European Studies in Asia - 1st Young Academics

Bruges, Belgium
1-4 September

Call for proposals - European Studies in Asia - 1st Young Academics Workshop "How is the EU Perceived in Asia: Media, Public and Elite Perceptions, "

The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) and the College of Europe welcome proposals for participation in the European Studies in Asia (ESiA) 1st Young Academics' Workshop "How is the EU Perceived in Asia: Media, Public and Elite Perceptions" , which will take place in Bruges, Belgium, on *1-4 September 2008*.

The European Studies in Asia (ESiA) network initiated the *"EU through the Eyes of Asia"* project, a pioneering attempt to scientifically measure media, public and elite perceptions regarding the EU specifically in the Asian region. Focusing on selected Asian countries that are part of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process, the pilot study was undertaken in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and
Thailand from 2006 to 2007. In all locations, the methodology involved monitoring images of the EU in the media; administering a public opinion survey; and conducting a series of elite interviews.

While the project continues to expand, having recently been launched in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam in the beginning of 2008, the initial phase has already produced a wealth of data regarding the perceptions of the EU in Asia that is unique and can enrich European studies scholarship in both Asia and Europe.

ESiA's Young Academics' Workshop is a new series initiated specifically to provide a platform for next generation European studies academics in Asia and Europe to exchange ideas, acquire new skills and present their work to the larger European studies community.

The first Young Academics' Workshop will train a select number of young European studies academics (at the Masters and Doctoral levels) on how they may be able to analyse and utilise the unique dataset that has been generated from "EU through the Eyes of Asia" project in their own research work.

The co-organisers will select 20 participants (up to 10 from Asia and up to 10 from Europe) to participate in this four-day event. Upon completion of the workshop, participants are also expected to complete an 8,000-word research paper each by the end of the year.

All selected participants will also have an opportunity to publish with the Asia-Europe Journal. Furthermore, the participant that writes the best paper will be offered a three-month research fellowship with NCRE - University of Canterbury

Interested parties should write in to the co-organisers with a 2,000-word proposal on the said topic by *31 July 2008*.

For more information, please refer to the documents attached or visit
http://esia.asef.org/AboutESiA_Meetings.htm#1stYAW

Should you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact :

Ronan Lenihan
Intellectual Exchange Department
Asia Europe Foundation
Phone: (+65) 68749744