ABOUT ITAS

Founded in 2003, the ITAS Institute combines elements of the Anglo-American system with the philological thoroughness characteristic of mainland European universities. The curriculum is thus orientated towards the European student and incorporates the training of translators as well as providing support for doctorate training and scientists.

ITAS is based in a beautiful valley near the city of Málaga. This lovely place gives you the necessary peaceful atmosphere for study. You can also find plenty of beaches and the city is accessible. As well as a library, modern IT facilities and accommodation, ITAS offers every student their own place to work.

If the location is comfortable the mind can more easily focus on studying – this is what ITAS has to offer students. Tasty meals freshly prepared on-site are provided and can be eaten on various terraces where you can also learn and study. ITAS facilities comprise several classrooms which allows for different classes to run concurrently. The classrooms are equipped with work stations, a refreshment area with tea, coffee and snacks and a nice area for chilling and socialising. Knowledge and inspiration need somewhere special.

ITAS PHILOSOPHY

Top offer: Language

Language and thinking go together. In the area of Asian languages this means that whoever masters the language system can really understand the complex cultures and philosophies that lie behind them. For example, in Tibetan we find ten words for ‘mind’, which can only be defined by understanding the Tibetan language and culture. A proper understanding of a text also requires mastery of the original language.

Background information

ITAS combines the pragmatism and effectiveness of an Anglo-American university system with the linguistic precision characteristic of the continental universities. It also addresses the development of a new domain of knowledge. All our teachers have degrees in Tibetan Studies, Indology or Philosophy. Students, as well as teachers, come from a variety of different countries. Cultural borders are crossed in a positive way.

Why we are backing Tibetan

It is true to say that Tibetan and Asian philosophical texts can only really be understood in-depth when studied in their original language. Gautama Siddhartha conveyed his teachings in a Middle Indian dialect and Indian thus became the starting point of Buddhist philosophy.

Tibet on the other hand, was influenced by both India and China. Hence, even though it is enough to know about Tibet if we are looking at Tibetan culture, we also need Pali and Sanskrit if we want to research the philosophy. Furthermore, many of the original Indian texts are only available in Tibetan and Chinese translations.

ITAS GOALS

A wide field

At ITAS the view of Asia’s culture is consciously European. Those occupied in the areas of Tibetan Studies are exclusively Western trained (MA and PhD). Additionally, we have access to educated and knowledgeable Asian teachers for the relevant primary languages skills. This work encompasses both research and independent research projects.

More than just a goal

Even though Tibetan and Asian cultures have long been a subject of attention in the west, within academia the subject is relatively new. In this respect, we now have a unique perspective, which we will continue to build upon. In the future, we are planning to build educational support for doctorate candidates and scientific research.

A vision for tomorrow

Whoever wants to make a long journey needs to know the way. ITAS has a vision for the future. We are setting new standards for academia and we want to develop these a lot more. Our goal is to develop a new model for universities, which joins together European and Asian cultures. So we’ve set high hurdles for academic achievement. But we find that this is a good standard and a worthwhile goal.