Centre for Advanced International Studies (CAIS)

David E. Kiwuwa PhD 

(Associate Professor of International Studies)

Welcome Note from the Center Director

CAIS is positioned as an interdisciplinary centre dedicated to the study and promotion of issues broadly reflected in the research and teaching portfolio of the School of International Studies and its academic staff. The centre seeks to harness and promote research excellence and understanding of the interconnectedness of global political and historical challenges and narratives and how these inform our contemporary world. CAIS serves as an interlocutor for cross-themed research and dialogue in furtherance of the university interdisciplinary agenda. It cooperates and collaborates with domestic, regional and international institutes, schools, organisations, and individuals interested in research into issues that characterize the scope of CAIS.

Focus: The centre activities are built around four core aims: high quality research output and publication; dissemination and communication of research to staff and students community and to external audiences; harness intellectual dialogue through conferences, workshops and speakers series. In order to nurture the next generation of scholars, CAIS is also a doctoral centre of excellence which recruits and hosts high calibre research students through competitive scholarships and self-funded schemes.

Research Cluster Platforms

The Centre for Advanced International Studies has established two Research Cluster. The two Clusters mirror the diversity and inclusiveness of research interests in the School of International Studies. They serve as platforms to develop and foster an active research culture that facilitates individual and joint research projects, interdisciplinary research and local, national, and international collaborations.

The knowledge of a scholar should not be confined to the ivory tower in which we work but should be seen to be impactful to the broader community. As such, the work of the centre is pivotal in helping inform public opinion, governments and professional organisation decision making to achieve broad social impact. We therefore welcome policy engagement and inquiry in order to bring fresh and critical perspectives to the understanding of contemporary challenges. Our academics are available for media and policy consultancy.

Dr Matteo Salonia giving a public talk at Ningbo Library in November 2022.