Asian Studies in Atlantic Canada (ASAC)

(last revised: 6 October 2005, by Bill Sewell, History, SMU)

1. Pressing Issues
2. Suggestions for the ASAC Community
3. ASAC Statistics

1. Pressing Issues

1. Should this list become a mailing list through which we can distribute information and announcements? For example, while Owen Griffiths (Mt Allison) would like to know who might be interested in participating in his proposed "Taiko in the Maritimes" project, an ikebana workshop and taiko performance (by a Montreal group) is tentatively scheduled for February 4, 2006 at Saint Mary's. (Since I assume that the answer is likely yes, I shall do so unless individuals write me back and ask me specifically to take them off the list.I assume this will be acceptable because I cannot imagine this becoming more than a once every month or two kind of email. Please let me know if you do not wish to receive any such announcements.)
   
   
2. The Japan Foundation is rather generous with its library support in terms of books, but last year the Saint Mary's request was different—we asked for aid in securing primary materials, specifically the prewar issues (in Japanese) of the Yomiuri and Asahi newspapers. As these materials would be useful to the wider community (and available through interlibrary loan), we had letters of support from faculty outside of Saint Mary's to indicate a regional interest in them. Although that request was turned down in 2005, I was recommended to apply again, which I am. So, if anyone is interested in adding their support to this initiative, please contact me at your earliest convenience.
   
   
3. The packet the Korea Foundation sent me from New York arrived a few days after the conference. If anyone would like a copy of their materials, please let me know.
   
   
4. Volunteers are needed to organize any future meeting, perhaps a half-dozen or so to form an executive committee, but most definitely someone to be responsible for a next meeting should one be desired in the next two years—I have a full year sabbatical starting next summer, and while I am willing to assist a conference or other project (such as a film festival) held in that time period, I will not be in a position to play a major role.

2. Suggestions for the ASAC Community

1. Be persistent in making recommendations to university administrators.
   
   
2. Link proposed Asian Studies programmes to publicized university intentions; i.e., encourage university administrations to adopt more Asian Studies themes through the encouragement of a broader Global Studies programme.
   
   
3. Establish an intensive summer language programme that might be attended by students from across the region (i.e., third-year Chinese and Japanese).
   
   
4. Invite local faculty members to serve as external readers of honour's theses or perhaps be granted adjunct status for graduate students (simultaneously approaching university administrations to recognize this as valuable work).
   
   
5. Invite local faculty members to give guest lectures as well as scholars from further away to give lectures at several local institutions.
   
   
6. Encourage the development of undergraduate conferences and funding sources.
   
   
7. Establish a regional academic conference where papers may be presented (should there be sufficient interest).
   
   
8. Encourage the adoption of distance-learning technologies by universities (for specialized courses)—in fact, since it would be useful to have a list of what facilities are available now, should anyone respond I will include a summary in my next email and post it on the ASAC webpage.
   
   
9. Encourage librarians to make known what kinds of archival resources are available at their institution—in fact, since it would be useful to have a list of what resources are available now, should anyone respond I will include a summary in my next email and post it on the ASAC webpage.
   
   
10. Secure funding support through external foundations or embassies to build library holdings and language programmes (i.e., the Japan Foundation, the Korea Foundation, Shastri, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, and the Ministry of Education at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China).
    
    
11. Become more involved in high school curriculum development—perhaps providing either short or daylong seminars for teachers during inservice days.
    
    
12. Encourage activities that include local communities, such as film festivals, musical or other cultural activities, or other seasonal festivities.
    
    
13. Encourage cooperation (especially financial) when we have culture and/or lecture events on Asia coming to the region that usually come as far east as Montreal.
    
    
14. (Any others that I missed? Let me know and I will post them here.)

3. ASAC Statistics

• This table includes an overview of those people who attended the conference and of those who indicated that they wished to be included in further correspondence regarding Asian Studies in Atlantic Canada. Attendance at the first ASAC conference (at Saint Mary's University, Halifax): 42 (24 September 2005)
  
  
• The third column is to indicate geographic areas of expertise, though of course there is room for overlap. I separated the Arabic language teachers because Arabic of course is used across Asia and does not readily fit any one region.