A Vital Force for Global Scholarship and Social Justice

IIAS has been one of the most instrumental institutions and supportive allies not only for individual scholars but also movements around the world against authoritarianism, racism, misogynism, and injustice.

I was fortunate enough to be able to co-organize and co-host an IIAS event on re-imagining higher education at Mandalay University in Myanmar in 2017, when the democratic and social reforms were gaining momentum. A small institution one might think, but IIAS is perfectly positioned with its networks to participate as well as influence emerging thought trends and social transformations.

IIAS continued to host feminist workshops, LGBTQ conversations, and fostered freedom of expression and decolonial research. When the 2021 coup displaced many students and educators in Myanmar, IIAS was one of the first institutions to support the idea and work of alternative education pedagogies and practical curricula and deliveries for mobile students.

While many universities struggle with bureaucracies to make education relevant in emergency situations, IIAS is nimble, innovative, committed, and knowledgeable to know exactly what and how to jump into actions with a lot of ethical considerations.

Supporting IIAS means supporting one of the world's most vital ally for marginalized communities, a champion for democratic values, and a platform that amplifies the voices of those who might otherwise go unheard.