Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - The close links between the cultures, religions and societies of Asia and how they relate to the rest of the planet will be the focus of a new course called "Transregional Asian Studies" created at the Pontifical Urbaniana University of Rome and which will begin next academic year.
It is an innovative course that aims to train experts on the realities of Asia in a "transregional" perspective and will also be of interest to geopolitical and economic analysts, teachers, missionaries, pastoral workers, as well as diplomats, journalists, tourism professionals, translators and cultural mediators, entrepreneurs, economists and anyone who wants to know the Asian world systematically and in depth.
The decisive role that the Asian continent now occupies on the global scene is one of the key factors for understanding the dynamics of the present and the future and the course in "Transregional Asian Studies", emphasize the leaders of the Pontifical University, can represent a privileged observation point for the analysis and understanding of Asian realities, also studied starting from the cultural, social and even geographical factors that determine the self-perception of Asian peoples.
The phenomena of cultural interweaving that characterize globalization and also affect the life of faith communities can no longer be considered in static categories. The dynamics that determine coexistence and relationships at the continental and global level must therefore be recognized and studied as the dynamic result of complex historical processes, social interactions and cultural negotiations that involve all aspects of the human experience.
This continuous and rapid movement of people, ideas, goods and capital (also in virtual form) - says the presentation of the new course - also makes it necessary, in the ecclesiastical dimension, to rethink the academic approach to the knowledge of Asia and China in particular and to develop new scientific methods that are better suited to the study of the ideas and practices that are emerging in these years.
For this reason, the "Transregional Asian Studies" course combines theology, philosophy, missiology, but also law, economics and politics, international relations and diplomacy, as well as anthropology and other social sciences. At the end of the course, academic degrees (bachelor's degree/diploma, license/master's degree and doctorate) are conferred. Of particular importance is the study of Asian languages, especially Chinese, Vietnamese and in the future, also Korean.
The focus of the program is on East Asia (China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan) and Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, East Timor, Philippines). Over time, South Asia (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh) will also be included in the research and training activities.
The bachelor's degree program, which will begin in the 2025/2026 academic year, is divided into 21 exams (180 credits) and a thesis. A university entrance qualification is a prerequisite for admission to the program. Students who are already enrolled in other three- or two-year university degree programs can also enroll.
For students whose mother tongue is not Italian (the course is taught in Italian and the exams can be taken in Italian, English, French and Spanish), proof of knowledge of Italian at B2 level is required, which can also be obtained at the university. In addition, knowledge of English is required for all students. An admission interview and a letter of motivation are also foreseen. Personal attendance is mandatory. Pre-registration will be open from March 1, 2025. For more information, please contact the email address cinasia@urbaniana.edu.
(F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 25/2/2025)
