are contributing to the increase in the sub-regional integration and creation of mutual benefits.

Mekong Studies Center is committed to provide academic services and knowledge transfer. Researchers have been invited to deliver lectures, organised seminars in order to raise awareness and increase stakeholders’ understanding on issues related to Greater Mekong Sub-region. The Center also applies knowledge through organising research forums, giving consultation to the public and private sectors as well as the general public, and participating in the establishment of key national policies in order to utilise the acquired knowledge and engage with diversified stakeholders.

SCOPE OF WORK

Mekong Studies Center is part of the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University. Its aim is to conduct researches and disseminate knowledge about countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Southern China. The center focuses on using the area studies method, which tries to explain changes from the internal point of view of each country in order to thoroughly and accurately understand the changes.

In addition, changes are also viewed in the sub-regional aspect. All the countries in the GMS are also viewed in the sub-regional aspect. All the countries in the GMS are geographically, socially and culturally close and they share common and similar experience in their development. Their connectivity, including physical connectivity, institutional connectivity and people-to -people connectivity, has also increased significantly in these days. All of the above factors are contributing to increase sub-regional integration and more creation of mutual benefits.

The center has pushed to apply knowledge gained from these studies in every part of society through its academic services, such as organizing academic seminars, giving consultation to the public and private sector as well as the general public, and participating in the establishment of key national policies in order to gain actual benefits from such knowledge.

OBJECTTIVES

1) To conduct academic studies on topics related to the Greater Mekong Sub-region, which is evolving into part of the ASEAN Community.

2) To provide a source of reference, give consultation and build understanding for the public and private sectors as well as the general public on topics related to the Greater Mekong Subregion.

3) To develop a network of academic cooperation on the national and international levels