In early September 2000, an international group of senior academics from the East Asian region met at the International Medical University in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the possibility of forming a regional association for institutional research. The group decided that the time was appropriate for the formation of such an organization and undertook two things. First to become the Interim Management Committee (IMC) for the organization and secondly to organize a conference in late 2001 that would herald the birth of the organization and would attract participants from education, government, public service and industry.
The major purposes of the South East Asian Association for Institutional Research (SEAAIR) are as follows:
- advancement of research leading to improved understanding, planning, and operation of institutions of post-secondary education
- dissemination of information and interchange of ideas on problems of common interest in the field of institutional research;
- continued professional development of individuals engaging in institutional research, institutional management and post-secondary planning and policy development;
- fostering of unity and cooperation among persons having interests and activities related to institutional research, management, policy and planning;
- advancement of post-secondary education and the improvement of the quality of post-secondary educational outcomes
SEAAIR has been addressing its aims through a number of programs and activities including:
- annual SEAAIR conference
- pre-conference workshops on areas of interest to members
- electronic annual publications of two editions of its journal (JIRSEA)
- publication of SEAAIR Newsletter or other periodical bulletins to members
- awarding of the Best Conference Paper prize that includes a subsidized presentation of the paper at a special session of the AIR Forum in the United States
- presenting regional meetings/workshops for members from time to time
- liaising with other IR sister organizations including participation in the International IR Network meetings
- developing and implementing other strategies to benefit the membership as the financial position of the association strengthens in the future
