South Asian University
Encyclopedia
The South Asian University is an International University
sponsored by the eight Member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) . The eight countries are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. South Asian University started admitting students in 2010, as a temporary campus at Akbar Bhawan, India
. Its permanent campus will be at Maidan Garhi in South Delhi
, India
, next to Indira Gandhi National Open University
(IGNOU) . First academic session of the university started in August 2010 with two post-graduate academic programmes, one each in Economics and Computer Sciences. Four additional post-graduate academic programmes in Law, Sociology, International Relations and Biotechnology are expected to commence from July 2011. Additional programmes will be added in due course.
, in November 2005, Indian Prime Minister proposed the establishment of a South Asian University to provide world-class facilities and professional faculty to students and researchers from SAARC member countries. The "Inter-governmental Agreement for the Establishment of the South Asian University" was signed at the 14th SAARC Summit. And the SAARC member states also decided that the University would be established in India.Tejinder Khanna, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Foreign Secretary of India, Shivshankar Menon, and Prof. G.K. Chadha, member of Economic Advisory Council and former vice chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University
, were formally appointed the CEO of the project.
India provides the majority of funds, around 239.930 million dollars, for the foundation of the University, which is around 79 percent of the total cost of the full establishment of the University until 2014. The main campus in New Delhi will be hosting nearly 5,000 students and an international faculty. It will also have linked campuses in other South Asian countries. A total of 3,000 students — 95 per cent of them in postgraduate and PhD
programmes — and 300 faculty members have been envisaged by 2014. Although India will bear the capital costs, no more than 50 per cent of students will be from India.
These three elements, i.e. building a culture of understanding and regional consciousness; nurturing a new class of liberal, bright and quality leadership and building the capacity of the region in science, technology and other disciplines considered vital for improving the quality of life of the people, therefore, form the core objectives of the South Asian University.
The first academic session of the SAU commenced in August 2010 with the following two courses:
In the second academic year that will commence in July 2011, there will be fresh intake of students for the M.A. (Development Economics) programme. New courses that are being offered are:
The University will focus overwhelmingly on research and post-graduate level programmes. It will ultimately have 12 post-graduate science and non-science Faculties, as also a small Faculty of Undergraduate Studies. At full strength, the SAU will have 7000 students and 700 teachers. A flagship Institute of South Asian Studies will also be established in the University.
Students of the University will be predominantly from the eight SAARC countries. Tuition fees for them are heavily subsidised. Some students from non-SAARC countries may also be admitted on full cost recovery basis.
Teachers of the University will also be predominantly from the eight SAARC Countries, but up to 20% of teachers may be from other countries. To attract quality talent, attractive salary and benefits packages have been designed for teachers.
Relevance will be ensured through alignment of the academic program with the University’s core objectives. Quality will be ensured through collecting the very best academics available in the world for teaching, research and peer review.
In order to ensure that the SAU becomes the leading center of excellence for learning in the region, the SAU aims to draw upon the very best academics working in the region and outside, whose thoughts and research work are at the cutting edge of knowledge and of direct relevance to the SAU’s objectives. The SAU would ensure this through a set of competitive incentives and facilities to attract the very best.
The SAU believes that knowledge is the most powerful means for promoting meaningful understanding of diversity, building cohesion and promoting tolerance. By providing a common forum where such knowledge is accumulated, generated and disseminated, the South Asian University aims to become the focal point for the search for common ground and socio-economic development of the region.
The SAU, therefore, aims to provide for programs of studies which:
In today’s world, whether it is for pursuing very basic research inquiries or for seeking solutions to emerging problems, research efforts have to be multidisciplinary. Special Interdisciplinary Research Centers will, therefore, be a hallmark of SAU. The provision of expertise in multiple basic areas will ensure that the interdisciplinary effort can be initiated rapidly.
The interdisciplinary activities will be designed to meet the needs for
The SAU will ensure that the graduates from this University will have the most marketable and
relevant skills needed for the region as also for the international job market. Specialization in these niche areas will ensure that the SAU brand name for particular skills would be established and that, in turn, would bestow substantial employment benefits on the youth of the region.
International University
International University may refer to:* International University of Bologna* International University, Cambodia* International University, Indonesia* International University in Geneva* International University of Business Agriculture and Technology...
sponsored by the eight Member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is an organisation of South Asian nations, founded in December 1985 by Ziaur Rahman and dedicated to economic, technological, social, and cultural development emphasising collective self-reliance. Its seven founding members are Bangladesh,...
(SAARC) . The eight countries are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. South Asian University started admitting students in 2010, as a temporary campus at Akbar Bhawan, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Its permanent campus will be at Maidan Garhi in South Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, next to Indira Gandhi National Open University
Indira Gandhi National Open University
The Indira Gandhi National Open University , known as IGNOU is a national university with its headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi, India. Named after former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, the university was established in 1985 with a budget of 2000 crore, when the Parliament of India passed...
(IGNOU) . First academic session of the university started in August 2010 with two post-graduate academic programmes, one each in Economics and Computer Sciences. Four additional post-graduate academic programmes in Law, Sociology, International Relations and Biotechnology are expected to commence from July 2011. Additional programmes will be added in due course.
Establishment
At the Thirteenth SAARC Summit held in DhakaDhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, in November 2005, Indian Prime Minister proposed the establishment of a South Asian University to provide world-class facilities and professional faculty to students and researchers from SAARC member countries. The "Inter-governmental Agreement for the Establishment of the South Asian University" was signed at the 14th SAARC Summit. And the SAARC member states also decided that the University would be established in India.Tejinder Khanna, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Foreign Secretary of India, Shivshankar Menon, and Prof. G.K. Chadha, member of Economic Advisory Council and former vice chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
, were formally appointed the CEO of the project.
India provides the majority of funds, around 239.930 million dollars, for the foundation of the University, which is around 79 percent of the total cost of the full establishment of the University until 2014. The main campus in New Delhi will be hosting nearly 5,000 students and an international faculty. It will also have linked campuses in other South Asian countries. A total of 3,000 students — 95 per cent of them in postgraduate and PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
programmes — and 300 faculty members have been envisaged by 2014. Although India will bear the capital costs, no more than 50 per cent of students will be from India.
Objectives of SAU
The mandate of the South Asian University, as set out in the Agreement of the SAARC Member States under which the University has been set up envisages that the University should:- enhance learning in the South Asian community that promotes an understanding of each other’s perspectives and strengthen regional consciousness;
- provide liberal and humane education to the brightest and the most dedicated students of South Asia so that a new class of quality leadership is nurtured; and
- enhance capacity of the South Asian nations in science, technology and other areas of higher learning vital for improving their quality of life.
These three elements, i.e. building a culture of understanding and regional consciousness; nurturing a new class of liberal, bright and quality leadership and building the capacity of the region in science, technology and other disciplines considered vital for improving the quality of life of the people, therefore, form the core objectives of the South Asian University.
Current Status
The SAARC Steering Committee has completed its work and the Rules, Regulations, Academic Structure and Business Plan of the South Asian University are ready. A temporary campus has been set up in space provided by the Jawaharlal Nehru University. An international design competition for the permanent SAU campus is under way.The first academic session of the SAU commenced in August 2010 with the following two courses:
- M.A. (Development Economics)
- Master of Computer Applications (MCA)
In the second academic year that will commence in July 2011, there will be fresh intake of students for the M.A. (Development Economics) programme. New courses that are being offered are:
- M.Sc. (Biotechnology)
- M.Sc. (Computer Science)
- M.A. (Sociology)
- M.A. (International Relations)
- LL M (International Law)
The University will focus overwhelmingly on research and post-graduate level programmes. It will ultimately have 12 post-graduate science and non-science Faculties, as also a small Faculty of Undergraduate Studies. At full strength, the SAU will have 7000 students and 700 teachers. A flagship Institute of South Asian Studies will also be established in the University.
Students of the University will be predominantly from the eight SAARC countries. Tuition fees for them are heavily subsidised. Some students from non-SAARC countries may also be admitted on full cost recovery basis.
Teachers of the University will also be predominantly from the eight SAARC Countries, but up to 20% of teachers may be from other countries. To attract quality talent, attractive salary and benefits packages have been designed for teachers.
Academic Approach at SAU
The South Asian University would strive to provide world class education in keeping with the most recent international trends in University education, in terms of choice of subjects across various disciplines and pedagogical approaches.Relevance will be ensured through alignment of the academic program with the University’s core objectives. Quality will be ensured through collecting the very best academics available in the world for teaching, research and peer review.
In order to ensure that the SAU becomes the leading center of excellence for learning in the region, the SAU aims to draw upon the very best academics working in the region and outside, whose thoughts and research work are at the cutting edge of knowledge and of direct relevance to the SAU’s objectives. The SAU would ensure this through a set of competitive incentives and facilities to attract the very best.
The SAU believes that knowledge is the most powerful means for promoting meaningful understanding of diversity, building cohesion and promoting tolerance. By providing a common forum where such knowledge is accumulated, generated and disseminated, the South Asian University aims to become the focal point for the search for common ground and socio-economic development of the region.
The SAU, therefore, aims to provide for programs of studies which:
- have the potential to promote regional understanding, peace and security which ultimately enhances the wellbeing of the people of the region;
- reach newer, common and challenging frontiers in various disciplines, and inter-disciplinary outfits, usually not available in individual countries.
- lead to creation and sharing of knowledge that has the potential of creating a South Asian Community of intellectuals, endowed with expanding mutual trust and appreciation of one another’s problems
In today’s world, whether it is for pursuing very basic research inquiries or for seeking solutions to emerging problems, research efforts have to be multidisciplinary. Special Interdisciplinary Research Centers will, therefore, be a hallmark of SAU. The provision of expertise in multiple basic areas will ensure that the interdisciplinary effort can be initiated rapidly.
The interdisciplinary activities will be designed to meet the needs for
- building a culture of understanding and regional consciousness;
- nurturing a new class of liberal, bright and quality leadership and
- building the capacity of the region in science, technology and other disciplines considered vital for improving the quality of life of the people.
The SAU will ensure that the graduates from this University will have the most marketable and
relevant skills needed for the region as also for the international job market. Specialization in these niche areas will ensure that the SAU brand name for particular skills would be established and that, in turn, would bestow substantial employment benefits on the youth of the region.