South Asian University
South Asian University is an International University sponsored by the eight Member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. The eight countries are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. South Asian University started admitting students in 2010, at 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. First academic session of the university started in August 2010 with two post-graduate academic programmes, in economics and computer sciences., SAU offered Master's and MPhil/PhD programs in applied mathematics, biotechnology, computer science, development economics, international relations, law and sociology. The degrees of the university are recognised by all the member nations of the SAARC according to an inter-governmental agreement signed by the foreign ministers of the eight SAARC member states.
South Asian University attracts students predominantly from all the eight SAARC countries, although students from other continents also attend. There is a country quota system for admission of students. Every year SAU conducts admission test at multiple centers in all the eight countries.
The founding President of the university, G. K. Chadha, died on 1 March 2014. Prior to joining South Asian University, first as the CEO while SAU was at a project stage and subsequently as the President, he was the economic adviser to the prime minister of India. He also had a stint as the Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. On 3 November 2014, Dr. Kavita Sharma took charge as the President of the university.
Establishment
At the Thirteenth SAARC Summit held in Dhaka, in November 2005, Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh 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. Prof. G.K. Chadha, member of Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council and former vice chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, was formally appointed the CEO of the project.India provides the majority of funds, around, for the foundation of the University, which is around 79 per cent of the total cost of the full establishment of the University until 2014.
Academic objectives
The mandate of the South Asian University, as set out in the Agreement of the SAARC member states under which the University is set up envisages that the choice of the programs of studies to be offered at this University should:- enhance learning in the South Asian community that promotes an understanding of one another'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 building of the South Asian Nations in science, technology and other areas of higher learning vital for improving their quality of life such as information technology, biotechnology and management sciences, etc.
Programmes offered
- Applied Mathematics
- Biotechnology
- Computer Science
- Development Economics
- International Relations
- Legal Studies
- Sociology
Research strategy
Besides graduate schools and the undergraduate college, the SAU aims at promoting research among the faculty and research scholars. The plan is to have interdisciplinary research centres to carry out research in areas of common interest to SAARC countries. An Institute of South Asian Studies is planned as a flagship research program.Administration
The decision-making bodies of South Asian University comprise the Governing Board, the Executive Council, the Academic Council, and the Finance Committee.Governing Board
The Governing Board of SAU is the highest policy and decision-making authority of the University, which oversees the academic, administrative and financial management of SAU, and is primarily responsible for liaison with the SAARC Secretariat and SAARC Member States. It consists of two members from each of the SAARC Member States, nominated by the respective Member States.
Executive Council
The Executive Council of SAU is the prime body responsible for major executive decisions. Besides senior functionaries of the SAU, the EC has four members who are nominated by the SAARC member States by rotation. The President of the SAU chairs the EC meetings.
Academic Council
The Academic Council of the university is the custodian of academic activities. It is vested with powers to propose establish and abolish Faculties, Departments, Institutions, Inter- disciplinary Research Centres, Specialised Laboratories and Libraries. The Academic Council is also vested with the power to recommend to the Executive Council the creation and abolition of teaching posts in the University, draft regulations on admission and examinations, appoint examiners, confer honorary degrees and recommend institution of fellowships and scholarships etc.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee of the university considers the annual accounts, financial estimates and expenditure proposals. The annual accounts and estimates of the University, duly approved by the Finance Committee, are submitted to the Executive Council for approval.
SAU Logo
The logo of South Asian University represents the eight nations of SAARC. The basic form of the logo is octagonal, each side representing a country. The octagon, when used in the perspective of design turns into the numerical "8" that also represents infinity in a purely visual sense. The numerical"8" or the infinity symbol is then overlaid upon itself to present an evolving motif form that is present in varying contexts and interpretations in all of South Asia.Prof. G. K. Chadha Library
The Prof. G. K. Chadha Library was established to fulfil academic and research need of the students and the staff of the . The main library spreads over a total area of 4500 sq. ft. The library functions from Monday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 06:00 am. Additional reading rooms are available on the Mezzanine Floor and 8th Floor are opened round the clock. The library has a collection of books, journals, CD/DVD, films etc. covering different subject areas. There are around 14000 volumes of books, 400 e-books, 76000e-journals, 11 print journals, 16 database, 21 CD/DVDs, newspapers, magazines and encyclopaedia. The library is using the as Discovery Service and Koha as ILS. Electronic resources are accessible to users through EZproxy from anywhere in the world. TAs a core member of the University Grants Commission of India the library has access to e-resources i.e. Oxford University Press, Springer, Taylor & Francis, MathSciNet, ISID, World eBook Library, South Asia Archive and J-Gate. The library also subscribes the PressReader newspaper and magazine database. The library maintains its website at http://library.sau.ac.in.Accreditation and recognition
The degrees of South Asian University are recognised by the member states of SAARC, according to an agreement signed by the foreign ministers of the 8 SAARC countries at the time of establishment of the university.Article 7 of the Agreement reads:
This Agreement shall facilitate the mutual recognition of degrees and certificates awarded by the University in all SAARC Member States at par with the degrees and certificates issued by their respective national universities/institutions.