The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (IAS @ UBD) recently held a seminar on “The River as Method: Revisiting Asian Studies” by Assoc. Prof. Iftekhar Iqbal, FASS, Universiti Brunei Darussalam.
Senior Assistant Professor and Director of the Institute of Asian Studies Koh Sin Yee recently published a journal article entitled "Racial Sensemaking and International Student Mobility: Mainland Chinese Students in Singapore and Malaysia Navigating Multiculturalism and Multiracialism" in Ethnic and Racial Studies (Q1, Scopus). The article is co-authored with Madeleine Shutler (National University of Singapore) and Professor Brenda Yeoh (National University of Singapore).The article uses the concept of racial sensemaking (i.e. a subjective, meaning-making process through which people interpret and explain racial experiences) to comparatively analyse the reflexive experiences of multiculturalism and multiracialism amongst mainland Chinese international students in Singapore and Malaysia who were interviewed in 2023-2024.Through foregrounding micro-level experiences of multiculturalism and…
The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce the publication of IAS Working Paper No. 90: Brunei’s Digital Voices: Uncovering Algospeak and how TikTok consumers drive language change by Nur Hayati binti Mohd Yusof . Please see below for details. Download the Working Paper Abstract:This paper investigates the role of TikTok content consumers in Brunei in shaping digital language through the emergence of Algospeak - a coded linguistic practice developed to evade algorithmic censorship. While prior research has focused predominantly on content creators and Western contexts, the following study addresses a critical gap by examining how…
The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (IAS @ UBD) recently held a seminar on “The Myth of Homogeneity: Asian Values and the Cultural Limits of the “Global South”” by Prof. Chang-Yau Hoon, Visiting Professor at IAS, Universiti Brunei Darussalam; Professor and Director of the International Office at Singapore University of Social Sciences.
The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (IAS @ UBD) recently held a seminar on “Colonial Photography: hendrik Tillema in Search of the Exotic and the Ethical” by Prof. Victor T. King, IAS, Universiti Brunei Darussalam.
IAS said an emotional farewell to its longest serving member Prof. Lian Kwen Fee. He has contributed immeasurably to IAS since its founding, not only as an exceptional colleague and mentor but a major driver of our academic endeavours. His scholarly dedication and collegiality have left a lasting impact on all of us and a deep-seated legacy for IAS. We would like to take this opportunity to salute his achievements and extend our warmest wishes on his retiral.
On 11th November 2025, the recipients of the Victor T. King (VTK) Prize in Borneo Studies for the academic years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 were officially announced. A prize-giving ceremony was held at the Institute of Asian Studies Meeting Room, attended by Deans, Directors and Programme Leaders from various faculties, including the Academy of Brunei Studies and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.Inaugurated in 2022, the VTK Prize recognises the best final-year undergraduate essay on a research topic related to Borneo Studies.The awardees are as follows:Aida Syahmina binti Haji Abdul Murad, Award Winner 2023/2024Nur Hayati binti Mohd Yusof, Award Winner…
On 20th November 2025, a postgraduate workshop entitled “What is a Research Thesis in the Humanities and Social Sciences?” was conducted by IAS Visiting Professor Victor T. King. The workshop provided a valuable platform for sharing and discussion among MA and PhD students from both the Institute of Asian Studies (IAS) and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.Participants gained insightful guidance on thesis examination procedures and engaged in a lively Q&A session, raising questions on topics such as the suitability of thesis titles, effective academic writing styles, and the role of AI in the drafting process. It was a…
The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce the publication of IAS Working Paper No. 89: From the Sociology of the ‘Social’ to the Sociology of the ‘Cultural’ in Conceptions of Southeast Asia: A ‘State-of-the-Art’ Essay by Victor T. King. Please see below for details. Download the Working Paper Abstract:This paper provides a re-evaluation of the first general sole-authored text on the sociology of Southeast Asia and the wider field of Southeast Asian Studies (The Sociology of South-East Asia: Transformations in a Developing Region (King 2008a). Other region-wide volumes have been usually edited or co-edited projects…
Senior Assistant Professor and Director of the Institute of Asian Studies Koh Sin Yee was an invited speaker at the "Southeast Asia Forum" 2025 International Conference, held on 15-16 November 2025 in Guangzhou. The conference was organised by the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, South China Normal University.Dr. Koh presented a paper entitled "Mainland Chinese Student Mobility to Southeast and East Asia Amidst Geopolitical Shifts". Read more about the conference here.