History of CARUM

The Centre for ASEAN Regionalism Universiti Malaya (CARUM) aims to be a national resource on ASEAN, and strategically build networks and partnerships and to advance collaborations with researchers on the topic of ASEAN regionalism and comparative regionalism. The centre conducts research on the three pillars of the ASEAN communities and covers all aspects of ASEAN in terms of culture/society, economy, political and security, as well as other broader regional endeavours.

​S​ince its set up in 2015, the centre has successfully organised several ASEAN events such as the ASEAN Studies Conference, the ASEAN higher education forum; an international conference on Asian arbitration discourse and practices; a regional workshop on the role of youth in human rights issues in ASEAN; a roundtable on transboundary haze pollution, the Asialink’s conversations on women in leadership, ASEAN-Korea Young Scholars Summer Workshop with 100 young academics from both ​ASEAN and Korea.

Nevertheless, the centre’s aims and objectives transcend organising conferences and forums.  An ASEAN research programme with the aims to narrow the development gap in the region has been carried out‐ this endeavour entails several capacity building and developmental sub‐projects across the ASEAN member countries.

Situated strategically within UM’s prestigious and renowned campus, CARUM focuses not just on ASEAN but also on ASEAN’s relations with dialogue partners beyond the region. It is concerned with ASEAN-led regionalism, including the building of an East Asian Community, as well as the development of ASEAN itself. Regionalism is also examined as a growing international phenomenon – and ASEAN is compared with other regional organisations. Apart form economic, and political/security issues, CARUM emphasises the inclusion of the Humanities in inter-disciplinary research, giving particular attention to the ASEAN Socio-Cultural community.