There are four endowed research chairs at IBS. These are Dayak Chair (Dayak community studies), Nusantara Chair (Coastal Community Studies), Sino Borneo Chair (Chinese community studies) and the Tun Taib Chair (Sustainable Community Studies).

The coastal communities have exercised many roles throughout much of the history of Sarawak, both prior to and since the forming of Malaysia. However, relatively little research has been published on these communities, their composition and their role in the broader society. Even those studies that are available needs to be carefully re-evaluated and not simply just updated. A prime example is the voluminous study on Sarawak Malays compiled by Tom Harrison. In comparison, studies on “the Malay World” in Sarawak and Borneo have rarely received more than a passing mention, and to date there have only been less than a handful of endeavours undertaken on a comparative basis by scholars from Malaysia and neighbouring countries. As a university committed to furthering research and scholarship, IBS on behalf of UNIMAS will contribute in terms of expertise of its scholars and international network in order to enhance study on the coastal communities. The establishment of a Nusantara Chair (sponsored by Amanat Khirat Yayasan Budaya Melayu Sarawak) is a major stimulus to research that is critical to an understanding of the past, present and future of Sarawak in the regional context of Borneo.

Following consultations held between the institute and prominent Dayak leaders, the Dayak Cultural Foundation have since then agreed to endow a Chair for Dayak Studies at UNIMAS. This was to ensure that there will be continuing research focusing on issues confronting the Dayak communities. Thus, on the 16th of March 1998, a historical occasion was made when the Chief Minister of Sarawak back then Tun Pehin (Dr.) Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud (the current governor of Sarawak) officially launched the Chair for Dayak Studies in UNIMAS. The Chair of Dayak Studies has clear benefits for the Dayak communities. Firstly it is a recognition of the importance and unique position of the Dayak people in Sarawak and Borneo/Kalimantan. Secondly, through this establishment IBS has organized and funded many studies on critical issues facing the Dayak people as they enter the new millennium.

The primary orientation for the Sino-Bornean Chair is on research that contributes to an understanding of: 1) the abundance and unique diversity of the Chinese community in Sarawak, taking cognizance of the varying manifestation of region and dialect; 2) the economic and political contribution of the community to the development of both state and nation since World War II; 3) the international dimension and global perspective of the community, and linkages forged in the context of Malaysia’s regional outreach. As IBS is committed to furthering research and scholarship, it contributes the expertise of its scholars and international network in order to enhance study on contemporary Chinese society. Given the community’s important role in Sarawak and Malaysia, there are very wide gaps in our understanding with only several Chinese scholars publishing the result of the research that they have carried out over the past 50 years. The gaps in understanding needs to be addressed as a matter of priority and to be examined in the context of the sweeping changes underway throughout Borneo.

The primary orientation of this Chair is to conduct action-oriented research project that will help transform Sarawak’s rural communities into that of sustainable communities. Funding from the Chair will also be used to develop instruments and systems, organize workshops, seminars, forums, symposiums, community engagement programs or on anything related to community transformation and sustainability. Strategic alliance with national and international researchers and research institutions will also be established to encourage studies on community sustainability. This chair thus provides a holistic platform for research, intervention, development and transformation of rural and remote communities to sustainable communities.