News

MIASU is a community that has been strengthened and invigorated through the support and activities of the Cambridge Mongolian Cultural Society, a group committed to promoting understanding of Mongolian culture, language, and society. The Society was founded in 2021 through the enthusiasm and dedication of Tsetsegdulam (Tsegii) Edwards, its first ch…

The archery event organised by the Cambridge Mongolian Cultural Society, with support from the Mongolia & Inner Asia Studies Unit (MIASU), was held on 14 June 2026, bringing together members of the Mongolian community from London, Cambridge, and other parts of the UK. Participants greatly appreciated Professor David Sneath's opening remarks and the…

Congratulations to everyone on a productive and inspiring year. As the 2025–2026 academic year comes to an end, we would like to thank all the speakers who contributed to our research and lunchtime seminars, as well as our visiting scholars, students, researchers, and everyone who attended our events, both in person and online. Our online audience …

The special issue of Inner Asia (Inner Asian Sovereignty in the Post-Imperial ‘Problem Space’: International Law, Border-Making, and Survival) edited by Fabienne Jagou and Uradyn E. Bulag is now available online:Brill.com 

Following the sad passing of Roberte Hamayon in 2025, Professor Humphrey has published the following further tribute to this eminent Mongolist and friend of the Unit in the journal L'Homme. Please read below 

This successful event, with well-organised sessions and positive participation was organised by MIASU's Trading Mongolia’s Sovereign Meat Project team and took place on 9 April 2026, at the National University of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar. 

The Cambridge Mongolian Cultural Society hosted a wonderful Tsagaan Sar celebration on February 22nd 2026. MIASU scholars, families, and friends from Mongolia, Tibet, and many other parts of the world came together to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse — a symbol of renewed strength, harmony, and prosperity.

We are pleased to announce that Professor Nicola Di Cosmo (Institute for Advanced Study) has been chosen to be the 2026 recipient of the Onon Prize by the Mongolia & Inner Asia Studies Unit (MIASU) Steering Committee members in recognition of his contribution to Inner Asian Studies.The Onon Prize was established in recognition of Professor Urgunge …

The final MIASU research seminar of the term will be taking place on Tuesday March 10 4.30–6.00pm, and will be given by Uradyn Bulag & Odbayar Ganbaatar:Khalkha Mongols and Kazakhs: Chinggisid Recognition and Anti-Dzungar CooperationThe talk will be streamed live by zoom so you can join remotely. To book a space or to join the MIASU mailing list to…

The Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit extends itscongratulations to theCentre for Research on East Asian Civilisations (CRCAO) on their announcement of the establishment of a “Mongol Studies” Team within the Centre. This multidisciplinary team will ultimately comprise around twenty members, thereby representing almost the entire community of res…

The next MIASU research seminar of the term will be taking place on Tuesday February 24, 4.30–6.00pm, and will be given by Grégory Delaplace:Weddings, funerals, and social critique in contemporary Northwestern MongoliaThe talk will be streamed live by zoom so you can join remotely. To book a space or to join the MIASU mailing list to received detai…

The next MIASU research seminar of the term will be taking place on Tuesday February 10, 4.30–6.00pm, and will be given by Ruiyi Zhu:Translation as Slippage: Mediative Labour and Contested Hybridity at a Chinese Mine in Mongolia This talk is in-person onlyFull Seminar Programme

We are pleased to share the seminar programme for the Lent term:Tuesday 27 January Christian Luczanits (SOAS, London)Researching Monastery Collections in Mustang: Background, Procedures and DiscoveriesTuesday 10th February  N.B. This seminar is in-person onlyRuiyi Zhu (University of Cambridge)Translation as Slippage: Mediative Labour and Contested …

The first MIASU research seminar of the term will be taking place on Tuesday January 27, 4.30–6.00pm, and will be given by Christian Luczanits:Researching Monastery Collections in Mustang: Background, Procedures and DiscoveriesThe talk will be streamed live by zoom so you can join remotely. To book a space or to join the MIASU mailing list to recei…

The last MIASU research seminar of the term will be taking place on Tuesday November 25, 4.30–6.00pm, and will be given by Jesko Schmoller:Drawing Closer: Paths of motion and places of passage of a transregional Sufi brotherhoodThe talk will be streamed live by zoom so you can join remotely. To book a space or to join the MIASU mailing list to rece…