The Africa Social Studies and Research Centre (ASSRC) was founded in 2004 in Johannesburg, South Africa, to enhance collaborative research and scholarly exchange between Turkish and African scholars, educators, and institutions and to increase knowledge about and interest in Africa in the Turkey, as one of the institutions of The House of Wisdom Trust . ASSRC is a nucleus of intellectual curiosity and collaboration on issues of critical importance to our understanding of African culture and African societies. The Center hopes to provide a unique research environment and meeting ground where vital current issues and their deep historical background may be explored through research and dialogue. The Center encourages contacts among scholars in Turkey and Africa. As a research institute for advanced study, the Center owns a specialized library with a growing collection on Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey as well as on humanities and social sciences.

The Africa Social Studies and Research Center (ASSRC) promotes interdisciplinary research on African heritage as well as contemporary social and intellectual trends in the African continent. Its research projects can cover the Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Turkey and South Asia.

The Africa Social Studies and Research Center (ASSRC) is dedicated to develop continental and intercontinental research on past and present social, economic and cultural developments in African societies through working relations with scholars and academic institutions both in Africa and Turkey.

Its stated missions and goals are to:

         provide Turkish and African scholars access to research resources and expand research opportunities

          create a point of contact for Turkish and African researchers allowing the intersection of their respective research traditions

        supplement documentation resources

         award fellowships to Turkish and African scholars

         encourage interest in international affairs and careers among Turkish graduate students

        disseminate information on Africa-related research issues and periodically organize meaningful and landmark seminars, symposiums and conferences where experts and researchers and creative artists and thinkers from different horizons and backgrounds can meet and fruitfully exchange ideas, preoccupations, research results and stimulating thinking.

The benefits and services provided by having an Africa-based center include:

          providing logistical support for Turkish scholars

         offering institutional affiliation and facilitating acquisition of research clearances in Africa

      serving as operations base for ASSRC projects, expeditions, summer seminars and linkage programs

       serving as operations base for member institutions needing assistance in the planning and execution of educational exchanges in the region

        maintaining relations with language institutes, research facilities, libraries, and specialists in the host country and the region

        developing cordial relations with Turkish authorities and relevant officials in the host country and the region

       creating and maintaining a documentation center and current periodicals to complement existing archival and library collections

       developing opportunities for internships with local and regional organizations

       providing orientation and programs of joint interest at its facilities

     Objectives

ASSRC promotes scholarly research on Africa and works to foster cooperation between African and Turkish researchers, students and artists. In its development from initial conception to project planning, the Center seeks the active participation and cooperation of both African and Turkish scholars in order to identify and meet the needs of both communities. ASSRC specifically aims to:

     encourage collaborative research between Turkish and African researchers, universities, and relevant institutions through a program of research fellowships and the organization of colloquia, seminars, and workshops on topics of both general and scholarly interest.

     make available to Turkish and visiting researchers a research library, computer facilities, and a computer network capable of sustaining significant research efforts by providing up-to-date data and information on Africa and the Diaspora.

     provide a forum in which both local and foreign researchers may conduct and share their work, and create a transnational community of scholars and researchers.

     promote interdisciplinary approaches and considerations of gender in the study of Africa and the African Diaspora.

      gather, catalogue, and disseminate the results of research on Africa.