The Institute of Asian Studies (IAS) is an inter-disciplinary research, teaching and service organization. IAS was established in 1967 as a unit within the Faculty of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University. After a considerable expansion of activities at the IAS in 1979, an upgrade in the Institute’s status was determined to be necessary. Consequently, on May 10, 1985, IAS was officially recognized as a separate institute at Chulalongkorn University, granting IAS a status equivalent to that of a faculty at the university.

Today, the strategic vision for IAS is to continue to serve the Thai community and the Asian region as a source of knowledge and expertise for a broad range of subject areas in the region including economic, social, political, and security concerns. This has been accomplished through the diligence and cooperation of a team of highly qualified researchers who possess specialized knowledge about each country and sub-region within Asia.