Institute for Asian and Oriental Studies – Museum Rietberg Zurich Partnership

https://www.partnerschaft-rietberg.uzh.ch/en.html

The AOI has enjoyed close ties with the Museum Rietberg Zurich (MRZ) for decades. In December 2024, this partnership was formally reaffirmed, establishing a long-term framework for collaboration in research, teaching, and museum projects. At its core is a reciprocal exchange: the partnership broadens academic access to the MRZ’s collections, while enabling the museum to contribute to teaching and to present research to wider publics through exhibitions.

Students gain first-hand experience with the MRZ’s cultural treasures, deepening their understanding of the historical, religious, and cultural dynamics of Asian and Middle Eastern traditions. Their research also enriches curatorial perspectives, encouraging trans-cultural approaches that connect scholarship with public engagement.

Interdisciplinarity is central to the partnership, linking the AOI’s fields of Japanese Studies, Sinology, Islamic Studies, and Indology with the museum’s programmes. Together, university and museum show how cultural heritage and academic research can foster globally relevant skills. Object-facing modules and excursions provide direct access to collections, while teaching formats combine scholarly rigour with ethical reflection.

In the long term, the UZH–MRZ partnership creates a platform for joint projects that bring research, teaching, and cultural practice into closer dialogue—strengthening both the University of Zurich’s academic profile and the Museum Rietberg’s role as Zurich’s leading institution for non-European cultures.