Centres and Institutes
On this page:
- Asian Studies Institute
- Centre for Strategic Studies
- Chair of Malay Studies
- Confucius Institute
- Deaf Studies Research Unit
- English Language Institute
- International Institute of Modern Letters
- New Zealand Centre for Literary Translation
- New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre
- New Zealand Dictionary Centre
- Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies
- Treaty of Waitangi Research Unit
- Va'aomanū Pasifika
- Wai-te-ata Press
Asian Studies Institute
The purpose of the Asian Studies Institute (ASI) is to act as the central agency at Victoria for all the University's Asia-related activities. These include research, teaching and outreach into the wider community.
Director: Dr Stephen Epstein
Centre for Strategic Studies
The Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS) at Victoria University of Wellington is the New Zealand anchor for research, teaching and public dialogue on strategic and security issues. In particular, the Centre addresses: Global Security Challenges, Strategic Change in the Asia Pacific region, and New Zealand’s security priorities.
Director: Professor Robert Ayson
Chair of Malay Studies
The Chair of Malay Studies (CMS) at Victoria was inaugurated in March 1996 by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Sponsorship for the Chair was obtained through the governments of Malaysia and New Zealand with the support of private companies in both countries.
Chair: Professor Wan Rafaei
Confucius Institute
The Confucius Institute (CI) is dedicated to promoting artistic, cultural and intellectual exchange between China and New Zealand. Through exhibitions, concerts, festivals, lectures, workshops and courses, we bring you closer to the heart and mind of one of the most fascinating and enduring civilisations in the world.
Director: Dr Luo Hui
Deaf Studies Research Unit
The Deaf Studies Research Unit (DSRU) was established in 1995 with the goal of conducting research on topics relating to Deaf people and their language in New Zealand. The major work of DSRU to date has been the production of A Dictionary of New Zealand Sign Language, the first of its kind in New Zealand. Research on the lexicon and grammar of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is ongoing in the DSRU.
Director: Dr David McKee
English Language Institute
The English Language Institute (ELI) has been an important part of Victoria for over 40 years. Since 1961, students from 120 countries have studied at the Institute either on the English language courses or on the widely-respected teacher education programmes.
Director: Dr Angela Joe
International Institute of Modern Letters
The International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML) is an international centre focusing on contemporary imaginative writing. Victoria was chosen to be its New Zealand headquarters.
Director: Professor Bill Manhire
New Zealand Centre for Literary Translation
The New Zealand Centre for Literary Translation (NZCLT) was officially launched in March 2008 by the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Helen Clark. The Centre hopes to pursue three main aims - to research issues relating to literary translation, particularly of New Zealand writers; to provide support for the translation of our writers' work; and the development of literary translation activities, in both teaching and professional areas.
Director: Dr Marco Sonzogni
New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre
The New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre provides a national platform for China-related capability building and knowledge sharing among tertiary institutions, the business community, and public sector organisations in New Zealand for effective engagement with China.
Director: Professor Xiaoming Huang
New Zealand Dictionary Centre
For over 60 years Victoria has been the major centre for lexicography in New Zealand. A number of distinguished lexicographers, many of them former students of Professor Ian Gordon, have been graduates of Victoria and have contributed to works of English lexicography, including the supplements to The Oxford English Dictionary and The Australian National Dictionary. The New Zealand Dictionary Centre (NZDC) is based in Wellington, where there are valuable sources of lexicographical research in the National Library, the Alexander Turnbull Library, and the National Archives.
Director: Dr Dianne Bardsley
Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies
The Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies (SRC) was established at Victoria with the generous support of the Stout Trust to encourage scholarly inquiry into New Zealand society, history and culture, and to provide a focus for the collegial atmosphere and exchange of ideas which enrich the quality of research.
Director: Professor Lydia Wevers
Treaty of Waitangi Research Unit
The Treaty of Waitangi Research Unit (TOWRU) was established to provide independent, high quality research on Treaty of Waitangi matters and to support Waitangi Tribunal hearings and Treaty negotiation and settlement processes. TOWRU also contributes to the eventual resolution of Treaty claims, and to equitable and harmonious ethnic relationships within Aotearoa/New Zealand.
TOWRU provides mentoring assistance to new researchers, including Māori historians, so as to develop their contract research abilities.
Director: Professor Richard Hill
Va'aomanū Pasifika
Va'aomanū Pasifika (VASA) specialises in two different areas, namely Samoan Studies and Pacific Studies.
Talofa lava, Taloha ni, Kia orana, malo e lelei, Ni sa bula, Fakalofa lahi atu, and warm Pacific greetings. Pacific students make up around four percent of Victoria's student population, retaining their diverse cultural identities and enjoying what the University has to offer.
Acting Director: Dr Allison Kirkman
Wai-te-ata Press
Wai-te-ata Press (WTP) is a centre for research, lectures, demonstrations, and practical applications in printing history, information technology and design, communication theory, and cultural studies.
Director: Dr Sydney Shep