The Institute

The International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) is a research and exchange platform based in Leiden, the Netherlands. It encourages the multidisciplinary and comparative study of Asia, and actively promotes (inter)national co-operation. IIAS acts as an international mediator, bringing together academic and non-academic partners including cultural, social and policy organisations.

IIAS is located at Leiden University. The Institute 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). The branch office in Amsterdam was closed down per 31 December 2011.

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. 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.

Our Activities

The study of Asia

IIAS objective is to encourage the multi-disciplinary and comparative study of Asia. Its research focus is on urbanisation, heritage and globalisation. In addition IIAS remains open to new ideas for other important research topics.

Supporting fellowships

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. Most fellows hold a PhD in some branch of learning from the social sciences or humanities. Fellows are supported financially by either IIAS, partner universities, (inter)national funding agencies, or are self-funded. In addition IIAS facilitates the work of various professors as part of agreements with Dutch universities, foreign ministries and funding organisations.

Clearinghouse of knowledge and information

In keeping with the Dutch tradition of transferring goods and ideas, IIAS works as a clearinghouse of knowledge and information. In this way, IIAS functions as a window on Europe for non-European scholars and contributes to the cultural rapprochement between Asia and Europe. 

This entails activities, such as:

• providing information services:
  - The Newsletter, the world's main academic periodical linking scholars and others interested in the current trends in Asian studies;
  - IIAS website, which aims to serve as  a prime online source for Asian studies;
  - IIAS PhD platform;

• constructing international networks and setting up cooperative projects.

  Cooperation and networks
  IIAS believes that 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 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.

• organising seminars, workshops and conferences and roundtables.
• publication of books through the IIAS and ICAS publication series (edited volumes and monographs).
• organising outreach activities for the wider public.

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.

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.