The Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre (SEAC) is a multidisciplinary Research Centre of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Building on the School’s deep academic and historical connections with Southeast Asia, SEAC seeks to foster world-leading academic research focused on the region’s cultural, economic, political, religious, and social landscapes, drawing on the LSE’s signature strengths in the social sciences, history, and law.
The Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre was established in 2014 with the generous support of the late Professor Saw Swee Hock, an eminent scholar and philanthropist.
Our mission
Pushing the boundaries of Southeast Asia research
SEAC draws from a rich pool of research undertaken by Southeast Asia experts across a range of disciplines at the LSE and pursues collaboration with colleagues around the world. The Centre promotes research and analysis which is intended to enhance understandings of Southeast Asia in the general public and among civil society activists, government policymakers, and decision-makers in the world of business and finance.
We support high-quality social science research on Southeast Asia through the SEAC Research Fund. In addition, we host Visiting Appointments which foster further synergies with the LSE’s specialists on Southeast Asia.
Building a network of exceptional Southeast Asia scholars
SEAC nurtures new generations of Southeast Asia specialists and has taken the lead in launching a global Early Career Researcher Network for scholars working on the region. We frequently host joint research workshops with academic partners at the LSE, other institutions within the UK, in Southeast Asia region, and elsewhere.
During the 2015/16 and 2016/17 academic years, SEAC also hosted the Khattar Scholarships which were available for students from Southeast Asian countries. SEAC continues to benefit from Arvind Khattar's contributions to further the Centre's research activities.
Promoting dialogue and engagement
SEAC serves as a globally recognised hub for engagement on Southeast Asia in London, presenting a collective gathering space and an opportunity to share knowledge and ideas on the region with the entire LSE community and beyond through our public events programme as well as workshops and other organised events.