Spring of Tartu University Asia Centre has been very fast and full of exciting events. Here is a summary of the most important of them.
Visits: Visit in Vientam: From 7th until 15th of April Head of the Asia Centre Elo Süld with colleagues from various fields of the University visited Hue University in Vietnam. The aim of the visit was to support cooperation between Hue and Tartu University. Members of the delegation were Elo Süld (Asia Centre), Irene Kull (School of Law), Ülo Valk (Institute of Cultural Research), Maaja Vadi (School of Economics and Business Administration), Aare Märtson (Faculty of Medicine) and Marco Kirm (Institute of Physics).
Workshop in Dushanbe: Head of Development of the Asia Centre Olga Bogdanova with researchers from J. Skytte Institute of Political Studies visited Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Workshop “Neighborhoods and Regionalisms: Shifting Borderlines of Inclusion and Exclusion in Central Asia” happened on the 3th and 4th of April, and in cooperation with the World International Studies Committee (WISC).
Events:
Asia Update: University of Tartu, Enteprise Estonia, Tallinn University, Tartu City, Taltech, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication, and Ministry of Education and Research organized conference “Asia Update” to focus on globalizing and rising Asia. International Conference Asia Update 2019 was held on the 9th and 10th of May in Tartu. Conference was opened by the President of Republic of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid, visitors were also welcomed by the Rector of the University of Tartu Toomas Asser and Mayor of Tartu Urmas Klaas.
https://tv.postimees.ee/…/reporter-eesti-arimehed-proovivad…
https://www.tallinnatv.eu/…/100519-aasia-pakub-eesti-ettevo…
https://www.err.ee/…/analuutik-hiina-puuab-oma-odava-toostu…
Tallinn Talks: On the 22th of May, at the Residence of the German Ambassador Christoph Eichhorn, the Ambassador, Dr Hans-Ulrich Seidt (Princeton University), Head of Asia Centre Dr Elo Süld and Urmas Hõbepappel (University of Tartu) discussed during the Tallinn Talks event series on “China in the International Order: From the Fall of the Berlin Wall to the Silk Road”.
Academica: On the 24th of May the series of “Academica” was relaunched. Dr Hans-Ulrich Seidt (Princeton University) gave a presentation on "China in the International Order: from the Fall of the Berlin Wall to the Silk Road. Opening words were from the rector Toomas Asser and the Ambassador of German Embassy in Tallinn Christoph Eichhorn. https://www.uttv.ee/naita?id=28553
Among the same event, Taiwanese researcher Kuo-chun YEH gave a lecture on Asian perceptions of the EU: The case of Taiwan. https://aasiakeskus.ut.ee/en/news/public-lecture-asian-perceptions-eu-case-taiwan
The most important guest lectures were following:
Lectures on Contemporary China: Lecture of Christer Ljungwall (Peking University HSBC Business School) gave an open lecture titled The New Silk Road and China’s Initiatives in Northeastern Europe. Robert Weatherley (University of Cambridge) and Urmas Hõbepappel (University of Tartu) read 2 week course “Politics and Political Thinking in Communist China”. Both courses were organized by J. Skytte Institute of Political Studies
https://aasiakeskus.ut.ee/en/news/new-silk-road-and-chinas-initiatives-northeastern-europe-0
https://aasiakeskus.ut.ee/en/news/short-course-april-politics-and-political-thinking-communist-china
Singapore: On the 13th of May professor of economics Joseph Lau gave an open lecture titled Singapore – Tiny Harbour to Modern Economy. The lecture took place at Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies. https://aasiakeskus.ut.ee/en/news/developments-politics-and-economy-east-asia-singapore-tiny-harbor-modern-society-and-political
Next big events are:
Summer School: The University of Tartu Asian Centre together with the UT International Summer University are organizing a summer program titled Current Social Issues in East Asia: Aging Societies and the Role of Women this August on the 12th until 23th of August. East Asia is often discussed from the perspectives of global economy, international relations or ancient history and culture. However, there are other economic and societal topics deserving the limelight and discussion in a summer school setting. For more information, check - https://aasiakeskus.ut.ee/en/news/summer-university-current-social-issues-east-asia-aging-societies-and-role-women-1208-2308
Conference on Japan: On the 24th until 27th of September conference and doctoral school on Japan will happen in Tartu. The country faces similar challenges as many European countries – globalization and economic competitiveness, declining demography, digitalization, changing needs on the employment market which all have a deep impact on the organization of education. The conference will cover mentioned topics.
Asia Centre would like to thank J. Skytte Institute of Political Studies, Enterprise Estonia, Embassy of Germany in Tallinn, Tallinn University and City of Tartu for close cooperation.