1. Research Project

A two-year research project, tentatively entitled From Diversity to Superdiversity: Rethinking Social Complexity in Contemporary Studies, will be undertaken to examine emerging forms of social complexity in contemporary societies. The project will focus on governance challenges, barriers to social integration in multiethnic societies and issues affecting Indigenous communities. It will also assess the wider implications of these challenges for social cohesion, national integration and public policy.

2. Networking and Community Engagement

Existing memoranda of understanding and memoranda of agreement between higher education institutions and relevant agencies in Malaysia and New Zealand will be reviewed and renewed where appropriate. New institutional partnerships will also be established to expand academic cooperation, research collaboration and knowledge exchange between the two countries.

The Chair will further strengthen programmes on heritage and intercultural communication by engaging university partners, community organisations and industry stakeholders. These initiatives will provide platforms for cross-cultural dialogue and encourage greater public understanding of the cultural and social connections between Malaysia and New Zealand.

3. Introduction of the Malay Language and Malaysian Studies

Efforts will be made to enhance the visibility and standing of the Malay language and Malaysian Studies internationally. One of the principal initiatives will be to strengthen the Malay Civilisation Portal as a repository of Malaysian Studies publications, archival materials and scholarly resources available in New Zealand.

An international conference on Managing Diversity and Sustainability in the Asia-Pacific will also be organised. The conference will bring together academics, policymakers, community leaders and practitioners to examine contemporary challenges relating to diversity, governance, sustainability and social inclusion across the region.

In addition, cross-cultural and multilingual performances will be organised in collaboration with the host university community and Malaysian higher education institutions. These activities will promote cultural exchange while introducing Malaysian languages, traditions and artistic expressions to a wider international audience.

4. Academic Supervision and Mentorship

The Chair will supervise postgraduate students at the host university whose research focuses on Malaysia, the Malay world or related regional issues. Mentorship will also be provided to students and emerging scholars interested in Malaysian Studies.

A course tentatively entitled Malaysia 101 will be developed and taught to provide an interdisciplinary introduction to Malaysia. The course will examine the country’s historical, political, social and cultural development, ranging from colonial knowledge frameworks to contemporary Malaysian scholarship and debates.

5. High-Impact Publications

Collaborative publication projects will be developed with academic partners in Malaysia and New Zealand. One proposed project is an edited volume entitled Nusantara and Artificial Intelligence: Managing Diversity in State, Market and Society, which may be published in cooperation with a Malaysian university press.

The Chair will also produce articles for journals indexed in Scopus and the Web of Science. Particular attention will be given to supporting reputable Malaysian journals that have achieved international indexing and measurable citation impact, including Kajian Malaysia, JEBAT: Malaysian Journal of History, Politics and Strategic Studies, Akademika, Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Journal of Nusantara Studies and Intellectual Discourse.

6. Public Lectures and Academic Seminars

A series of public lectures and academic seminars will be organised to deepen understanding of Malaysian Studies among university communities and the wider public. These lectures will address Malaysia’s experience in managing diversity, cultural adaptation, social cohesion, identity and public policy.

Proposed lecture topics include:

1. Public Policy and Cultural Adaptation: The Malaysian Experience
2. Food and Reconciliation: Mapping Social Cohesion in Malaysia
3. Moving from Diversity to Superdiversity: Implications for Policy and Identity

All activities and their outcomes will be documented and reported periodically in accordance with the requirements of the Secretariat of the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia.