Developing the Humanities and the Humanists of Asia Developing the Humanities and the Humanists of Asia - System Based Audit - AAS "Developing the Humanities and Social Sciences Supporting Under-represented Scholars of Asia" syftar till att stärka forskningskapacitet och kunskapsproduktion med relevans för hållbar, inklusive och jämställd utveckling i regionen. Projektet kommer att stödja forskare, doktorander och mastersstudenter i Syd- och Sydostasien. Projektet prioriterar medlemmar av etniska minoriteter och marginaliserade grupper, samt forskare som tillhör akademiska institutioner belägna i områden med hög fattigdom och/eller risk för konflikt. Kunskapsproduktion har fokus på tema av relevans för Sveriges regionala biståndsstrategi inklusive genus, mänskliga rättigheter, demokrati, konflikt, miljömässig hållbarhet och klimatförändringar.

Sidas avtalspartner är Association for Asian Studies (AAS, Ann Arbor, USA). AAS är en ideell organisation med ett uppdrag att främja Asienstudier genom internationellt utbyte, publikationer, nätverk, forskning och karriärutveckling. Programmet kommer att genomföras av AAS i samarbete med Regional Centre for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD, Chiang Mai, Thailand), Fakulteten för samhällsvetenskap och humaniora vid Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP, Phnom Penh, Kambodja), Fakulteten för humaniora vid Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU, Pune, Indien), School of Humanities and Social Sciences vid Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS, Lahore, Pakistan) och National University of Timor Leste (Dili, Östtimor). Programmet kommer att samordnas och styras av en kommitté (CCC) bestående av representanter från AAS och de fem partneruniversitet.

Programmet har följande mål:

- bidra till stärkt forskningskapacitet hos forskare och forskningsinstitutioner inom humaniora och samhällsvetenskap, med särskilt fokus på juniora lärare, doktorander, kvinnor och medlemmar av etnisk minoritet grupper.

- utveckla forskningskapacitet i post-konflikt- och konfliktområden och samtidigt bidra till minskade sociala och ekonomiska sårbarheterna i låginkomstländer i sydöstra och södra Asien genom relevant kunskapsproduktion.

- starka samarbetet mellan forskare och det civila samhället, samt bidra till evidens-baserade policyer som främjar hållbart utveckling.

Målen kommer att nås genom en rad aktiviteter som inkluderar individuella forskningsstipendier, kapacitetsbyggande workshops och utbildningar, publiceringsstöd och nätverks- och forskningskommunikationsstöd.

På längre sikt kommer satsningen på forskare bidra till stärkande av forskningsinstitutioner och universitet inom fattiga och postkonfliktområden i Syd- och Sydostasien. The "Developing the Humanities and Social Sciences Supporting Under-represented Scholars of Asia" project aims to strengthen research capacity, and to produce new knowledge that will have positive development impacts in the sub-regions. Eligible beneficiaries of the project will be scholars, junior faculty members and post-graduate students from South and Southeast Asia. Members of ethnic minorities and marginalized groups, and academic institutions located in areas with high rates of poverty and risk for conflict will be especially prioritized. Knowledge production related to gender, human rights, democracy, conflict, environmental sustainability, and climate change will be supported. 

The cooperation partner for this agreement is the Association for Asian Studies (AAS, Ann Arbor, USA). AAS is a non-profit organization with a mission to advance the field of Asian studies through international exchange, publications, networking, research and career development. The programme of support will be implemented by AAS in cooperation with the Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD, Chiang Mai, Thailand), the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP, Phnom Penh, Cambodia), the Faculty of Humanities at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU, Pune, India), the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS, Lahore, Pakistan), and The National University of Timor Leste (Dili, Timor Leste). The programme will be coordinated and governed by a Coordination and Collaboration Committee consisting of AAS and the five partner universities. 

The programme has the following impact-level objectives: 

- develop the research capacity of local universities and enhance the academic knowledge, research skills, experience and resources of their scholars in the humanities and social sciences, with a particular focus on junior faculty, graduate students, senior and independent scholars, women and ethnic minority groups.

- develop the research capabilities in post-conflict and conflict areas while helping to reduce the social and economic vulnerabilities of Southeast and South Asian low and lower-middle income countries through policy-relevant research.

- strengthen civil society and shape policies to help the selected countries and regions achieve their development goals.

The objectives will be reached through a range of activities that include individual research scholarships and fellowships, capacity building workshops and trainings, publication support, and networking and communication support.

In the medium to long-term, it is expected that the capacity built during this phase of activities will contribute to stronger academic institutions in poor and post-conflict areas of South and Southeast Asia. The Developing the Humanities and Social Sciences and Supporting Under-Represented Scholars of Asia has the following impact-level objectives: 

- develop the research capacity of local universities and enhance the academic knowledge, research skills, experience and resources of their scholars in the humanities and social sciences, with a particular focus on junior faculty, graduate students, senior and independent scholars, women and ethnic minority groups.

- develop the research capabilities in post-conflict and conflict areas while helping to reduce the social and economic vulnerabilities of Southeast and South Asian low and lower-middle income countries through policy-relevant research.

- strengthen civil society and shape policies to help the selected countries and regions achieve their development goals.