The Asia-Europe Institute has successfully
established itself as one of Southeast Asia’s leading institutions for social science postgraduate
research and teaching. Established under the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process with a philosophy of enhancing Asia-Europe
relations, AEI aims to foster exchange of students and scholars with a view to develop better understanding of the cultures,
histories, politics, institutions, economics, business and legal practices of both regions.
The origins of the AEI can be traced back to the idea of establishing closer higher education linkages
between Asia and Europe under the provisions of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) initiative in
1996.
In 1997, the Government of Malaysia established
the Asia-Europe Centre (AEC), the first step of Asia-Europe University cooperation in education designed to support the Fourth Pillar of the ASEM
process. Three years after its inception, on January 2nd 2000, the AEC was transformed into a full-fledged academic institution.
It was renamed Asia-Europe Institute (AEI) and hosted by the University of Malaya, the oldest university in Malaysia.
Over the years,
the AEI has received staunch support from the Government of Malaysia, working in partnership with other ASEM countries. It
reflects Malaysia’s commitment to internationalizing higher education and advancing
the idea of the AEI as an ‘educational infrastructure and knowledge of network for Asia and Europe in the twenty-first century’.
The AEI aims
to be the place where intellectual discourses are held. Key issues on intensifying globalization and regionalization environment,
international business, innovation and technologies and inter-regional relations between Asia and Europe are discussed. Further AEI promotes collaborative research with academic as well as government and private sector institutions.
Our research pillars and range of international postgraduate courses indicate the breadth and quality of expertise that the
AEI can bring to bear. As such, our postgraduate students are central to the realization of a collaborative and innovative
education hub for the future.
