Congratulations Professor Duncan McDuie-Ra on being appointed the next Head of the School of Arts and Social Sciences, commencing on 18 November 2024
Currently serving as the Deputy Head of the College of Human and Social Futures at the University of Newcastle, Professor McDuie-Ra has held various leadership positions throughout his distinguished career, including Deputy Head of College (Research) and Associate Dean of Research at UNSW. He has also been a visiting scholar at prestigious institutions such as the Max Planck Institute, the Asia Research Institute, Aarhus University, and the International Institute of Asian Studies.
Professor McDuie-Ra holds a PhD from UNSW Australia, focusing on civil society and human security in Meghalaya, India, an MA in Politics and International Relations, and a BA in Communications. An accomplished scholar, his interdisciplinary expertise spans urban studies, urban culture and digital urbanisation, with a research portfolio that delves into surveillance technology, Asian studies, mobilities, infrastructure, and issues of race and gender.
His research projects, supported by significant European Research Council and ARC Discovery grants, explore critical global issues such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and urban poverty. Most recently, he is part of a €3 million European Research Council Consolidator Grant on vernacular architecture and climate change. He is also a current member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts.
Beyond his research, Professor McDuie-Ra is deeply engaged in teaching and mentorship, having taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses on topics ranging from development studies to environmental justice.
THE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Monash Malaysia School of Arts and Social Sciences, established in May 2008, is a premier humanities and social science research and teaching institution in Malaysia. A place-based campus that is part of the global Monash Faculty of Arts, the School is part of the Monash Arts global intellectual community of over 300 researchers and educators, and operates in response to opportunities for education, research and engagement in the local context.
The School has a large number of Asia and Southeast Asia experts, and has built a reputation around its mission of excellence in research and education that incorporates a socially engaged and diverse Global South perspective on the challenges facing the world.
It is a research-intensive School, with research activity within the Monash Arts research strengths of Geopolitics, Development and Governance; Thriving Communities; the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub (Malaysia Node); the newly established Southeast Asian Centre for Digital Tech and Society; and a new cluster of research in migration and mobility. Working across these research clusters, the primary focus is on key cultural, social and political issues affecting Southeast Asia.
The School offers degrees at undergraduate, honours and postgraduate level programs, with opportunities to specialise in media and communication, gender studies, film, television and screen studies, public relations, writing, and global studies; that also includes history, politics and international relations.
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
Monash University is a modern, global, research-intensive university, delivering education and research excellence in Australia and across the Indo-Pacific. The University is making a positive impact on today’s global challenges – whether by mitigating climate change, easing geopolitical insecurity or fostering healthy communities. Monash University is Australia’s largest university and a member of the prestigious Group of Eight, a group of Australia’s eight leading research universities. We have been consistently ranked among the world’s top universities, at 37th globally in the QS World University Rankings and 54th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings in 2024, reflecting a strong commitment to academic and research excellence.
Monash University is a global university with four campuses in Australia and a campus in Malaysia and Indonesia. In India, Monash Research Academy is a postgraduate research and PhD training partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, whilst Monash-Suzhou is a partnership between Monash University and Southeast University focused on world-class research and training in China. The Monash University Prato Centre meanwhile provides a European base for international research and education. Additionally, Monash has extensive international partnerships and study abroad programs with more than 100+ partner universities around the world.
Established in 1998, Monash University Malaysia is Monash’s third-largest campus and one of Malaysia’s most respected higher education institutions. More than 9,700 students representing approximately 77 nationalities are currently enrolled at Monash Malaysia, and they enjoy a quality study experience supported by committed staff members. Monash University Malaysia places a strong emphasis on student experience and strives to produce graduates who can lead and contribute to their local and regional communities. Monash University Malaysia graduates can be found in positions of importance all over the world. Since welcoming the first cohort of 417 students, Monash University Malaysia has graduated more than 27,500 students, including 800 PhDs.
Monash University Malaysia takes pride in educational excellence, offering degrees in arts and social sciences, business, engineering, information technology, medicine, psychology and health sciences, pharmacy, and science across seven schools. New courses in emerging areas, including artificial intelligence, data science, digital business and pharmaceutical science, expand the range of internationally-recognised degrees for a changing world. The University invests in constantly upgrading its facilities to incorporate cutting-edge teaching and learning technology to enhance students’ and staff’s experience.
In line with Monash University’s strategic plan, Impact 2030, research at Monash University Malaysia focuses on issues of national and global significance.
The University strives to formulate and implement solutions that could mitigate the effects of climate change, promote geopolitical security in the ASEAN region and improve health and wellbeing to enable communities to thrive. Monash University Malaysia research projects and researchers are making long-term and sustainable impact across health, economics, policy, technology, the environment and society at large. Monash University Malaysia also offers a broad range of world-class infrastructure and services to support the needs of the research community and industry.
Monash University Malaysia campus is located in Greater Kuala Lumpur, one of the region’s industrial hotspots. The University sits in the heart of the rapidly developing economic corridor linking Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and beyond. Monash University Malaysia education and research are oriented towards deep engagement with this dynamic socio-economic and industrial landscape.
Monash University Malaysia is committed to delivering quality education and research to address the global challenges of our time, and it has ambitious plans to reach its goals. Monash University Malaysia invites you to join and make a positive difference for the betterment of communities worldwide.
For further information, please visit www.monash.edu.my
Research platforms at Monash University Malaysia
Monash is committed to research that matters. At Monash Malaysia, researchers are putting an Asian lens on fields including health, social and economic transformation, and the environment.
The international, multidisciplinary research approach at Monash University Malaysia brings together researchers from different fields, faculties, campuses and universities and to develop strengths in specific areas and set research priorities to benefit the communities of ASEAN for impact. Monash Malaysia researchers benefit particularly from being part of the Monash global footprint, which takes in China, India, Indonesia, the UK , Italy, Australia and, of course, Malaysia.
At Monash Malaysia, current research platforms are:
Campus location
Monash University Malaysia is in Sunway City in the state of Selangor, about 20 kilometres south west of the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur and only minutes away from the city of Petaling. The town has gained a reputation as Selangor’s higher education hub.
Singapore is only 28 minutes away by plane and four hours by car, Thailand just one hour by plane and eight hours by car, and Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal, an easy 45-minute drive.
The virtual campus tour of Monash University Malaysia includes the campus neighbourhood and education and other facilities.
More about the campus location in Sunway City is available on the Monash University website here.
Living in Greater Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, commonly known as “KL”, is a modern, multicultural city that values its traditions. The rich living heritage of Malaysia’s European, Chinese, Malay and Indian populations and influences contributes to its famous street food.
Expatriates rate Kuala Lumpur in the world’s top ten cities for its local friendliness, affordable quality housing, quality of life, healthcare, culture and ease of settling in — helped, no doubt, by the fact that English is widely spoken and known as the city’s second language. InterNations, the largest global community for people who live and work abroad, found in its survey that international living in Malaysia valued its quality of life, citing environment and climate, safety and security, and finding friends as some of the country’s top-rating benefits and that working abroad in Malaysia ranked highly for its career prospects, salary, work life balance, personal finance, and for work culture and satisfaction (source: Expat Insider 2022, and 2023).
Malaysia is central member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and has close cultural and other ties to neighbouring ASEAN nations, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore, Philippines and Vietnam.
Living in KL puts all these countries within easy reach, with European cities just a few hours away. People in Malaysia love the leisure and travel options, from exploring ancient rainforests and many of the world’s top beaches, to cultural and art tourism.
