Announcement of the Interdisciplinary Institute for Arts, Knowledge, and Social Equity

The University Council is pleased to announce the establishment of the Interdisciplinary Institute for Arts, Knowledge, and Social Equity (IAKSE), which will formally commence its activities at the beginning of the next academic year. Created in response to mounting global inequalities, contested knowledge systems, and accelerating technological change, the Institute is mandated to foster research and teaching that address the ethical, cultural, and social ramifications of these developments. Seldom has there been such an urgent need for institutions of higher learning to recalibrate their priorities. Not only will IAKSE support cutting-edge scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and arts, it will also collaborate with departments in law, engineering, and public health. It is this convergence of disciplines that the Council regards as essential if we are to interrogate complex social issues such as algorithmic bias, cultural erasure, environmental injustice, and the privatization of knowledge. It is through collaborative seminars, artist residencies, and community-engaged research projects that the Institute will seek to translate theoretical insights into meaningful practice. Only by foregrounding voices historically marginalized in academic discourse can the University claim to promote a genuinely inclusive understanding of expertise. What concerns us most is not merely the production of new knowledge, but the re-examination of who is authorized to produce it and under what conditions. To this end, the Institute will offer competitive fellowships for early-career scholars and practitioners, with particular emphasis on those whose work bridges academic inquiry and public engagement. A limited number of scholarships will also be available for postgraduate students pursuing interdisciplinary degrees affiliated with IAKSE. Those interested in participating in the inaugural year are invited to attend a public forum on 15 March, where the provisional research clusters and artistic programs will be presented. Further details, including application procedures and funding guidelines, will be circulated via the University website next week. Should there be any immediate queries, they may be directed to the Office of the Provost, which, for the duration of the launch phase, will provide interim administrative support to the Institute.