Asian Studies Commons^™

Ethnobotany And Dai Medicine: Herbal Roots, Jasper Tsai

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Xishuangbanna is home to one of the most biologically and culturally diverse regions in China. Dai medicine from the Dai people has been recognized by China as one of the four major ethnic minority medicines. With over 2,500 years of practice, Dai medicine utilizes the herbs found in the diverse region mixed with principles and theories from Buddhism. There have been over 500 unique herbs used in Dai medicine, each with different properties and functions. As Xishuangbanna continues to develop as a city and expand its rubber and banana plantations, it has large impacts on the environment, living standard, education, …

Artificial Intelligence, Real Impact, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

AI use in China continues to push innovation envelopes, but technology must be utilised and updated with expert advice

Five Ways To Build Profits From Blockchain Enterprises, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Innovative Chinese companies are seeking a first-mover advantage

Creating Leaders For The Social Service Sector, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Pay issues and career prospects have hampered recruitment for social service organisations in Singapore. A scheme called Sun Ray helped address that issue

Taking A Journey On Research Data Management In Singapore, Pin Pin Yeo, Danping Dong

Research Collection Library

The journey that SMU Libraries undertook for research data management is described.

Handmade With Love, Anna Lim

Research Collection Institute of Service Excellence (2007-2024)

Anna Lim of The Soup Spoon discusses the importance of investing in staff engagement and keeping true to your brand DNA.

Augmenting Healthcare, Wai Mun Lim

Research Collection Institute of Service Excellence (2007-2024)

Lim Wai Mun of Doctor Anywhere weighs in the importance of customer education and persistence when dealing with a conservative market.

Navigating Conversational Flows, Abhilash Murthy

Research Collection Institute of Service Excellence (2007-2024)

Abhilash Murthy of Bus Uncle explains the importance in developing a delightful user experience in the realm of chatbot design.

Unpacking A Sustainable Concept, Florence Tay

Research Collection Institute of Service Excellence (2007-2024)

Florence Tay, Co-Founder of UnPackt, breaks down how community building and education can lead to a more enduring zero-waste journey.

Getting Personal, Ching Yann Ho

Research Collection Institute of Service Excellence (2007-2024)

Ho Ching Yann of Triceratops shares how being candid and sincere with customers sets her apart from the competition.

Practising Empathy, Kate Low

Research Collection Institute of Service Excellence (2007-2024)

Kate Low of Perk by Kate talks about how prioritising customer relationships has kept her at the forefront of Singapore’s lingerie scene.

Creating Conversations, Sharon Tan

Research Collection Institute of Service Excellence (2007-2024)

Sharon Tan of The Projector speaks about the privilege of amplifying community voices through diverse programming.

Service For Millenials, Joan Chang

Research Collection Institute of Service Excellence (2007-2024)

Joan Chang of Lloyd’s Inn relates the importance of branding for a younger audience and the changing landscape of service in boutique hospitality.

Repackaging Convenience, Min Ling Leow

Research Collection Institute of Service Excellence (2007-2024)

Leow Min Ling of Anthony The Spice Maker reflects on updating her family business to preserve Singapore’s traditional flavours.

Scaling For The Masses, Junting Ang

Research Collection Institute of Service Excellence (2007-2024)

Ang Junting of Hai Sia Seafood traces the journey of updating a traditional business in a demanding trade to attract and retain talent.

Unity In Diversity: Textile Expressions Of The Human Condition In Times Of Economic And Cultural Anxiety, Eli J. Baez

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Questions about the roots of human nature have been plaguing human societies across the globe since the beginning of time. Whole societies are built around the perceived answers, and the art which these societies produce reflect upon it and even contribute to constructing ‘proper’ human behavior. One such artistic material that lays literally quite close to the human body is the textile. Textiles can possess the specific power to shape the way in which an individual human body is presented to others, as well as to position a collective of humans in relation to others. In other words, textiles can …

Socio-Cultural Norms And Perceptions Of Menstruation: An Intergenerational Analysis Of Rural Jamkhed, Maharashtra, Addison Scales

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study analyzes the socio-cultural norms and perceptions of menstruation between two generations of women in rural Jamkhed, Maharashtra. Interview questions were prepared for women between the ages of 18-26 and 35 or older to determine the level of dilution of the menstrual taboo and stigmas between age groups. All women resided in two villages in the rural area surrounding Jamkhed, Maharashtra. A variety of socio-cultural perceptions and practices were explored to determine their correlation with external influences on the shifting menstruation narrative. The socio-cultural factors of focus are family structure, media exposure, choice of material use, disposal and sustainability, …

The Influence Of Gender On Female Business Owners In Ho Chi Minh City, Abby Busis

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Ho Chi Minh City is commonly referred to as a developing business hub, largely due to the rapidly increasing number of private enterprises. Since the implementation of the Doi Moi in 1986, Vietnam’s private business sphere has grown tremendously, and women have played a large role in this development. Today, women own just under a quarter of formal enterprises in Vietnam, but this impressive statistic does not consider the many challenges these women have faced.

Through in-depth interviews with female business owners themselves, along with an online survey, this study determines how gender influences these business owners’ professional experiences. Gender …

Climate-Smart Agriculture: Building Resilience For Women Farmers In Kalchebeshi, Nepal, Annika Ruben

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This case study outlines women’s involvement in climate-smart agriculture and key climate adaptation strategies which are being implemented in the town of Kalchebeshi, Nepal. Kalchebeshi is considered a Resilient Mountain Village because of the town’s integrated approach to addressing climate change and building resilience for farmers. Key findings examined gender differences in farming responsibilities and the significance of farmers’ groups in women’s overall decision making and community involvement. Additionally, changes in water management and pesticide use have been shown to have a positive impact on the lives of women farmers in Kalchebeshi. This paper reinforces the importance of involving vulnerable …

The Next Page Of Yoga Anatomy: An Anatomical Lens On Selected Yoga Asanas, Viana Chau

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Yoga has become a widely-recognized form of physical activity as well as an effective therapeutic intervention. It is a self-discipling way of life, taking advantage of the powerful effects from the combination of breathing exercises (pranayama), physical postures (asanas), and meditation on calming the nervous system and balancing the mind, body, and spirit. However, over time, the contemporary definition of yoga, especially in the United States, has decreased the emphasis on the religious spirituality component and increased the emphasis on physical activity. Although one may argue that this is not the traditional yoga, this change not only breaks down the …