1. Area Studies Subject Centre A Personal Reflection Dr. Susan Hodgett Dr. Susan Hodgett ukCASA UK Council of Area Studies Associations

2. Baseline information LTSN Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies  Area Studies communities are highly diverse, and take their identity either from the specific country or region of study, or from the particular discipline which they apply to that study. The notion of Area Studies originated in the U.S. in the post war period, when the division of the world into distinct spheres of influence sparked academic studies of those areas, characterised by an emphasis on policy issues. In the UK, the term covers both the teaching of interdisciplinary programmes focused on a particular country or area, and the strand within languages that focuses on the socio-political aspects of the countries where the language is spoken. The three most widely taught areas are Europe, America and Iberia/Latin-America.  http://www.llas.ac.uk/resourcedownloads/1414/LLAS Baselinefinal.rtf

3. What is it?  The most widely offered programmes are in (Contemporary) European Studies (78) and American (or US) Studies (46). Hispanic and Iberian Studies (19) and Latin American (or Spanish- or Ibero-American) studies (16) are also widely taught. Regional studies of the British Isles are offered in several universities as Scottish (9), Irish (7), Celtic (7) and British (4) Studies. Similar numbers offer Central (4) and East European (or Soviet) Studies (7), Islamic Studies (9), Jewish (or Israeli) studies (9), Middle Eastern (or Near Eastern) Studies (8), Persian Studies (7), African studies (4) and various Asian studies - Asian (3), Asia Pacific (3), South and South East Asia (5), East Asia (2), Black and South Asian (1). One or two programmes are also available under each of Afro-Portuguese, Australian, Brazillian, Canadian, Caribbean, Commonwealth, Sikh and Sinhalese Studies. In some respects Development (or Third World) studies (39) may be included as a cognate area.  In addition to specified degree programmes, area studies units are widely taught as part of degrees in other subjects, especially in modern languages and English, but also in Geography, History, Economics, Politics, International Relations, Sociology.  http://www.llas.ac.uk/resourcedownloads/1414/LLASBaselinefinal.rtf

4. Broad and Wide- LLAS events since 2000 (79) Broad and Wide- LLAS events since 2000 (79)  African Studies (6) African Studies African Studies  American Studies (6) American Studies American Studies  Asia-Pacific Studies (1) Asia-Pacific Studies Asia-Pacific Studies  Canadian Studies (3) Canadian Studies Canadian Studies  Caribbean Studies (2) Caribbean Studies Caribbean Studies  Celtic Studies (1) Celtic Studies Celtic Studies  Central European Studies (2) Central European Studies Central European Studies  Culture (3) Culture  East Asian Studies (3) East Asian Studies East Asian Studies  East European Studies (1) East European Studies East European Studies  European Union (EU) (1) European Union (EU) European Union (EU)  Globalisation (4) Globalisation  Hispanic Studies (2) Hispanic Studies Hispanic Studies  Intercultural competence (5) Intercultural competence Intercultural competence  Interdisciplinarity (11) Interdisciplinarity  Latin-American Studies (4) Latin-American Studies Latin-American Studies  Less Widely Used and Lesser Taught (LWULT) Languages (10) Less Widely Used and Lesser Taught (LWULT) Languages Less Widely Used and Lesser Taught (LWULT) Languages  Middle-Eastern Studies (3) Middle-Eastern Studies Middle-Eastern Studies  Multidisciplinarity (5) Multidisciplinarity  Scottish Studies (2) Scottish Studies Scottish Studies  South Asian Studies (3) South Asian Studies South Asian Studies  South-East Asian Studies (1) South-East Asian Studies South-East Asian Studies

5. Subjects and Challenges  Interdisciplinarity and inter-cultural learning in Area Studies curricula Interdisciplinarity and inter-cultural learning in Area Studies curricula Interdisciplinarity and inter-cultural learning in Area Studies curricula  Integrating interdisciplinarity Integrating interdisciplinarity Integrating interdisciplinarity  Teaching on less commonly taught Area Studies Teaching on less commonly taught Area Studies Teaching on less commonly taught Area Studies  Language diversity in Scottish universities: practical strategies to support teaching and learning Language diversity in Scottish universities: practical strategies to support teaching and learning Language diversity in Scottish universities: practical strategies to support teaching and learning  France, North Africa and the Middle East: interdisciplinary and multimedia approaches France, North Africa and the Middle East: interdisciplinary and multimedia approaches France, North Africa and the Middle East: interdisciplinary and multimedia approaches  The Black and Asian Studies Association and Black Studies in Britain The Black and Asian Studies Association and Black Studies in Britain The Black and Asian Studies Association and Black Studies in Britain  Borders and traffic: comparative perspectives on teaching the Americas Borders and traffic: comparative perspectives on teaching the Americas Borders and traffic: comparative perspectives on teaching the Americas  Teaching literatures of the Americas Teaching literatures of the Americas Teaching literatures of the Americas

6. Subjects and Challenges contd.  Acculturation process of international students Acculturation process of international students Acculturation process of international students  Intercultural dialogue: the way forward Intercultural dialogue: the way forward Intercultural dialogue: the way forward  Area Studies and the globalised world Area Studies and the globalised world Area Studies and the globalised world  Globalisation: a conference for undergraduate students Globalisation: a conference for undergraduate students Globalisation: a conference for undergraduate students  Globalization, a very Canadian perspective Globalization, a very Canadian perspective Globalization, a very Canadian perspective  Bologna Process Bologna Process Bologna Process  Sharing good practice in teaching Area Studies Sharing good practice in teaching Area Studies Sharing good practice in teaching Area Studies  Curriculum Innovation in the Teaching of Literature and Culture on Modern Foreign Language Programmes Curriculum Innovation in the Teaching of Literature and Culture on Modern Foreign Language Programmes Curriculum Innovation in the Teaching of Literature and Culture on Modern Foreign Language Programmes  Teaching Literary Studies Theory in Practice Teaching Literary Studies Theory in Practice Teaching Literary Studies Theory in Practice  Student study day: Beat Writing Day Student study day: Beat Writing Day Student study day: Beat Writing Day

7. Benefits to Area Studies Community from LLAS SC  Recruitment  Employability/ Key skills  Identity of Area Studies redefined  International developments  Government policy directions  Quality issues  QAA Subject Review  Year abroad  Pedagogical research  Staff Development/ IT/VLE