Across UBC’s Institute of Asian Research, the common thread that unites five research centres and associated programs is the transformative power of community engagement. In conversations with directors and co-directors across IAR, one thing became clear: community is at the heart of everything IAR does. Whether it’s through film screenings, storytelling events, speaker events or symposiums, the centres are strengthening the vital connections between research and community.
“It’s about learning from the people… What can we learn from Japan or by working together with the Japanese Student Association at UBC?” explains Dr. Yves Tiberghien, director of CJR, capturing the essence of this collaborative approach. Similarly, the Centre for India and South Asian Research has been working with anti-caste organizations here in BC for many years. This month they are collaborating with Poetic Justice Foundation to host an exhibit on caste-based discrimination in Canada at the Liu Lobby Gallery and a panel to discuss anti-caste policy possibilities in BC. What we see as a collective result of these events is a rich discourse and active participation reflecting lived experiences rather than distant observations.
This commitment to community partnership has opened doors to diverse topics that resonate with local audiences. The Centre for Korean Research, for instance, is exploring how cultural phenomena like K-pop influence society and public discourse through film screenings and speaker talks. “Going through the community and external groups have added more diversity in our topics,” notes Dr. Nam-lin Hur, co-director of CKR. Meanwhile, the Centre for Southeast Asian Research hosts events that serve multiple constituencies simultaneously. “We constantly try to maintain a balance and represent all 11 countries that fall within Southeast Asia by engaging with the community of Southeast Asians in the lower mainland, the students and faculty of UBC, and the global network of scholars studying the region”, shares Dr. Roosa, director of CSEAR. The centre has also deepened ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Vancouver by hosting at UBC a commemoration of the 58th anniversary for the association at UBC.
For emerging research programs like the Himalaya Program, jointly based in IAR, SPPGA and Asian Studies, community collaboration isn’t just beneficial; it’s essential. Dr. Sara Shneiderman and Dr. Tsering Shakya, co-directors of Himalaya Program, have been fostering relationships with the Nepal Cultural Society of BC and Tibetan Cultural Society of BC for the past decade. “Building these relationships with community members has not only opened pathways of collaboration for us, but it has also encouraged more co-sponsored shared work that meets the needs of these communities,” Dr. Shneiderman. In turn, the Himalaya Program is hopeful that those connections will continue to help them build a stronger foundation to be sustainable and to grow as a research program.
These partnerships aren’t just expanding our reach as research centres but enriching the conversations that matter most.
