Universiteto Str. 5, Vilnius
01131 Vilnius
Lithuania
- Research
1. Structure consists of Administration (3 people), Teaching Staff (22), Researchers (9), Visiting Staff (7); 2. 94019 EUR per 2006; 3. Governmental and project funding; 4. Studies, research, academic projects, seminars and conferences; 5. Respective institutions (Departments/Institutes of Asian and Middle East and African Studies) in foreign countries; Diplomatic representatives; Governmental and Non-governmental Institutions.
The Institute of Asian and Transcultural Studies is the largest and most diverse academic establishment in Lithuania and the other Baltic states that focuses on Asian and Middle Eastern cultures and societies. The mission of the Institute is to prepare specialists of Asian and Middle Eastern cultures with intercultural and transregional competencies who could contribute to fostering an informed, open and tolerant society. We seek to conduct high-quality research, ground our educational practice in research processes and educate specialists capable of understanding and acting in multicultural contexts.
The Institute conducts research and studies in two main fields – Cultural Studies and Anthropology, providing an understanding of transcultural phenomena from a cross-cultural perspective. Extensive studies of the histories, cultures, philosophies, religions, arts, and literatures and contemporary issues in Asia are complemented by anthropological fieldwork conducted in India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, China, Mongolia, Eastern Siberia, Jordan, Iran, Lebanon, and other sites.
The Institute operates three study programmes: BA in Asian Studies (Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, and Indian and South Asian Studies), MA in Modern Asian Studies and PhD in Ethnology.
The Institute’s staff are engaged in various academic activities: implement national and international research projects; conduct translations of classical Asian texts; organize academic events such as conferences, seminars, discussions, expeditions and summer schools; provide consultations for governmental institutions and business enterprises; comment on various Asia-related issues in media platforms.
Within the Institute, the School of Asian Languages offers beginner and advanced courses in Arabic, Persian, Hindi, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Turkish and Karaim languages for the general public.
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