The ASEAN Research Center
Endowed by Maybank, the ASEAN Research Center (ARC) positions itself as the intellectual hub in Southeast Asia, focusing on impactful research about emerging markets in the ASEAN region.
Our Mission
01
Conduct rigorous and impactful research to inform policy-making and improve lives of ASEAN citizens, especially in emerging markets.
02
Research and publish publicly-available reports on topics related to ASEAN, including long-term “flagship” research programs developed in-house.
03
Host public events for ASEAN-based research programs to foster intellectual dialogue and public interest, advancing knowledge generation.
04
Host visiting scholars and students to lecture and conduct research in the region, enhancing academic exchange and collaboration.
Research Pillars
Economic Resilience
- RYSE
- A program designed to empower Malaysian youths through entrepreneurship and employability initiatives. Learn more
- Roadside Economy Research Project
- An extensive study on Malaysia’s hawker economy and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their operations and their livelihoods.
Sustainability and Society
- ESG Policies in ASEAN
- In 2023, ARC was commissioned by the AKC to publish the “ESG Practices in ASEAN & Korea: Pathways Towards Sustainability” guidebook which highlights green and responsible business practices in ASEAN & Korea.
- Palm Oil
- MOF Case Study
Inclusivity
- SUHAKAM
- UNHCR
- Covid-19 Mortality
- Public Perception on Refugees
Our Research Projects
Building a Malay Language Curriculum for Adult Refugees in Malaysia: Preliminary Findings
This ongoing project, a collaboration between ARC and UPM, along with funding partners UNHCR and Uniqlo Malaysia, aims to close the language gap between refugees and their hosts through an immersion-based Bahasa Malaysia curriculum.
Our Research Projects
Understanding Youth Entrepreneurship and Employability
Using RYSE as a platform for research, the methodology employed is based on two principles: (1) The integration of research and programs, leading to a two-way feedback system, and (2) Holistic Understanding towards Youth Entrepreneurship.
Our Research Projects
Ethnography on Palm Oil Labour
We conducted a labor ethnography study through semi-structured interviews with palm oil workers and smallholders in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, and Selangor. The research explores and compares labor conditions between unionized estate workers and independent smallholders.
Our Research Projects
Focus Group Discussions conducted for Public Perception on Refugees in Malaysia Study
The research aims to understand public perception of refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, as well as the factors that influence such perceptions.
Our Research Projects
Understanding the Role of AI in Enhancing Research
With the ongoing evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly Large Language Models (LLMs) like those employed in ChatGPT, what impact will it have on the future of research? This is the question ARC aims to address through our AI projects.
ARC Updates
News and Events
ARC Updates
Research Publication
ASEAN Research Center (ARC) Faculty Director
Dr. Melati Nungsari received her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Melati’s areas of expertise include industrial organization, labor economics, public policy, and economic education. She studies externalities and pricing in platform businesses, pension markets in Malaysia and Chile, and the impact of interventions to improve the economic livelihood of refugees and the urban poor in Peninsular Malaysia.
She has presented her research findings at many conferences internationally and has consulted with the United Nations. Her writings have been featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education and The Edge Business. She also holds a Research Affiliate appointment at MIT Sloan. Prior to joining ASB, she taught economics at Butler University and Davidson College in the USA.
Dr. Melati Nungsari
Deputy Dean of Research, Associate Professor (II) of Economics, Faculty Director Maybank ARC, ASB Research Affiliate, MIT Sloan.
Nuruzzahraa Mohd Raznan
Marketing and Program Senior Associate, ASB
Shre Maha Manohar
Research and Communications Executive, ASB
Milaine Thia
Manager, Research & Communications, ASB
Chin Jia Wei
Principal Research Associate, ASB
Kar Yern Chin
Senior Research Associate, ASB
Fatimah Zahra Ros’azam
Research Associate, ASB
Sharon Wah Yue Qing
Research Associate, ASB
Sharon Wah Yue Qing
Research Associate, ASB
Dr. Michael Mustafa
Ph.D. in Applied Psychology, University of Nottingham Head of Division for Organisational & Applied Psychology, University of Nottingham
Dr. Pieter E. Stek
PhD in Technology, Policy & Management from Delft University
Dr. Mark Cheong Wing Loong
Ph.D. in Public Health from Monash University Senior Lecturer School of Pharmacy Monash University Malaysia
Nuruzzahraa Mohd Raznan
Marketing and Program Senior Associate, ASB
Shre Maha Manohar
Research and Communications Executive, ASB
Milaine Thia
Manager, Research & Communications, ASB
Chin Jia Wei
Principal Research Associate, ASB
Kar Yern Chin
Senior Research Associate, ASB
Fatimah Zahra Ros’azam
Research Associate, ASB
Sharon Wah Yue Qing
Research Associate, ASB
Sharon Wah Yue Qing
Research Associate, ASB
Dr. Michael Mustafa
Ph.D. in Applied Psychology, University of Nottingham Head of Division for Organisational & Applied Psychology, University of Nottingham
Dr. Pieter E. Stek
PhD in Technology, Policy & Management from Delft University
Dr. Mark Cheong Wing Loong
Ph.D. in Public Health from Monash University Senior Lecturer School of Pharmacy Monash University Malaysia