NUS Southeast Asian Studies

09/09/2026

Honouring a Legacy, Celebrating Professor John Miksic, 29 October 2026, Thursday, 10am, AS8 #04-04.

📅 29 October 2026
🕝 10.00 AM
📍AS8 04-04
Register now! https://tinyurl.com/HonouringProfMiksic

03/09/2026

https://www.esplanade.com/whats-on/festivals-and-series/crossing-borders/2026/gambir-sawit

Your Sunday evening plans just got an upgrade, no cap. 🎶

Our very own Singa Nglaras Gamelan Ensemble is performing at the Esplanade as part of Crossing Borders 2026, and it's giving centuries of Javanese royal court energy but make it free and outdoors. The ensemble will be bringing to life Gambir Sawit, one of the most beloved classical compositions in the gamelan repertory. Gongs, bronze chimes, xylophones, drums - the full fit.

🗓 13 September 2026
🕕 6 PM & 7:45 PM
📍 DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre at Esplanade
🎟 FREE admission

Singa Nglaras Gamelan Ensemble is supported by the NUS Department of Southeast Asian Studies, proof that the work we do here goes beyond the classroom. Come show your support (and catch the vibes). ✨

Singa Nglaras Gamelan Ensemble presents some of the best-loved classical compositions from the gamelan repertory.

27/08/2026

A warm welcome to our Southeast Asian Studies students! Our Welcome Tea brought together undergraduate and graduate students with faculty members for an afternoon of conversations, connections, and new beginnings.

27/08/2026

Melisa Idris speaks with Dr Serina Rahman, an environmental anthropologist and lecturer at the National University of Singapore, about the richness of local knowledge and why it is so often overlooked by science and institutions.

What can fishermen and other local communities can teach researcher...

27/08/2026

On 14 August, the Department of Southeast Asian was delighted to host a delegation from Korea University ASEAN Center, a leading institute for Southeast Asian research, education and policy. The team comprised undergraduates from various Korean universities as well as academic staff. Also, in attendance were the secretary general and manager of Hyundai Motors. The Department looks forward to greater collaboration with its Korean partners in furthering Southeast Asian Studies.

07/08/2026

Still finalising your timetable this semester and looking for something different to spice up your academic journey in NUS? This experiential class with an immersive fieldtrip to Yogyakarta could be what you’re looking for.

SE2214 Beyond the Frame: Arts and Lives in Southeast Asia brings students out of the classroom and into the workshops, studios and stages of artists in Jogja.

From interacting and learning directly with artists to visiting ancient Javanese temples, students will get to experience culture in their local contexts. By the end of the semester, students will learn the basics of wayang kulit (shadow puppetry), gamelan and have visited a handful of ancient temples.

Built into the class are weekly gamelan practices and it is 100% assignments-based (no exams). And the class ends in Week 9!

06/08/2026

✨ What's the bigger story behind the Johor state polls?

Dr Serina Rahman, takes a closer look in her latest Fulcrum Commentary, exploring why the polls weren't just about politics, they were also about identity, state pride, and what Johor means to the people who call it home.

The recent Johor state polls have some bearing on the upcoming general elections. But to many Johoreans, the polls were more about the pride of being part of the rich southern state.

30/07/2026

📰 New publication by our Adjunct Assistant Professor, Dr Maria Monica Widharja.

Published in The Jakarta Post, "How Indonesia and Singapore handle information pressure" examines how audiences in both countries navigate today's evolving information landscape. From election debates to AI-manipulated content, the article explores why legacy media remains a trusted source during high-stakes moments, even as political information is increasingly consumed through fast, visual, and creator-driven platforms.

Read the article to learn more about the changing dynamics of media, politics, and public trust in Southeast Asia.

From election debates to AI‑manipulated content, audiences in both countries rely on legacy media for credibility during high-stakes moments while increasingly consuming politics through fast, visual and creator-driven formats.

28/07/2026

The world needs more people who truly understand Southeast Asia. 🌏

Its diversity is unmatched. Its influence is undeniable. And its role in shaping the next century, economically, politically, culturally, is only growing.

Our Class of 2026 didn't just study a region. They chose to champion it. To sit with its complexity, honour its stories, and carry its lessons into every room they'll ever walk into.

That is a rare and powerful thing. Congratulations. We are so proud. 🎓🌺

🎓

Photo Credit: A/P Vatthana Pholsena, Joanna Hioe, Kyi Kyi Seinn

28/07/2026

From seminar rooms to the real world, our Class of 2026 is THAT girl/that guy era now. 💫

Southeast Asia is home to 700M+ people, 1,000+ languages, and centuries of stories that the world is only beginning to understand. You chose to be the bridge. That's not just a degree, that's a calling. 🌺
Proud doesn't even cover it. Congratulations, graduates. ✨🎓