The Raffles Asia Programme aims to provide students with a good knowledge of the geopolitics, development and culture of Asia (chiefly China, India and South-East Asia), and an insight into how the various social, economic and historical backgrounds of Asian countries impact the way politics is conducted today. Through the programme, students will also develop a greater sensitivity for, and deeper appreciation of, the different cultural heritage and religions of the region. In short, this programme will nurture students to become "bicultural and multicultural players who can engage in Asian economies. ( Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, International Conference on National Boundaries and Cultural Configurations, Nanyang Technological University, 23 June 2004)

An intellectually demanding programme, Raffles Asia Programme lists among the reading materials works by socio-political and moral philosophers such as Plato, Hobbes, Hume, Aristotle, Kant and J.S. Mill. Students are also expected to read books on the history of the region, e.g. Jonathan Spence (China), Paul Cohen (China), Benedict Anderson (Indonesia), Edmund Terence Gomez and K.S. Jomo (Malaysia).

Run on seminar-style forums conducted monthly, Raffles Asia Programme will provide students with the opportunity to prepare and present policy papers to distinguished leaders and policymakers for debate and discussion. Guest speakers, who are expert practitioners in their field, will be invited, and will guide our students to evaluate and analyse the issue(s) being discussed. This way, students will gain a heightened awareness of local and regional policy issues. Past speakers included distinguished luminaries such as Professor Wang Gungwu, Professor Tommy Koh and Mr Kishore Mahbubani.

The seminar papers will be published to highlight the work completed by the students as well as provide them with the opportunity to build their student portfolio.