CENTRE FOR INTERCULTURAL STUDIES(CIS)
History of the Intercultural Studies Research Centre
This is a new Centre that was established to study cultures. Currently, the Centre is promoting cultural understanding through workshops, symposiums, conferences, and seminars. The Malay adage, “tak kenal maka tak cinta,” rings true to all of us. Literally, it means that because we are not acquainted, we cannot love. Thus, the Centre hopes to create a better understanding of the people around us here in Malaysia, and beyond. The current person-in-charge, Dss. Dr. Tan Swee Bee, is herself a student of cultures, takes delight in exploring and uncovering distinctive features of indigenous people groups in Malaysia. Though the Centre takes a low profile, it seeks to lay a slow but firm foundation to understand effective means of communication among people of various backgrounds and traditions. It had previously organised an Oral Workshop in Cameron Highlands (2023) for the indigenous church located around Cameron Highlands and an Indigenous Exhibition cum Workshop on STM campus (2024) intending to forge better understanding of the indigenous cultures here in Malaysia.
Continuing its mission, this Centre hopes to organise activities for STM community and beyond, for churches in Seremban/Klang Valley and beyond to explore discipleship approaches that are suitable to various cultures for effective ministry efforts.
A summary message from the current PIC
As the name suggests, this center serves to build an understanding of the various cultures we encounter today. In particular, is the different cultures we see around us in Malaysia. Studying and understanding cultures will help us get better acquainted with each other in order to build effective bridges of communication. This can ultimately lead us to effectively evangelise friends of different backgrounds in a non-offensive manner.
In partnership with Wycliffe and Faith Comes by Hearing, this workshop in Cameron Highlands explains oral approaches in discipleship for the indigenous church.
The Indigenous Exhibition and Workshop featured an exhibition of books, indigenous storytelling, orality workshop, and a feast of indigenous food for lunch.
