Centre for International Studies

Centre Name: Centre for International Studies
Chairperson: Dr. Leong Mun Yoon
Description of Centre: The Center for International Studies (CIS) was set up to acquaint UTAR campus community and the wider Malaysian public with critical contemporary issues that significantly impact on the nation, the region and the world, as Malaysia is a member of vibrant regional and global organisations and fora such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Plus Three (APT), East Asian Summit (EAS), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Commonwealth, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations (UN).

The pursuit of knowledge at the tertiary level has been meaningfully enhanced through focused attention on current regional and global affairs; and the hosting of conferences and seminars. Public lectures have also been organized by inviting renowned personalities, policy practitioners, academics, and think-tank and media experts to impart their informed insights so as to contribute to better understanding as well as serve as guide for constructive response to key regional and international problems and challenges confronting Malaysian society.
Research Area:
  • Malaysian Foreign Policy and Malaysia’s relations with its neighbours in ASEAN and East Asia, nations of the Asia Pacific and the wider global community
  • The growing global power-balance shifts from West to East and from North to South in the 21st century
  • Global security governance
  • Community Building in ASEAN, ASEAN + 3, East Asia Summit and the wider Asia Pacific