Asian-Australian nexus: an educational challenge

The Asian century raises a number of challenges that derive from convergence, global multicentredness, and the emergence of a more engaged diverse world. Some nations use multiculturalism as a tool to address these challenges. However, in a diverse and globalizing world, it is appreciating what we share in common rather than notions of difference that will become more important in enabling harmonious and evolving relationships to prosper and feed creativity. At James Cook University, the School of Arts & Social Sciences has pondered these issues while planning for a new interdisciplinary major. The purpose of the Asian Nexus major is not to introduce notions of difference or exoticisms; rather, it is to contextualize the Asian century within the human story, to prioritize intertwined histories and cultures, and to focus on common goals that confront shared social, economic, environmental, demographic and educational issues