The Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS), established on 1 April 1995, is a centre for research in the social sciences within Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The Institute which adopts a multidisciplinary perspective conducts research, post-graduate teaching and other academic activities. Staffed by a team of scholars from various disciplines (especially economics, sociology, political science, law and literature), IKMAS is devoted to Malaysian and International Studies within the framework of inter-regionalism, connectivity and inclusive development.

On 15 August 2013, IKMAS was merged with the Institute of Occidental Studies (IKON) and the Institute of West Asian Studies (IKRAB). Following the restructuring, this postgraduate institute now has four centres focusing on New Area Studies applied to four regions: (1) Asia; (2) the Occidental regions; (3) Latin America; and (4) West Asia and to some extent, Africa. The thrust of study in IKMAS is deepening in its understanding of historical and contemporary transformation, bearing in mind the interests of Malaysian society.

In developing the Knowledge Mapping of IKMAS, IKMAS aligns itself to The MOHE-Malaysian Education Blueprint 2015, The Internationalisation Policy for Higher Education Malaysia 2011, the UKM Strategic Plan (2000-2020), and the UKM Key Result Areas (KRA) Performance Indicators. Since 2013, the growth of IKMAS was divided into three phases.

VISION

To be a research centre of excellence on regional and transregional studies leading to an understanding of historical and contemporary transformation, bearing in mind the interests of Malaysian society.

MISSION

To engage in collaborative research, education and service that seek to establish IKMAS as a nationally and globally recognised institute for inter-disciplinary research.

EDUCATIONAL GOALS

• To conduct basic, applied and strategic research including policy input that is beneficial to society;

• To promote collaborative research and dialogue at the national and global level;

• To contribute to the discourse on globalization, occidentalism and social transformation from the perspective of developing nations;

• To build human capital and nurture independent scholarship through post-graduate studies.