• The rich and diverse physical environment influences the way people live in Southeast Asia, which in turn, produces a culture that is unique to the region
• Culture is not static – amidst the changes that take place in Southeast Asia, there are continuities in the form of customs, traditions and institutions
• Southeast Asia lies at the crossroads of major trade routes which facilitate contact with foreign elements and results in exchanges of ideas and cultures.
• The past strongly influences the development of the region and shapes the present and future of Southeast Asia

By the end of the course, students will be able to

• Converse, read and write in Malay
• Appreciate Malay culture, customs and traditions
• Demonstrate cultural awareness and empathy when dealing with people of Southeast Asia
• Explain the historical and geographical factors that have influenced the social, economic and political development of Southeast Asia
• Discuss major contemporary issues, including the impact of race, religion, political institutions and interest groups in nation-building

The Regional Studies Programme consists of 4 components

• The Malay Special Programme (MSP), a graded component, will develop proficiency in the Malay language from basic to advance level
• Understanding Southeast Asia (USEA) module, an enrichment-based component, will provide an understanding of the geography, history, culture, economics and politics of Southeast Asia
• Local and regional field trips and immersion programmes, an important element where authentic learning and interactions take place in a real world situation
• Enrichment programmes and symposiums, an avenue where knowledge is applied and shared

From Year 3 onwards, RSP students will be given the option to do Area Studies (Southeast Asia) as one of their Humanities subjects.

Year 1

• What is Southeast Asia?
• The physical environment of Southeast Asia
• Syncretism: religious influences and multiplicity of beliefs
• Cultural landscape of Southeast Asia
  • - Food
  • - Arts
  • - Architecture

Year 2

• The Malay and Malaysian culture: customs, traditions and worldview
• Malaysian culture and identity: Exploration of Food, Arts and Architecture.
• Defining the Malaysian Nation: Exclusive or Multicultural?
• Globalisation & disappearing cultures
• Language and Cultural Immersion Trip to Malaysia

Year 3

• Unity and Diversity: Exploration of culture in Southeast Asia
• The role of religion in Southeast Asian society.
• Indianisation and localisation
• Indigenous political systems in Southeast Asia
• Overseas Immersion trip to Indonesia/Malaysia

Year 4

• Emergence of nationliasm in Southeast Asia
• Independence and Nation-Building in Southeast Asia
• Contemporary Issues: Economic Development, Democracy and ASEAN
• Overseas Immersion Trip to Central Java