The Center for East Asia Studies (CEAS) was founded in 2008 within the Department of International Relations at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang. It serves as a dynamic platform for lecturers and students to explore and discuss international relations topics, with a focus on the East Asia region, including China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. CEAS extends its discussions beyond political and international relations issues to encompass cultural and social topics as well.
The center has hosted East Asia cultural exhibitions in collaboration with the Consulate Generals of Japan and China in Surabaya. It also established a Mandarin class in partnership with the Confucius Institute in Malang and introduced Korean and Japanese classes taught by faculty members. Since 2018, CEAS has operated under the coordination of the Department of International Relations laboratory, as part of an expanded network of centers established to broaden academic and cultural engagement.
PEOPLE
HAVIDZ AGENG PRAKOSO
Research Area: Globalization, Tourism Development, Global Development and Business, International Relations in East Asia
Biography:
Director of Center for East Asia Studies Department of International Relations, University of Muhammadiyah Malang.
TONNY DIAN EFFENDI
Research Area: International Relations in East Asia, Diplomacy, Diaspora, Chinese Indonesian Studies
Biography:
Senior Researcher Center for East Asia Studies-Department of International Relations, University of Muhammadiyah Malang.
SHANNAZ MUTIARA DENIAR
Research Area: International Development, Politics and Cultural of South Korea, International Relations in East Asia
Biography:
Researcher of the Center for East Asia Studies, Secretary, Department of International Relations, University of Muhammadiyah Malang.
HAMDAN NAFIATUR ROSYIDA
Research Area: Gender Studies, Globalization, Japan’s Social and Culture, and International Relations in East Asia
Biography:
Researcher of the Center for East Asia Studies, Deputy of Center of Excellence on Paradiplomacy, Department of International Relations, University of Muhammadiyah Malang.
INDRI MARLINDASARI
Staff, Center of East Asia Studies Department of International Relations, University of Muhammadiyah Malang.
ACTIVITIES
The primary activities of CEAS revolve around discussions on the East Asian region and its countries. The center regularly invites scholars and experts from Indonesia and abroad to share their insights on East Asia. In addition to hosting discussions, CEAS conducts research focused on the region and its countries. All center faculty members specialize in East Asia, while student members often pursue their undergraduate theses on specific cases or issues related to East Asian countries.
Some of CEAS activities:
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| Mandarin Class by Confucius Institute | Cultural Activities (2013) |
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| Cultural Performance in China (2015) | Cultural Activities in Japan (2017) |
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| Lecture by Dr. Kaori Fukushi on Chinese Culture (2017) | Lecture by Dr. Takazawa Hiroshi on Humanitarian Intervention (2017) |
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| Cultural Activities in South Korea (2018) | Cultural Activities in Taiwan (2019) |
RESEARCH CLUSTER
Research conducted by members of the Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) encompasses all countries in East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. However, in recent years, China-related research has become increasingly dominant. Their research encompasses a wide range of topics, including political, economic, social, and cultural dimensions of East Asian societies.
CEAS POLICY BRIEF:
Policy Brief on Indonesia–South Korea Maritime Paradiplomacy
The Center for East Asia Studies (CEAS), Department of International Relations, University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM), has released a new policy brief as part of its ongoing research project entitled “Exploring Potential Cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea in Developing Regional Maritime Paradiplomacy Network.” The policy brief is supported by the 2025 Korea Foundation Support for Policy-oriented Research Program.
The research project is conducted by a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Tonny Dian Effendi as Principal Investigator. The research team includes Havids Ageng Prakoso, Shannaz Mutiara Deniar, and Hamdan Nafiatur Rosyida from CEAS UMM, alongside Dr. Baek Dojoo from Pukyong National University, South Korea, and Saiful Hakam from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
This policy brief presents evidence-based analysis on the growing role of subnational governments in international maritime cooperation. Drawing on comparative and bibliometric research on maritime studies and paradiplomacy in Indonesia and South Korea, the brief highlights the untapped potential of maritime paradiplomacy—international cooperation led by local governments in maritime-related sectors.
The project aims to:
- Identify and map maritime and local-regional potentials relevant to maritime paradiplomacy in both countries;
- Examine opportunities and challenges in developing an Indonesia–South Korea maritime paradiplomacy network;
- Propose concrete strategies and policy recommendations to strengthen subnational maritime cooperation;
- Contribute to improved ocean governance through paradiplomacy-based collaboration; and
- Advance academic and policy-oriented research on maritime paradiplomacy.
Through this policy brief, CEAS UMM seeks to provide practical insights for policymakers, local governments, and stakeholders in Indonesia and South Korea, while reinforcing the role of academic research in shaping innovative approaches to maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
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