Building research links across Asia

More than 100 delegates from 50 leading universities and institutes across Asia participated in UNSW's second International Research Workshop.

The workshop, held over three days last month, focused on research collaboration in the areas of business, law and the social sciences.

It follows on from the University's inaugural workshop in 2008, which focused on engineering, medicine, science and technology.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Les Field, said the workshop aimed to identify strategic research initiatives and build cross-disciplinary research partnerships with key partner universities across the region.

"This is about UNSW increasing the level of collaboration with our neighbours through facilitating exchanges with outstanding academics," Professor Field said.

The delegates brought with them world-class expertise in areas such as capital markets, corporate governance, international trade, human rights law, social policy and terrorism.

"Like the inaugural workshop last year, this was an extremely successful event and we are hopeful that a number of priority research collaborations and partnerships will be developed," Professor Field said.

Professor Wai Fong Chua, Senior Associate Dean in the Australian School of Business, said they were particularly excited about the opportunities to build research networks.

"We believe that in coming decades the region will be a dominant global force in business innovation," Professor Chua said.

Delegates were officially appointed as Visiting Research Fellows at UNSW. "These new ambassadors will return to their home institutions and work at deepening collaboration with UNSW and assist in identifying funding to support strategic research linkages," Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International), Jennie Lang, said.

"Together with the 83 Fellows from 2008, UNSW is creating an active community of researchers addressing contemporary issues of regional importance."