Thought Leadership

As part of our ongoing commitment to excellence in research and knowledge exchange, the Faculty of Social Sciences proudly announces the recipients of the 2024–25 Social Sciences Outstanding Research Output Awards. These prestigious honours recognise the remarkable dedication and outstanding achievements of our faculty members, who have set new benchmarks in their respective fields.

This year’s awardees exemplify the Faculty’s reputation for innovative and impactful scholarship. Their work not only advances academic understanding but also fosters meaningful dialogue between academia, policy, and society at large.

Award Highlights:

• Basic Research:
  ‘The Ripple Effect: China’s Complex Presence in Southeast Asia’ (2024, Oxford University Press)
  Professor Enze Han, Department of Politics and Public Administration, reflects on his achievement:

  “I am extremely grateful for receiving this award. It is encouraging for me to produce more empirically grounded research on China-Southeast Asia relations in the years to come, and to contribute to more dialogues between academia and the policy world.”

   

• Applied Research:
  ‘The Impact of Geographical Distance on Learning Through Collaboration’ (2023, Research Policy, 52(2), 104698)
  Professor Frank van der Wouden, Department of Geography, shares his thoughts:

  “I am deeply honored to receive the Social Sciences Outstanding Research Output Award 2024–25. This project was a reminder that knowledge is not produced in isolation, but through connection. Even as our world becomes more digital, the human need for geographical proximity endures. Many of our greatest ideas still don’t occur in scheduled meetings or emails, but in the moments of shared curiosity and discovery that occur when people work side-by-side.”

These awards highlight the diverse and impactful research conducted within our Faculty, underscoring our collective pursuit of excellence in knowledge and societal contribution.