International engagement
The National Centre for Australian Studies engages the World
Australian Studies is part of a global conversation and as well as hosting the world’s oldest continuous human culture our country is a creative and dynamic mix of many ethnic and national groups. Our Centre:
- Engages the world through leading research collaborations with scholars overseas, international exchange partnerships with universities world wide. Learn more about the Centre's research activities.
- Has regular participation at cutting edge international conferences
- Values the participation of international students from all across the Globe. Learn more about our exchange programs.
The link to London
As a member of the Commonwealth and a former British colony, Australia has a long and historic association with the United Kingdom. The National Centre for Australian Studies regularly contributes to research projects, conferences and occasional publications fielded by the British Association for Australian Studies.
In 2008, Professor Bruce Scates, Director of NCAS was appointed to the Board of the Menzies Centre at the University of London. The Board facilitates a vibrant scholarly exchange between Australia and the UK. View British Australian Studies Association website.
The Copenhagen connection
The National Centre for Australian Studies has forged strong and enduring links with the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. Since 2006, scholars from the Centre have participated in research and teaching programs at Copenhagen and from 2009 Danish students will attend a Study Abroad program at Monash specially designed to meet their interests and needs.
Monash Study Centre in Prato, Florence
One of the most exciting aspects of this international exchange with the University of Copenhagen is a common teaching program run through the Monash Study Centre in Prato, Florence. Students from Australia can spend up to 6 weeks studying abroad and complete accredited units fielded by both Monash and Copenhagen. It’s a culturally rich learning experience and it culminates in an excursion Anzac battlefields in Gallipoli and Crete. View more information about the Anzac battlefield tours.
Journeys to Japan
There is a vibrant Australian Studies Centre at the University of Tokyo and staff at the National Centre for Australian Studies have advised the Australian and Japanese government on the selection and funding of Professorial appointments. In 2008, NCAS in collaboration with Monash University’s Centre for Japanese Studies and the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies, secured funding for three fellowships to enable Japanese scholars to visit Australia. Our 2008 Japanese scholar is Professor Keiji Sawada from Waseda University, Tokyo.Trans Tasman crossings
Australia and Aoteroa/New Zealand enjoy a close and enduring relationship. From the nineteenth century to today there has been a continuous exchange of people, ideas and even cultural icons. Australia and New Zealand share the experience of war, depression and the challenge of lasting reconciliation between indigenous and non indigenous peoples. Scholars at the National Centre for Australian Studies have taught in Aotearoa/New Zealand and research many aspects of the trans Tasman relationship.
In 2008, Professor Bruce Scates (Director of NCAS) will deliver the distinguished Keith Sinclair Memorial Lecture at the University of Aucklund, examining shared aspects of the Anzac experience. He also featured as a guest of Maori television in a major documentary on cultural exchanges.
Australia and America
Scholars at the National Centre for Australian Studies explore many aspects of the relationship between America and the United States. The cultural, political and cultural exchanges between our two countries are an area of continuous inquiry and a steady stream of students from North America attend our teaching programs.
NCAS scholars have visited Australian Studies Centres in Austin Texas and Washington DC. In 2008, Professor Bruce Scates (Director of NCAS) will deliver the key note address at a conference exploring war and memory at the State University of Kansas.
Northern neighbours
Macassan fisherman from the islands of Indonesia were amongst the first visitors to Australia. They came to gather Trepang from the waters of Northern and Western Australia and established trade and cultural exchanges with Aboriginal people. Australia has always been a part of Asia and gained much from our ongoing relationship with neighbours to our North. Today, students from Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia form a large proportion of Monash University’s diverse international student intake and the University has established a dynamic campus in Kuala Lumpur.
NCAS scholars regularly visit the region and facilitate these valuable student exchanges. In 2008, John Arnold (former Director of NCAS) and Professor Rae Frances (Dean of Arts) will undertake a lecturing tour of three major Indonesian campuses as a guest of the Indonesian government.
India
We congratulate and offer a warm welcome to the five Fellows for 2008. The Senior Fellows are:
- Professor Gopa Kumar Gopala Pillia, University of Kerala, and
- Professor Sudha Rai, University of Rajasthan.
The three Junior Fellows are:
- Dr Balasubramanian Madhan, Apollo Institute of Hospital Management
- Maria Preethi Srinivasan, University of Madras, and
- Jati Sankar Mondal, Triveni Devi Bhlaotia College, Burdwan.
