Background

Ideas to establish an independent research institute have been discussed by several young academicians for quite a long time in Aceh.

The ideas emerged from concerns of worsening humanitarian condition, destructions of public infrastructures and social fabrics due to several decades’ conflict in Aceh. Intensity of discussion and activity fluctuated due to some reasons including the fact that some participating actors’ leaves and returns from their studies outside Aceh or overseas.

On 28 October 2003, a number of academicians and intellectuals formalized the discussion group in the form of foundation called “Aceh Institute”. The activity of Aceh Institute becomes more consolidated following a workshop of “Anatomy, Resolution, and Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Aceh” on 15-16 July 2004 hosted by Research and Education for Peace of Universiti Sains Malaysia.

The concerns rise higher when an 8.9 Richter scale earthquake and tsunami struck Aceh on 26 December 2004. The catastrophe caused at least 130 thousands deaths and left more 500 thousands people homeless.

Vision
To promote and establish an independent, scholarly responsible and responsive intellectual community in Aceh

Mission

•    To improve intellectuals’ capacity in Aceh in performing study, analysis, and research about Aceh.

•    To disseminate comprehensive perspective to and of all parties inside Indonesia or overseas related to many problems  faced by the Acehnese people.

•    To produce innovative and constructive researches related to the aspects of History, Economic and Development, Law and Human Rights, Education, Sociology and Culture, Politics, Religion, Conflict and Peace, Regional and Environmental Planning, Democracy and Civil Society in Aceh.

International Advisor Board
Anthony Reid (Professor in History Director, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore (ARI-NUS)
Kamarulzaman Askandar (Associate Professor in Peace Study Coordinator Research and Education for Peace, Universiti Sains Malaysia (REP-USM) and Regional Coordinator of Southeast Asian Studies Conflict Network (SEACSN)
Fadhullah Wilmot (Indonesia Country Director Muslim Aid)
Mazalan Kamis, Ph.D (Universitas Putra Malaysia (UPM), Kuala Lumpur Malaysia)
T.M Indra Malia, Ph.D (Associate Profesor in MechanicalEngineering University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

National Advisory Board
(Late) Prof.Isa Sulaiman
Dr. Nazamuddin Basyahsaid
Fuad Mardhatillah
Otto Syamsuddin Ishak
Taufan Damanik
Dr. Nurjannah
Dr. Salmawaty

Program Organizers
Coordinator: Saiful Mahdi
       Deputy  Coordinator: Nurul Kamal
       Finance: Marlina
Head of Research Division: Evi Rahmadani
       Research Staff: Muhammad Alkaf
Head of Publication & Website Manager: Halim El Bambi
       Library Staff: Ikhwan Nahar
Training Staff: Hardiansyah
Translator: Cut Famelia
Administration: Siti Mutmainnah
Office Boy: Juarizal
Driver: Irwansyah

Collaboration Experiences/Supporting Institutions
1. Research and Education for Peace, University Sains Malaysia
2. Center for Refugee Study, University of Oxford
3. Catholic Aid for Overseas Development (CAFOD)
4. United Nation Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

Office :
Jl Sultan Iskandar Muda No.SK III/12 Punge Blang Cut Banda Aceh 23234
Phone/Fax +62-651-41682, Phone2:+62-651-7400185
Email : info@acehinstitute.org
URL: www.acehinstitute.org