Annual Reports

MESSAGE FROM CHAIR OF INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD
Prof Tommy Koh

I am very pleased to congratulate the Asia Research Institute for an eventful year of many achievements. This is an opportune moment to look back on the last five years and to thank  ony Reid for his leadership and extraordinary contributions. Tony completed his tenure as Director in June 2007 and has returned to fUll-time research. Within the short span of five  ears, he has established the Institute as a prominent and respected research institute for interdisciplinary work on Asia. As founding Director, Tony charted the Institute’s directions and shaped its growth with the singular aim, “to understand our place in the world, and to encourage the highest level of analysis of it”.

Asia Research Institute is now a premier research institute of global reputation built around a vibrant community of researchers ranging from those at the dawn of their careers to distinguished academics with high international reputations. It has become the humanities and social sciences research hub for Asia.

Two years ago, the International Advisory Board made some key recommendations to the Institute. Among the Prof Gavin Jones most important were: to nurture a productive tension between innovation and continuity; to intensify engagement with Law, Business and Public Policy; and to expand ARI’s regional outreach to scholars in the region. These  ecommendations have been effected in various ways, among them, through the open cluster in ARI which has been fostered as a space for innovation and exciting new work; through strengthening ties with the NUS family; and through the ASEAN Research Fellowship programme…