One of ARI's flagship events, this two-day workshop is the third of an annual series of forums for graduate students who work on Southeast Asia. Marking the completion of the ASEAN Research Scholars Programme 2008, the Forum provides a platform for postgraduate students who are at an advanced stage to present their work, and also to communicate and interact, as they mature into the next generation of academic leaders.

The participants include ARI's ASEAN scholars, as well as graduate students from NUS and other parts of the world. The unifying factor is that the work is on Southeast Asia, although the sessions are organised thematically around issues in religion, history, economics, politics, gender, culture, migration, etc. In addition to student presentations, three experts of the region share their insights on challenges and issues facing contemporary social science scholarship in Southeast Asia.