Support Foundation Annual Report Dear friends, It is an honour to present Asian University for Women Support Foundation’s 2016 Annual Report. The year under review has been eventful, and I am immensely proud of our students, staff, and stakeholders for their sustained commitment to our institution and mission. With a record-breaking 605 students currently enrolled, Asian University for Women (AUW) is bigger OUR MISSION and better than ever. ASIAN UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN AUW was envisioned as a place where knowledge would transform lives for the better. OUR CAMPUS The progress made in this regard cannot be doubted and we now have to build on our seeks to graduate women who achievements, strengthen our mission, and continue to push boundaries. Moving forward, we will be skilled and innovative seek to forge new, innovative partnerships with other academic institutions. These partnerships professionals, service-oriented will build on existing collaborations with governments and businesses, and together they Asian University for Women’s will be decisive as AUW extends its global footprint over the coming years. Our burgeoning leaders in the businesses and 140+ acre design emerges from the international network is a testament to our growing influence and reputation for excellence. communities in which they work and unique topography of the site, local As AUW continues to grow and develop, we will continue providing an ambitious, dynamic climatic conditions, and the region’s and exciting environment for all our students and staff. live, and promoters of intercultural cultural heritage. Moshe Safdie and understanding and sustainable human Associates, an internationally esteemed and economic development in Asia architecture firm based in Boston, and throughout the world. Massachusetts, whose Principal was “ Coming to AUW was my first time being far from home. Thankfully my previously on the faculty of the Harvard roommate, Sonem, helped me a lot. We have become like sisters even though she University Graduate School of Design, is a Bhutanese Buddhist and I am a Pakistani Muslim. When we are together designed these aesthetically inspired, functionally superb, and ecologically we forget about our stresses and just have fun. We teach each other about our and environmentally sound facilities. religions and our cultural traditions, and we respect each other deeply.” SIDRAH, CLASS OF 2020 There are undoubtedly some great challenges ahead, but we believe that with your continued support we can achieve our goals. It is my hope that in just a few years’ time, I will be standing before you expounding on AUW as a leading international university positioned at the very top, making a real difference and putting education to work for the benefit of all. Sincerely, STUDENT 1 MALAYSIA PROFESSOR NIRMALA RAO ENROLLMENT: 3 CHINA Vice Chancellor-Designate from 1 February 2017 3 INDONESIA 6 PALESTINE 7 CAMBODIA TOTAL 8 SYRIA 10 SRI LANKA DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION India 18 AUW is an independent, international 605 university that educates and empowers women from 15 countries across Asia Afghanistan and the Middle East. Our students live Bangladesh and study together, expanding their worldviews and embracing cross-cultural Myanmar diversity as a regional strength — not 66 24 a cause for division or strife. 324Bangladesh Pakistan Originally from India, Professor Rao (left) is a distinguished political scientist who 25+ has served as Pro Director of SOAS at the University of London. She is an expert on 30 Languages urban governance and has published widely in the field of comparative politics and Bhutan spoken public policy. She has extensive experience in public service and has served as an advisor to a range of bodies including the UK Audit Commission, the Office of the 5+ Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), and the Government of India. As Vice Chancellor, 40 Nepal 35+ Religions Professor Rao will be supported by Mrs. Cherie Blair (right) who has served as Ethnicities EDITOR: Kiko Wemmer Chancellor of AUW since 2011. Vietnam 32 33 ACADEMICS FACULTY RESEARCH ARTICLES AND CHAPTERS AUW’s liberal arts and sciences AUW exists to overcome barriers which As a result of scholarships and specially Although AUW is a teaching and learning focused institution, our faculty continue , & curriculum develops students’ creativity prevent women from earning an excellent designed preparatory programs, AUW has to actively engage in research and publication. Here is a report on recent publications Amin, Sara Nuzhat Ganepola, , et. al. (2015) “Beyond Classroom of thought and vision, critical thinking university education and realizing their successfully recruited promising young by faculty. Varuni Knowledge and Experience: How Can skills, and communication abilities. It full potential. To enable this journey, leaders from all backgrounds, including Fieldwork Enrich Students’ Learning and is designed around a Common Core AUW offers two preparatory programs: garments factories, refugee communities, BOOKS Perception on Gender?” In Vasilikie Demos General Education Program comprising Pathways for Promise, an intensive daughters of microfinance borrowers, and Amin, Sara N., Ganepola, Varuni, and Dissanayake, L. (Eds). Changing Nature of Forced & Marcia Texler Segal (Eds.) At the Center: offerings in Ethical Reasoning, Social English language and Mathematics diverse communities across conflicted Migration: Vulnerabilities and Responsibilities in South and Southeast Asia. Dhaka: The Feminism, Social Science and Knowledge Analysis, Literature, Civilization Studies, training program where students gain areas such as Afghanistan and Myanmar. University Press Limited, 2016. (Advances in Gender Research, Volume Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, the academic competencies to pursue Protracted conflicts, unequal burden sharing, climate change, globalization, and 20). Emerald Group Publishing Limited, and Writing Seminars. These courses a university education; and Access DR. ROSIE BATESON Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs shifting policies regarding immigration, asylum, work and development are changing pp.199–222. link relevant regional challenges to Academy, a foundation year of courses the nature of forced displacements and blurring the line between forced migration and students’ personal experiences and a focused on English communication economic migration. This book looks at migration dynamics of South and Southeast Bhuiyan, Mohammed Moniruzzaman global context, encouraging problem- skills, critical thinking, problem-solving and Muhammad Zakaria. “Determinants Asia examining these shifts to contribute to a more interdisciplinary and comprehensive solving that utilizes multiple perspectives. and strategies for life-long learning. In of Male Involvement in Women’s picture of migration for both research and policy-making. The authors highlight research After completion of the Common Core, Access Academy, students take courses Reproductive health: A Multilevel Study about migration patterns of groups that are often invisible in the study of migration— students choose from among four Majors in Language and Composition, Reading in Bangladesh.” Malaysian Journal of women, IDPs, environmental refugees and migrants, South-South migrants, and those and optional Minors. across Disciplines, World Civilizations, Public Health Medicine, vol. 16(3), 2016, that stay behind. Geography, Computer Literacy, Calculus, pp. 211–218. Leadership Seminars and Physical Salton, Herman T. Dangerous Diplomacy. Oxford University Press. (Forthcoming). “Sounding the Soul: POLITICS, Education. Cone, Tiffany. PHILOSOPHY Professor Salton’s forthcoming book reassesses the role of the United Nations Secretariat Mysticism and Music on Film.” The Asia & ECONOMICS AUW’s mission rests on the unshakable during the Rwandan genocide. With the help of new archival materials and interviews, Pacific Journal of Anthropology (TAPJA), ENVIRONMENTAL belief that a lack of financial resources it situates the Rwanda operation within the context of bureaucratic and political friction Issue 18/2, 2017. 29% SCIENCES AND should not exclude women of great existing at Headquarters in the early 1990s. The book looks at the multifarious ways BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES , Chowdhury ME, Kuanda S, Alam promise and courage from educational in which this confrontation impacted the Rwanda mission, including through a lack of Alam N A, Sia D, Seppe M, Sawadogo J, Fournier 15.5% opportunities. Therefore AUW relies on coordination on issues as diverse as reconnaissance, political analysis, intelligence, and P. “Role of transportation to access ECONOMICS the generosity of individuals, corporations, crisis management. Yet Dangerous Diplomacy goes beyond these institutional pathologies maternal care services for women in rural PUBLIC governments and foundations to support and identifies the conceptual origins of the Rwanda failure in the gray area that separates HEALTH Burkina Faso and Bangladesh: a mixed scholarships which allow AUW students peacebuilding and peacekeeping. The difficulty of distinguishing these two key UN 32% method study.” Int J Gyncol Obstet, 2016. 14.5% to receive a world-class education. functions, coupled with the creative tension between Secretary-General and member- As Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs, states, explains why six decades after the birth of the UN, it has still not been possible Sumon KA, Rico A, Horst MT, Van den Dr. Rosie Bateson (above) oversees the to demarcate the roles of several UN departments. Brink P, Haque MM, Rashid