AIU Lecturer Selected to Participate in “International Writing Workshop for Early Career Researchers from the Global South” in Rio de Janeiro
ALOR SETAR, 13 APRIL 2026 – Afifi Nordin, a lecturer from the Political Science and International Relations Programme was recently selected to participate in an International Writing Workshop for Early Career Researchers from the Global South, held in Rio de Janeiro. The workshop focused on the intersection of peace and conflict studies and humanitarian studies, bringing together emerging scholars engaged in critical and policy-relevant research.
The programme was organized by Global South Mediation (GSUM) and hosted by the Institute of International Relations of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio). It was fully funded by the British Academy, reflecting its commitment to supporting Global South scholarship and fostering inclusive academic collaboration.
The workshop brought together a diverse group of early career researchers from countries including Thailand, the Philippines, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya, and Brazil. Notably, Afifi was the only participant selected from Malaysia, highlighting both his academic merit and the growing recognition of Malaysian scholarship in critical international studies.
Afifi was selected based on his research abstract titled “The Resilience Trap: State Governance and the Production of ‘Bearable Bare Life’ among Rohingya Refugees in Malaysia”. His work critically examines how resilience discourse can function as a governance strategy, shaping the lived experiences of displaced populations.
Throughout the intensive programme, participants engaged in academic training, writing development sessions, and scholarly exchange, aimed at strengthening research outputs and publication readiness. Afifi was mentored by Prof. Dr. Punam Yadav, Director of the UCL Humanitarian Institute, whose expertise in gender, humanitarianism, and peacebuilding provided valuable guidance for refining his research.
Reflecting on the experience, Afifi noted that the workshop not only enhanced his academic writing and critical engagement but also fostered meaningful intellectual exchange among scholars from diverse Global South contexts. The programme represents an important platform for amplifying non-Western perspectives in international relations and humanitarian studies.
This achievement underscores Afifi’s ongoing contribution to advancing critical scholarship and reinforces the university’s commitment to supporting research with global impact.
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