The UP Asian Center, with the support of the UP Office of International Linkages (UP-OIL), is now accepting abstract submissions for the Onsite International Conference, “Kapuluan: Archipelagic Convergences between Southeast Asia and the Pacific.” The deadline for submission is until 26 October 2026, Monday (Manila Time). The conference is ONSITE and is open to ALL undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students. Participation in the conference is FREE.
ABOUT THE THEME OF THE CONFERENCE
The certainties that once underpinned the post-Cold War international order are increasingly being called into question. An international system characterized by globalization, interdependence, and increasingly porous borders is giving way to renewed forms of strategic competition, economic protectionism, and the reassertion of national interests. Across the world, governments, institutions, and communities are reassessing long-standing assumptions about cooperation, security, development, and regional integration.
Within this evolving landscape, the broader Asia-Pacific region occupies a unique position. Historically, the region has served as a maritime crossroads through which people, goods, ideas, and cultures have circulated for centuries. Its seas have connected societies across Southeast Asia and the Pacific, shaping diverse yet interconnected histories of exchange, adaptation, and transformation. Today, with their shared Austronesian origins, these same maritime linkages continue to define the region's strategic, economic, and cultural significance. The Pacific Islands and Oceanian states are becoming more prominent in regional and global affairs, not only as sites of geopolitical competition but also as partners confronting shared challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, migration, maritime governance, cultural preservation, and economic resilience. Growing investments, expanding people-to-people connections, and renewed diplomatic engagement have deepened interactions between Southeast Asian and Pacific societies, creating opportunities for new forms of collaboration and mutual learning.
These developments underscore the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the Asia-Pacific as a region interconnected by geography and history and whose future should not be understood solely through the lens of great-power rivalry. Rather, there is a growing need to examine the shared experiences, challenges, and aspirations that bind the peoples of Asia and the Pacific together. Such an undertaking requires sustained dialogue across disciplines, sectors, and national boundaries.
In response to this need, the Asian Center is organizing the First Asia-Pacific Conference. Consistent with its mandate to promote closer and broader engagement with the peoples and institutions of Southeast Asia, expanding it to the Pacific, the conference will serve as a platform for scholars, researchers, students, policymakers, practitioners, and civil society actors to exchange knowledge and perspectives on issues of common concern.
CONFERENCE SUBTHEMES
The conference seeks to cover Southeast Asia and the Pacific through the following subthemes:
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- Blue Economy and Economic Integration
- Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands Connections
- Migration
- Austronesian Culture, Language, and Histories
- Island and Archipelagic Geographies
- Empires and Great Power Politics
- Climate Change and Disaster Resilience
- Decolonization and Resistance Movements
- Literature, Media, and Arts
- Religion and Missions
- Diplomacy and International Relations
- Sustainability and Environment
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ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
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- Must be currently enrolled in a BA/BS or an MA/MS/Ph.D. program in any university in the world
- Must be able to attend the conference and present onsite on 27 November 2026 at the Asian Center, UP Diliman
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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
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- The abstract submission must be written in English or Filipino, not exceeding 200 words. It should outline the scope, objectives, methods, and findings of the paper.
- Submissions must be unpublished.
- Submissions must use the latest APA reference style.
- The deadline for submission is extended until 26 October 2026, Monday (Manila Time). Results will be released on or before 30 October 2026 through email. Additional guidelines will be sent to qualified proposals.
- Selected presenters must be able to attend and participate in the conference on 26 October 2026 at the Asian Center, UP Diliman.
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ABOUT THE ORGANIZER
This conference is organized by the UP Asian Center with the support of the UP Office of International Linkages. This activity is part of the 2026 Anniversary of the Asian Center this November 2026. View the activities lined up for the anniversary!