Thammasat Institute of Area Studies (TIARA) Thammasat University, Rangsit Center

The history of Thammasat Institute of Area Studies (TIARA) has started in 1993 as a single area study center which was the Thai APEC Study Center. Since 1993, TIARA has developed itself as a multiple institute that covers 5 Centers and 1 Master Program. These 5 Centers include Thai APEC Study Center, the Australian Studies Centre, the ASEAN Studies Center, Russia & CIS Studies Center, and India Studies Center. The Institute also has one international master program on Asia -Pacific studies which is the two-year research-based program. The role of institute has extended from a local center of academic network on area studies to a network of area studies in Asia-Pacific region.

Today TIARA becomes a research hub on area studies, focusing on publication of quality academic research, maintaining area study database, expanding international academic collaborations and continuously to disseminate new knowledge for public. With 5 Centers and one master program in hands, the institute can create more opportunities on various academic activities related to various fields in several regions from Russia in the north to Australia New Zealand in the south, from India in the west to Japan and Korea in the east. Each year, our international students in our program, together with the pr5ofessors around the world has created several outstanding publications related to area studies. At the end off each year, the institute set up the Thammasat University International Conference on Asia-Pacific Studies (TU-CAPS) that is the platform for all academic people all around the world in the field of area studies can exchange their new knowledge and strengthen the academic network.

Consider the success in the past, we still believe that there are many challenges ahead of us. However TIARA has the commitment that it has done for so many years that is to strengthen the area studies network, to product quality research, and to bring the academic outcome to the public.