History of ASAFAS

Jan 1963 Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) established
as an intra-University body of Kyoto　University
Apr 1965 CSEAS granted formal status as a research center of Kyoto University
by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture
(now Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
Apr 1986Kyoto University Center for African Area Studies (CAAS) established
Feb 1993Kyoto University Future Vision Steering Committee established, and Plans for the Profile of Kyoto University in the 21st Century discussed
Apr 1993Chairs of Southeast Asian Area Studies and African Area Studies established in the Division of Culture and Areal Environment Studies, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies
Feb 1994Intermediate report by Kyoto University Future Vision Steering Committee of discussions of Plans for the Profile of Kyoto University in the 21st Century approved by Council Meeting
Feb 1994On the basis of above intermediate report, Steering Committee of Experts on Future Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies established within Kyoto University Future Vision Steering Committee
Apr 1996Division of African Area Studies established in Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies. CAAS classified administratively as an intra-university center (Japanese name changed; English name maintained along with acronym in all non-Japanese contexts)
Mar 1997New Graduate school of five-year integrated doctoral program approved by Steering Committee of Experts on Future Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies
Mar 1997Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies Planning and Promotion Office established
Jun 1997Kyoto University Council Meeting approval for establishment of Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies
Jul 1997Budget proposal for Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies
Apr 1998Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies (ASAFAS) established;
commenced “The Making of Regions: Proto-Areas, Transformations and New Formations in Asia and Africa,” a grants-in-aid research project for formation of COE with funds provided by MEXT (in collaboration with CSEAS); ended March 2002.
Mar 2001Academic journal Asian and African Area Studies began publication
Oct 2002Commenced initiative of 21st Century COE (Center of Excellence) Program: “Aiming for COE of Integrated Area Studies” (in collaboration with CSEAS) (ended March 2007)
Apr 2004CSEAS changed administrative status from “center” to “institute”; Japanese name changed accordingly. (English name maintained along with acronym CSEAS in all non-Japanese contexts)
Apr 2006Kyoto University Center for Integrated Area Studies (CIAS) established
Oct 2006“Initiatives for Attractive Education in Graduate Schools” initiative commenced (supported by MEXT Grants for Creating Research and Education Bases [for Fostering Young Researchers]) (ended March 2008)
Oct 2007Commenced Global COE Program project “In Search of Sustainable Humanosphere in Asia and Africa” (in collaboration with CSEAS) (ended March 2012)
Nov 2007Commenced International Training Program for Young Researchers “On-site Education of Practical Languages for Area Studies” (ended October 2012)
Nov 2008Commenced “Field School for Building Bridges Between Research and Practice,” a reform assistance program for systematic graduate school education (ended March 2011)
Apr 2009Division of Global Area Studies established in Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies
Oct 2010Commenced project selected for Young Researcher Overseas Visits Program for Accelerating Brain Circulation: “Triangulation Project for the Understanding of Asian and African Areas” (ended March 2013)
Dec 2011Commenced Program for Leading Graduate School “Inter-Graduate School Program for Sustainable Development and Survivable Societies” (in collaboration with Disaster Prevention Research Institute) (ends March 2018)
Apr 2012Commenced “Re-inventing Japan Project, Rediscovering Japan through Collaboration in the Open ASEAN+6” (ends March 2018)
Oct 2012Commenced project selected for Strategic Young Researcher Overseas Visits Program for Accelerating Brain Circulation: “Building a Platform for Global Area Studies for Sustainable Humanospheres in Asia and Africa” (in collaboration with CSEAS) (ended March 2015)
Apr 2013Commenced project “Promotion of Personnel with Global Vision actively working in a changing world of Asia and Africa: Development and Practices of Internatinal On-site Education (ended March 2016)
Apr 2015Commenced project selected for Young Researcher Overseas Visit Program for Accelerating Brain Circulation: “Network Formation for Reconstruction the Paradigm of African Area Studies in a Globalizing World” (ends 2018)
Apr 2016Commenced project “Fostering Personnel with Global Visions for the Future of Asian and African Areas through Strengthening Oversees Bases for Education and Research” (ends March 2022)
Dec 2020Commenced “Innovative Africa: Educational Networking Programs for Human Resource Development in Africa’s SDGs“　(ends Mar 2025)