The Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies  (Centrum för öst- och sydöstasienstudier) was established in 1997 as the result of a special government initiative. The Centre’s task is to strengthen research concerning contemporary East and South-East Asia. It currently has a staff of fourteen people, including researchers, administrative staff and librarians. The research focuses on international relations in the region, economic developments, civil society and political issues, as well as digital transformations. The Centre runs an interdisciplinary master programme in Asian studies and is currently developing a Ph.D. programme (to commence in 2020). It is a hub for students and researchers at Lund University interested in the region, and is integrated into a large network of scholars and institutions in Asia and elsewhere. The Centre is involved in a wide range of activities. These include hosting guest researchers, and organising open lectures, seminars and conferences. The Centre maintains a library, the Asia library, which opened in 1999. The collection is interdisciplinary and focuses on contemporary issues in East and South-East Asia.  Organizationally the Centre belongs to the History Department and the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology. The Centre is governed by a director and a board that meet regularly to decide on important issues regarding the Centre.