The Centre of South and Southeast Asian Studies is a newly created centre.Tapping its potential of having geographical proximity with four nations in South and Southeast Asia – Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh, the Centre strives to place the University at the global level. For this the University has created the Raiganj International Academic Network (RIAN), through which efforts are made to forge institutional tie-ups with the Universities in Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh for academic collaboration. We believe that these institutional tie-ups with these international institutions provide more research exposures for student/ faculty and knowledge transfer. Though the Centre is born in the Department of Political Science, it serves all faculties and departments in the University whose teaching and research touches on the regions of South and Southeast Asia. In particular, it associates with the Department of Political Science and the Centre for Buddhist Studies, given their focus on international relations and Buddhist studies.The Centre is in the process of adding rare library collection and unique archival collection of papers, films and photographs to attract scholars.The Centre organises film screenings, discussions and public lectures.The Centre works with other universities and similar centres to promote research in South and Southeast Asian studies in Cambridge and the wider world, to preserve  and archive manuscripts, to build research networks and collaborations and encourage innovative scholarship of the highest standards.