Financially, Japanese studies are relatively well-supported. But the quality of graduate students in the field is declining, and the quality of those who move on to government service is even worse. Additional employment opportunities for Japanese specialists in the private and not-for-profit sectors might be developed. (KH)

African languages and cultures are undertaught in American universities. Some problems, such as the lack of language teaching materials, might be corrected. But universities place a low priority on area studies in general, and on African studies in particular, and methodologism tends to occur at the expense of genuinely international offerings.…

Latin American scholarship is flourishing in universities, but there are some conspicuous weak spots; the need for increased teaching of Portuguese and indigenous languages, the difficulties of maintaining up-to-date bibliographies, and a need for greater funding to enable Latin American area specialists to get into the field more frequently. (KH)

Reviews the state of South Asian studies in American universities. Focuses on language instruction, a trend toward specialization in particular countries or regions, and the decline of popular interest in South Asia. Reports on the need for new funding to replace the Federal Program, PL 480, whose excess currency fund of rupees is almost…

University-based review of international research centers, especially area studies centers, is encouraged. The issues are: What are the objectives of area research? According to insiders, what have been the main achievements? And what are some of the main problems and opportunities facing the centers now? (MSE)

The variety of languages spoken in Southeast Asia complicates the promotion of Southeast Asian studies in American universities. Increased funding for language study abroad and more intensive summer language programs might lessen the problem. Other problems are limited access to field research and the issue of the humanities' role in Southeast…

Describes current funding problems in the field of Russian and East European studies. Focuses on the needs of younger scholars, who face a shortage of academic positions, and the research institutes, which are hard pressed to develop offerings of many of the Eastern European languages. (KH)

Laments the minimal role played by university language departments in the evolution of the study of language and language instruction that has occurred during the past decades. Briefly analyzes this anomaly and outlines some current international trends which stress a need for considerable changes in the role performed by the universities.…

This report reviews development of Sino-Canadian academic relations over the past 25 years. It offers an overview of four periods of Sino-Canadian academic relations (1970-79, 1979-83, 1983-89, and 1989-95), and briefly describes a number of programs in six areas: (1) foreign trade and economic cooperation, (2) foreign affairs and international…