new early bird registration deadline: 31 January 2014

new call for papers deadline: 30 November 2013

1st INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF
AFRICA-ASIA DEVELOPMENT UNIVERSITY NETWORK - AFRICA’S ASIAN OPTIONS
(AADUN-AFRASO) 2014

AFRICAN-ASIAN ENCOUNTERS (I): NEW COOPERATIONS - NEW DEPENDENCIES?

11-13 March 2014
Research Management & Innovation Complex
University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

About 1st AADUN-AFRASO Conference (Click here for Conference Website)

The 1st AADUN-AFRASO conference is the result of collaboration between the Africa-Asia Development University Network (AADUN), the Centre for Civilisational Dialogue, the University of Malaya, the research project Africa’s Asian Options (AFRASO), and the Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany.

Introduction
African-Asian relations have become ever more important on a global scale – in the political and economic as well as in the social and cultural sphere. The transregional arena constituted by the recent strong growth of African-Asian interactions may well have a decisive impact on the 21st century.
While China has been at the forefront of attention for some time, more recently an increasing number of Asian countries have become active in Africa and numerous African actors (governments, businesses, NGOs, etc.) have forged links with Asian countries. This multipolar scenario opens up new options for economic development, political solidarity and the emergence of a transnational civil society. At the same time, there has been growing concern (both outside and inside Africa) about new forms of dependency and exploitation – or even a “new colonialism” – generated by Asia’s and especially China’s intensified engagement in Africa.
The aim of this international conference is to provide a more systematic overview of the empirical dimensions and analytical implications of these multifaceted and conflicting processes. What is new about Asian-African interactions? Do they follow specific patterns? How can they be characterised and analysed? Do they give rise to mutually beneficial modes of cooperation, or do they produce new asymmetries?

Sub-Themes
The conference will be organised jointly by the Africa-Asia Development University Network based at University of Malaya (AADUN), the Centre for Civilisational Dialogue (UMCCD) of the University of Malaya and the collaborative research project “Africa’s Asian Options” (AFRASO) based at Goethe University, Frankfurt (Germany). It will explore the new opportunities and the new risks generated by African-Asian encounters under four major thematic headings:

• Markets on the Move: This section is open for any contribution that addresses recent dynamics of economic relationships between Africa and Asia. We particularly welcome papers on all topics associated with, but not limited to: African-Asian Neoliberalisms, policy and business models traveling between Asia and Africa, configurations and conceptualisations of African-Asian markets, Asian special economic zones in Africa, Asian investments in African infrastructure, Asian land acquisitions in Africa, the intersection of economic investments and aid diplomacy, the role of public enterprises and parastatal corporations in transnational cooperations, the entanglement of small traders in social networks, governance structures of African-Asian value chains, labour migration, innovations in finance and ICT in-between Asia and Africa.
• Transnational Civic Networks between Africa and Asia: Since transregional cooperation is by no means limited to economic and political relations, this section will look at the creation of new networks in civil society such as trade networks, trade union and NGO cooperation, networks linked to educational or labour migration. The overarching question of this sub-theme is whether these new transnational civic networks are transforming concepts of borders and boundaries by establishing a new framework of transregional dynamics. In this context, the interactions of these networks with state institutions (esp. governments and educational institutions) as well as commercial players are of particular interest.
•  New Avenues for Civilizational Dialogue between Asia and Africa: Societies on both continents are changing for equity, access to and improvement in resources exploitation. What are the value systems, often politically motivated, that are used in these processes of change? Topics are welcomed on political systems, gender, age, ethnicity and religions as well as belief structures in the creation of cross-regional and cross-continental communication networks, their management and sustainability. Intercultural studies in various domains and across the continents are of particular relevance.
• Improving the living habitats by Africa-Asia university cooperation: Various efforts are being undertaken to achieve this objective in joint university projects focusing on poverty reduction and human development. We particularly welcome studies of public health, renewable energy, sustainability in water management and food security etc and human resources management, skills development, women in science and technology and disability studies. Case studies and policy-oriented comparisons are particularly encouraged.

Abstract Submissions
Papers will be allocated 20 minutes for oral presentation and another 10 minutes for questions and answers. Please submit a 250 to 300-word abstract and a 60-word biography to the Secretariat latest by 30 November 2013. The biographical note should mention the presenter’s name and title, affiliation, country, email address, and the title of the abstract.

Registration
Online and form registration will be made available soon. Please contact the Secretariat for further inquiries.

Important Dates
26 August 2013: Call for Papers
30 November 2013: Deadline for Abstracts
30 December 2013: Notification of Acceptance
01 January 2013: Early Bird Registration
01 February 2014: Normal Registration
01 February 2014: Deadline for Presenter Registration
01 March 2014: Deadline for Participant Registration
11 - 13 March 2014: 1st AADUN-AFRASO 2014 Conference

Conference Fees

Early Bird Registration (before 1 December 2013)
Normal: RM 520 (Local), USD 220 (Overseas)
Student *: RM 300 (Local), USD 150 (Overseas)

Normal Registration (after 1 January 2014)
Normal: RM 590 (Local), USD 250 (Overseas)
Student *: RM 350 (Local), USD 180 (Overseas)RM 590

The registration fee covers a conference kit that includes all lunch, coffee and tea breaks served during the conference days.
* For students, proof of student status is required.

Accommodation
Participants are recommended to choose any of these accommodation options below:
(1) Petaling Jaya Hilton Hotel (Tel: +603-79559122 or petaling-jaya@hilton.com)
(2) Armada Hotel, Petaling Jaya (Tel: +603-79546888 or armada@armada.com.my)
(3) Crystal Crown Hotel, Petaling Jaya (Tel: +603-79584422 or cchpj@crystalcrown.com.my)
(4) Hotel Singgahsana Petaling Jaya (Tel: +603-79562100 or salesreservation@hspj.com.my)
(5) Rumah Universiti, University of Malaya (Tel: +603-79673528 or ru@kkumb.coop)

Accommodation and transport to/from the conference is not provided. Participants need to make their own hotel reservation and transport arrangements. Hotels listed above are located just 5-10 minutes away (by car) from the University of Malaya, and they are situated 15 minutes from the Kuala Lumpur city centre.

Contact Us
Secretariat of the conference:
1st AADUN-AFRASO 2014 Secretariat
Deputy VC (Research and Innovation) Office
Chancellory
University of Malaya

Centre for Civilisational Dialogue
2nd Floor, Siswarama Building, University of Malaya
50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
Tel: +603 7967 7851/ 5477
Email: asia_africa2014@um.edu.my

Conference Website: http://umconference.um.edu.my/AA2014

AFRASO – Africa’s Asian Options
Goethe-University Frankfurt
Senckenberganlage 31
60325 Frankfurt, Germany
www.afraso.org