Taking forward the mission to promote academic exchange and research resonance among Asia’s leading universities, the Asian Universities Alliance has successfully commenced the AUA Scholars Award (AUASA), an initiative designed to promote the exchange of scholars and researchers between AUA members. In this initiative, founding AUA member universities can host scholars from any other member university for a duration of two weeks or more. The visiting scholars can participate in a wide range of activities from offering courses and delivering lectures, to conducting research and field study among other related activities. The initiative has been enthusiastically welcomed by AUA members, as it provides a reliable platform for fruitful exchange and tangible academic developments.
Within the first few months the AUA Secretariat has received dozens of applications and approved 23 awards. Of those, five scholars have completed their academic exchange visits successfully, bringing back immense learning, invaluable experiences and lasting friendships. These AUA scholars specialize in fields including medicine, international relations and economics, among others, and the scope of these visits was designed to suit the specific requirements of the scholars and hosts.
The AUASA experience has left scholars with a new vision and commitment. “The field study activities have increased my intuitive understanding of Kazakhstan and expanded my academic international vision. In particular, the ‘immersion’ academic exchange activities are very conducive to the countries and regional study”, articulates Professor Jiewei Wu of Peking University after his visit to Nazarbayev University.
Prof. Wu Jiewei of Peking University lectured on Understanding Belt & Road Initiative at Nazarbayev University
Simultaneously, host institutions gain access to specific expertise and skills. Mobility of scholars helps universities develop links in academia, learn from the unique knowledge and wisdom of other societies. “Thanks to her, we know more about south east Asia”, remarked Professor Haruki Kume of the University of Tokyo after Dr. Jasmine Lim’s visit from the University of Malaya. Dr. Lim focused on prostate cancer and “proposed many constructive suggestions” during her two-week research at the Department of Urology. “AUA Scholars Award will play an important role in the international exchange in the scientific fields”, she concluded.
Dr. Jasmine Lim of the University of Malaya presented the analysis of the M-CaP registry to professors of the University of Tokyo
AUA emphasizes greatly on the need for academic exchanges and knowledge transfer within Asia’s leading universities, while increasing the learning from Asia’s rich culture and heritage. AUA’s long term vision of promoting mutual understanding is also met through the Scholars Award. After conducting research and giving lectures in ‘Taxation and Coase Conjecture’ at Nazarbayev University, Dr. Jihong Lee from the Department of Economics, Seoul National University expressed that “potential collaboration on student networks” is a noteworthy outcome of the AUASA. Dr. Lee and his hosts are confident that more student exchanges will ensue after his great experience.
Prof. Lee Jihong of the Seoul National University visited Nazarbayev University
As Asian economies progress and cultivate unique experiences and expertise, the AUA is poised to play a meaningful role as a trendsetter in Asian and global higher education. With the success of the AUASA thus far and great experiences and learning from the program, AUA looks forward to further exchanges and improvement in research capacity of Asia’s leading higher education institutions.
