UBC Asian Studies

We're so proud to have been a part of Yasuko's incredible journey as she graduates from Asian Studies this spring!

Read more about her experience starting anew in Canada and making connections and opportunities through UBC Learning Exchange.

Yasuko Tamaki started her journey at the Learning Exchange as a student in the English Conversation Program, later becoming a facilitator leading English conversation sessions, at other times, a leader of special community activities.

Yasuko is now graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Asian Studies and minoring in Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice, and has been accepted into a Master’s program.

Learn more about Yasuko’s experience at the Learning Exchange, as well as her perspective on being a newcomer to Canada and having to learning a new culture.

Read the whole story here: https://learningexchange.ubc.ca/2026/05/11/yasuko-tamakis-second-life/

Join Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies - SFU's Edward W. Said Memorial Lecture on Monday, June 1 with renowned human rights lawyer, professor, and activist Noura Erakat.

In a stirring call to “build the world anew,” Erakat draws from her forthcoming co-authored book with John Reynolds to argue that the decolonization of Palestine is not only a struggle for justice in one land, but the very heart of a livable, equitable future for all of humanity.

Learn more and get tickets:

Building the World Anew: An Evening with Noura Erakat (Edward W. Said Memorial Lecture) - Chan Centre Get ready for the first drop of our 2026-27 season announcement on June 2! Members get first access to choose their seats. Become a member today!

On March 30, our Assistant Professor Pasang Yangjee Sherpa was invited by the BC First Nations to present the co-authored report she led, "Recommendations for the Ethical and Equitable Engagements of Indigenous Knowledge Systems within the IPCC" at their Climate Gathering.

She was also interviewed by Carbon Brief on her report which advocates for the inclusion of Indigenous people in global climate science and policy processes given their holistic understanding of the climate crisis.

Dr. Pasang Yangjee Sherpa at the BC First Nations Climate Summit and Carbon Brief - Department of Asian Studies The BC First Nations invited Dr. Pasang Yangjee Sherpa to present the co-authored report she led, “Recommendations for the Ethical and Equitable Engagements of Indigenous Knowledge Systems within the IPCC” at their Climate Gathering on March 30, 2026. She was also interviewed about the report by...

Celebrate Learning Week is a week-long campus-wide initiative of 25+ events highlighting learning that happens across seasons and spaces. May 4–8 | Browse events https://ctlt.ubc.ca/clw

From May 4–8, Celebrate Learning Week invites the UBC community to pause, reflect, and celebrate learning in all its forms. Centered on people and shared experiences, this week showcases teaching, learning, and innovation across our campuses.
Browse events https://ctlt.ubc.ca/clw

Congratulations to our Sanskrit lecturer Dr. Janet Um on being one of the recipients of the AMS UDL Champions Awards!

The award celebrates faculty members who aim to foster learning environments that support all students through the principles of Universal Design Learning (UDL).

Dr. Um was recognized for her Students as Partners project that bridged heritage and non-heritage Sanskrit learners and applied UDL principles to improve the syllabus and course design for SANS 300.

https://bit.ly/41U4TQI

Submit your paper proposals that explore Pure Land Buddhism in relation to the “Great Earth,” broadly understood, by May 15. Contributions engaging with any geographical region, historical period, or methodological approach are welcome.

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Next Friday, April 24 — our Associate Professor Christina Laffin sits down with Sakura author Kanako Nishi and translator Allison Markin Powell. Join us for a bilingual reading and a conversation in English on writing and translation!

Register here: https://bit.ly/4mgatpW

On April 24, join UBC’s Dr. Christina Laffin, associate professor of Japanese literature, for a conversation with Kanako Nishi and book translator Allison Markin Powell to discuss what the translation of Nishi’s bestselling novel, Sakura, means in the context of the rising popularity of Japanese fiction among English readers. Following their discussion, the audience will be treated to a bilingual reading of this heartwarming novel.

Register now to secure your spot.
https://bit.ly/4mgatpW
Japan Foundation, Toronto Asian Studies

Are you still looking for summer courses? Check out these Asian Studies courses for the upcoming summer terms!

All of these courses have no pre-requisites and are open to all students.

Asian Studies Courses To Take in Summer 2026 - Department of Asian Studies Check out our top Asian Studies courses for 2025/2026 Winter Session Term 1!

Happy Vaisakhi! Typically celebrated on April 13 or 14, Vaisakhi (or Baisakhi) marks the spring harvest and is celebrated by the Sikh community in India and across the global Sikh diaspora.

Visit the display in the Asian Centre foyer to learn more about Vaisakhi and Sikh traditions. The display runs until the end of April.

Vibrant Vaisakhi: A Celebration of Spirit and Harvest | Asian Library Vaisakhi (or Baisakhi), typically celebrated on April 13 or 14, marks the spring harvest. It is a time for farmers to give thanks for an abundant harvest and pray for future prosperity. The festival is celebrated by the Sikh community in India and across the global Sikh diaspora. Vaisakhi also holds...