HIGHLIGHTS: Borneo Studies Network Inaugural Meeting and Workshop

A two-day Borneo Studies Network Inaugural Meeting and Workshop was organised by Universiti Brunei Darussalam on the 21 and 22 October 2013. It was also a follow up of the first Borneo Workshop held in 2012.

The main agenda of the meeting in 2013 was to discuss and to establish research collaboration among institutions in Borneo. The proposed research topics and areas for potential collaborations included culture, disaster management, medical-health, urban studies, energy and resource management. They also incorporated cross-cutting collaboration possibility in areas of environmental anthropology, ethno-religious identity and poverty.

There were participations coming from a wide range of various institutions such Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and University of Sabah (UMS) of Malaysia, University of Mulawarman, University of Balikpapan, University of Lambung Mangkurat, University of Palangka Raya and University of Tanjungpura. Not only universities, there were also active discussants from other institutions such as Mata Enggan Institute (MEI), Sekolah Tinggi Pastoral Keuskupan Agung and Dayakologi Institute.

Borneo Studies Network was created in an effort to contribute to the development of strategic research collaboration and to produce good quality research output among universities and institutes located in Borneo.

Dr. Yabit Alas has successfully organised and led the workshop.