Korean Studies Association of Southeast Asia (KoSASA)

KoSASA was founded in 2003 by KRI@UNSW and five top-tier national universities of four Southeast Asian countries (i.e. Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam). Since then, it has expanded its network to comprise nine top-tier universities from eight Southeast Asian countries (adding Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines).

KRI@UNSW played a pivotal role in foundation of the KoSASA together with UNSW Australia and Korean Government. Several years after foundation of KRI@UNSW, it was apparent that a non-political, academic organisation for contact, communication and scholarly activities among scholars in Southeast Asia concerned with the study of Korea was required to facilitate its development. This recognition was soon realised by KRI@UNSW leading the foundation and development of KoSASA. Ever since its inception, KRI@UNSW supported KoSASA as a joint secretariat role with KoSASA Secretariat in President’s institution. Through this collaboration, KRI@UNSW and KoSASA became a pioneer in developing Korean Studies in Southeast Asia, Korea and Australasia.

The key governance mechanism for KoSASA is the KoSASA Advisory Board which consists of the nine presidents of KoSASA member universities, a representative from KRI and the presidents of participating Korean Universities. A KoSASA Advisory Board meeting has been conducted annually since its inception. In September 2015, the meeting was held in Seoul. The next meeting will be held at the bi-annual 2016 KoSASA International Conference in Manila. The President & Vice-Chancellor of UNSW Australia, Professor Ian Jacobs has agreed to attend the KoSASA Advisory Board Meeting in Manila.

The president of KoSASA is elected by its Advisory Board. The Inaugural President of KoSASA was late Professor Le Van Quang, Vice Rector, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hochiminh City, succeeded by Professor Vo Van Sen. The second to sixth presidents of KoSASA were; Professor A Hamid A Hadi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the University of Malaya, succeeded by Professor Mohd Amin Jalaludin; Professor Soottiporn Chittmittrapap, Vice President, Chulalongkorn University; Professor Sunardji SE, MM, Vice Rector of Universitas Indonesia; Professor Nguyen Van Khanh, Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi and Professor Mohd Hamdi Bin Abd Shukor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic and International, University of Malaya. The current president of KoSASA is Mr. Alfred Pascual (the President of the University of the Philippines), where KRI@UNSW and KoSASA’s joint secretariat office also resides.

The primary activities of KoSASA involve the promotion of Korean Studies across Southeast Asia by conducting collaborative research activities and academic conferences. KRI@UNSW has offered access to this network to UNSW scholars to facilitate multidisciplinary research collaborations between UNSW and universities across Southeast Asia and Korea. For example, UNSW Canberra signed a memorandum of understanding with all KoSASA universities to provide PhD scholarship support to qualified applicants in Engineering, Science, Business and the Humanities. In July 2015 some eight scholarships were provided to eligible students who will commence their doctoral studies in UNSW Canberra from February 2016. it is proposed to make this scholarship round an annual event.

KRI is a joint secretariat of KoSASA Network. KoSASA is operated with two institutional working systems, Advisory Board and Executive Committee.

Advisory Board has been organised by representatives (president) of nine leading universities in eight Southeast Asian countries, and two member universities in Korea. This Board has a policy meeting annually for guiding direction of KoSASA.

Under this Board, Executive Committee has been organised by representatives of the eleven universities (respective faculty or institute of the university in promoting Korean Studies, eg. Deans of Social Sciences or Vice Rector in International Relations or Research). This Committee delivers international cooperation among member universities within the policy guidelines given by the Board.

Thus, KRI@UNSW works with these member universities at three levels consisting of individual academics, faculty/departmental and presidential/senior executive levels.