The International Study of Society Academy (Asia-Pacific) (TiSSA.AP)

The International Study of Society Academy Asia-Pacific (TiSSA.AP, http://www.tissaap.com.au/ ) is a sister organisation to the Europe-based international 'Social Work and Society' Academy (TiSSA, http://www.tissa.net/ ). It is an interdisciplinary forum for innovative discussion on topical social issues. It seeks to foster communication between academics, postgraduate students, and professionals across nations and institutions. TiSSA.AP's main goal is to improve the welfare of diverse modern societies through the generation and exchange of knowledge, concepts, and methods in disciplines engaged with social issues. Through an improvement of professional education in the field, TiSSA.AP aims to advance social justice. In recognition of the transient nature of societies, in particular, it encourages collaboration between the social and historical disciplines. The organisers of TiSSA.AP believe that pertinent social issues can be understood fully only by setting them against a socio-historical background.

Exchange between nations, institutions, and disciplines will be fostered through:

1. The TiSSA.AP Plenum, an annual international conference of academics and professionals

2. The inter-university PhD Network, including an annual meeting preceding the TiSSA.AP Plenum

3. Academy Seminars, special forums besides the annual meetings

The Institute will administer and co-ordinate the PhD-Network of The international Study of Society Academy and aspires to establish a broad international cooperation of PhD-students in the social sciences. Within the structure of TiSSA.AP an active participation in current professional debates is promoted and supported. Emergent scholars and early career researchers get the opportunity to present their dissertation projects in a broad international context and to enlist contacts relevant for their research topic. Thus a new generation of professional can acquire and exercise those skills, which are necessary to cope with contemporary challenges of societies in transition and their impact on social structures and processes.

TiSSA.AP, http://www.tissaap.com.au/  is an external initiative that RISIW is involved in.