The University of Sydney is Australia's oldest university and a globally focused research institution that celebrates innovation and new ways of thinking. Researchers recognize Bhutan’s leadership on climate and science, as well as its unique culture, and enjoy collaborations with Druk Holdings International, Centre for Bhutan Studies, Bhutan Media Foundation, the Zung Dratshang and Royal University of Bhutan. We welcome the contributions our Bhutanese PhD students bring to our research community.
August 2024
Monks and nuns edit Dzongkha Wikipedia
A collaboration between the Dratshang and USYD saw monks and nuns learning to edit Dzongkha Wikipedia. Media scholar Dr Bunty Avieson, husband Mal Watson, producer of Travellers & Magicians, and daughter Kathryn, provided new computers and training at Serlung Monastery in Paro, Losel Yangchenling in Mongar and Choekhorling Monastery in Kanglung. The monks and nuns first worked on English Wikipedia, adding to pages written about Bhutan, before moving onto Dzongkha Wikipedia, which currently has just 200 articles. “The monastic body holds the culture, the knowledge; they are experts of Dzongkha, they are scholars of dharma. All of these things can be what will make Dzongkha Wikipedia viable to Bhutan. English Wikipedia is one of the most visited websites from Bhutan and this is great because English Wikipedia has so much facts and information but when it comes to culture and Bhutanese history and dharma, then it should be Bhutanese perspective,” Dr Avieson told BBS TV. (see BBS report)
December 2023
Conference showcases best of Bhutanese research in Australia.
Deputy Vice Chancellor & Provost Annamarie Jagose and Ambassador Sonam Tobgay welcomed Bhutanese researchers from 10 universities across Australia for a two-day conference at University of Sydney, addressing the theme Intersections of Culture, Climate, and Science: Innovations from Bhutanese research in Australia.
​
​
​
As reported in Kuensel, the conference sought to honour the many ways that Bhutanese have brought their life experiences and cultural perspectives to enrich research at universities across Australia, breaking new ground in environmental research, nature-inspired therapeutics, biotechnology, data science, epidemiology, linguistics, public health, and beyond. Bhutanese researchers told journalist Tashi Dema that they felt privileged to share their work. (see program)
According to Vice Chancellor Jagose, Bhutan is known globally as a leader for its environmental preservation, rich biodiversity and cultural dynamism. “Fifty years ago, the Fourth King presciently committed Bhutan to remain permanently carbon-neutral. He spoke of his development philosophy of Gross National Happiness, a mindful, compassionate, and sustainable model that looks beyond economic growth to such humanistic values as cultural preservation, good governance, and strength of community.” (see Kuensel report)
November 2023
His Eminence Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche visited USyd campus and endorsed Khyentse Foundation’s funding of the Lynne Macready Senior Lecturer in Tibetan Buddhism, and the Pakistan Gandhari Manuscript Project. The Foundation also funds a postgraduate scholarship and student prize. Associate Professor Mark Allon and Professor Adrian Vickers welcomed Rinpoche. Students and other members of the academic community also attended the event.
October 2023
FASS researchers undertaking fieldwork: (Left to right) Linguistics PhD student Ben Hewitt; Dr Gwen Hyslop, Linguistics; and Dr Bunty Avieson, with nuns at Tenchen Choling Nunnery in Paro.
Coding Fest 2023
In July 2023, for the first time, engineering students in Bhutan joined students at USyd for the coding festival, taking this popular university-wide event international! Bhutanese students participated from Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology in Thimphu and College of Science and Technology in Phuentsholing. The event aimed to promote coding culture to students. Culminating in an awards presentation on July 26, the festival showcased interesting coding projects, connected like-minded thinkers, and engaged students with industry. For more information.
September 2022
Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost, Professor Annamarie Jagose, hosted a working lunch for Dasho Tandi Dorji, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Sonam Tobgay. Dasho, like his father, is USyd alumni, having gained his Master of International Health at University of Sydney. The Bhutanese delegation also met with other members of academic staff from science, media, Buddhist Studies, Engineering and Chemistry.
July 2022
In 2022, Khyentse Foundation's gift of $3.5 million guaranteed the future of Tibetan Buddhist Studies for the next 20 years, building on the success of its previous five-year donation to the KF-UBEF Lectureship, making University of Sydney the most comprehensive Buddhist Studies program in the Southern Hemisphere. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche said, “I worry that Buddhism will end up getting watered down, diluted into something that will suit the minds of modern people. There will always be a group of people who approach Buddhism emotionally. But these academics, intellectuals, students who contemplate and study through academic means – they will have a lot of authority to truly guard the teachings of the Buddha. This is something I really care about.” Khyentse Foundation also funds a US$25,000 Postgraduate Research scholarship.
picture: Khyentse Foundation
November 2019
Dasho Kinley Dorji was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Vice Chancellor Annamarie Jagose to acknowledge his extraordinary contribution to Journalism ethics globally. At his conferral Dasho gave an inspiring keynote address to graduands, watched by his wife, Aum Siok San Pek Dorji, Founding Director of Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy.
Dasho Kinley Dorji was interviewed by prominent Australian TV journalist Andrew Denton, an old classmate from their days studying journalism together at Mitchell College in Bathurst, in the 1980s. More information.
November 2019, Delhi.
Vice Chancellor of Royal University of Bhutan, Dasho Nidup Dorji, was USyd's special guest at a reception hosted by the High Commissioner Mrs Harinder Sadhu in New Delhi. Dasho Nidup met with Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Duncan Ivison, Dean of FASS Professor Annamarie Jagose, Vice Chancellor of USyd, Mike Spence and Minister for Education Dan Tehan.
USYD Australian Research Council projects
Above: The Bhutan Media Foundation hosted a Wikipedia workshop with Dzongkha editors, run by Dr Bunty Avieson, from Discipline of Media and Communications. Right: Dr Gwen Hyslop, from Linguistics, is tracing the history and spread of Buckwheat and Job’s Tears in Bhutan through language, as part of a cross-disciplinary project, addressing climate change and food production.
Left: Dr Gwen Hyslop with colleagues from Zhichenkhar, Centre for Bhutan Studies, May, 2023. Above: Dr Bunty Avieson with media students at Royal Thimphu College, March 2023.