The Academic Studies, Research & Publication Division is responsible for conduction a variety of function concerned with the academic and scholarly aspects of diplomacy and foreign relations and its main purpose is to organize and implement short as well as long- term research projects. Apart from such studies, the Division also acts as the publishing arm of IDFR both with regard to routine ones such as IDFR’s Annual Report and other yearly publications as well as the results of its research work. The IDFR’s Journal of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations has been managed by the Division since its launch in 1999 and a new series of Occasional Papers was begun in 2008.

The Division aims to provide research assistance for IDFR’s ongoing training courses as well as support services for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as and when the need arises. Other than the in-house research projects that it conducts from time to time, the Division may also undertake joint studies in the field of diplomacy and foreign relations with relevant organizations both within Malaysia as well as overseas.

In order to ensure its role as a service centre, it is committed to continuously publishing the fruits of all research that it undertakes for dissemination to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia’s Missions oversea, the scholarly community and the general public.

Furthermore the Division is also actively involved in the planning and organization of all IDFR meetings for intellectual debate and discussion in matters that are directly to the theory and practice of diplomacy  and foreign relations.