Highlights of our 20th anniversary in 2016
In 2016 the Finnish University Network for Asian Studies celebrated its 20th anniversary. Here is a recap of the main events.
Anniversary conference on 18 February at the University of Turku
The celebrations were started with the Anniversary conference in Turku on the 18th of February 2016. Here are some highlights of the conference which theme was “Education, Science and Equality in Asia”. We had the honour of hearing keynote speeches by Dr Naonori Kodate, Prof Donghun Chung, Prof Lirong Zheng and Prof Vinayagum Chinapah. Please read the full program from here. In connection with the conference also a doctoral seminar was arranged on 19 February.
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Asia-related student event competition
We celebrated our anniversary by awarding three €500 grants for Asia related student events. The awards were handed at the Anniversary Conference in Turku. The three winning projects were chosen because of the well thought format and wide multidisciplinary outreach.
The three 500€ grants were given to the following events:
- “Asia as an Opportunity” seminar at the University of Jyväskylä. The focus of this seminar will be on future work life of students. This seminar, organized in April by the UN Association of Jyväskylä, will encourage students to get to know and study Asia as a possible area of future employment. Asianet courses will be introduced as one way of preparing for their future with Asia.
- Gastro Adventure to Asia at the University of Tampere. Bosa ry from the University of Tampere will organize in April food and beer tasting of Korean, Japanese and Thai delicacies together with presentations of University of Tampere’s study exchange opportunities in Asia. Also Asianet’s courses will be introduced during the evening.
- Asian food cooking course at the University of Vaasa. Hallinnoijat ry is going to organize a cooking course with a Filipino chef who will cook with the students and tell about Philippine culture. During the evening opportunities and experiences of study exchange in Asia will be presented by local students. The event will be linked to the Culture Week of the Student Union of the University of Vaasa.
Asian Studies Days, 25–26 August 2016, at the University of Jyväskylä
Asian Studies Days were again arranged in 25 August 2016 at the University of Jyväskylä.
The theme of the Days was “Religion and Politics in Asian Societies”. Throughout the world both religious beliefs and nationalistic ideas are being expressed strongly, and often in conjunction. In addition to widely observed and discussed Muslim and Christian activities in politics around the globe, Hinduism in India, Confucianism in China, Buddhism in Myanmar, Shinto in Japan, and Kimism in North Korea, to name a few, are platforms for amalgamation of traditional religions with nationalism. The phenomenon is intriguing as the process often displays also clear anti-globalisation, anti-foreign and anti-intellectual elements. Contemplating this phenomenon in Asia was the theme of the conference in Jyväskylä. A doctoral seminar was organised in conjunction of the conference.
The program for the days can be seen here.
My Asia – Photo Competition
My Asia was a photo competition that sought creative photographs portraying the role of Asia in people’s lives. The competition received seventy entries trough Instagram and e-mail. A jury consisting of Asianet researchers and students selected the winners. Read more about the winning photos from here.