At the Eleventh Summit (Kathmandu, 4-6 January 2002), the Leaders underlined the need to devise appropriate strategies for raising the quality of education through exchange of information among universities in the region. While emphasizing upon the importance of mutual recognition of educational institutions, they agreed to realize the goal of a common regional educational standard through uniform methods of instruction and teaching aids. They were unanimous in recognizing the benefit of introducing SAARC in the national curricula at appropriate levels of study in order to enhance the awareness about Association’s goals and objectives.

      The First Meeting of the Committee of Heads of University Grants Commission/Equivalent Bodies was held in Dhaka in October 2003 to propose modalities for implementation of the recommendations of the Eleventh Summit. Among other things, the Meeting recommended that a minimum period to acquire a Bachelor’s Degree (excluding Professional Degrees) should be 12 + 3 years of Education in Member States; that a chapter on introduction to SAARC should be included in the curricula at secondary level in one of the Social Science subjects; and that the degrees awarded by Chartered Universities in the region should be recognized by all Member States on the basis of number of years of studies, grades and credits obtained.

The Second Meeting of the Committee (Islamabad, June 2004), while reviewing progress in the implementation of decisions taken at its First Meeting, recommended a number of measures for their effective implementation.

The Third Meeting of the Committee of Heads of University Grants Commission/Equivalent Bodies held in Colombo in January 2007 considered matters relating to common regional educational standards, inclusion of a chapter on SAARC in curricula at secondary level, programme of cooperation among universities, sports fixtures among SAARC universities, debating events on mutually agreed topics, revised SAARC Chairs, Fellowships and Scholarships Scheme and establishment of a South Asian University.

The Fourth Meeting of the Committee of Heads of University Grants Commission/Equivalent Bodies was held in New Delhi in May 2008 and the Meeting considered Mutual Recognition of Professional Degrees awarded by Charted Universities of Member States of SAARC and achieving the Common Goal of a Regional Educational Standard, SAARC Chair, Fellowship and Scholarship Scheme, Cooperation among Universities of Member States of SAARC and Matters relating to Open and Distance Learning in the SAARC Member States.

    The Fifth Meeting of the Committee of Heads of University Grants Commission/Equivalent Bodies held in Male in June 2009 discussed the same issues that were deliberated upon at the previous Meetings. Additionally, held detailed discussions on open and distance learning among the SAARC Member States in line with the decisions of the First Meeting of SAARC Ministers of Education/Higher Education (Colombo, 27 March 2009). Further, this Meeting considered SAARC-UNESCO Cooperation as per the recommendations made by the First Meeting of SAARC Ministers of Education/Higher Education.

Open and Distance Learning Education (ODL)

In accordance with the decision of the Tenth Summit, the Vice Chancellors of Open Universities met in Colombo in January 1999 and made recommendations for the establishment of SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning (SACODiL) to strengthen cooperation in the joint development of educational programmes, credit transfers, and promotion of equal opportunities and access to knowledge. The proposal was endorsed by the Twenty-sixth Session of the Standing Committee (Nuwara Eliya, March 1999).

The Second meeting of Vice Chancellors of Open Universities/Heads of National Distance Learning Institutions held in New Delhi on 2-3 December 2002 decided to operate SACODiL through a rotational Secretariat till arrangements were made to establish a permanent Secretariat. The rotational Secretariat acts as a central point for correspondence, maintaining SACODiL records, monitoring the progress of assignments, convening meetings, taking follow-up action and any other functions conferred upon it by the Board of Governors.

The meeting decided to establish the Board of Governors of SACODiL comprising the Vice Chancellors of National Open Universities or Heads of major open and distance learning institutions or educational bodies as well as National Focal Points of SAARC in the Ministries of Foreign/External Affairs of the SAARC Member States and representation of the Secretary General, SAARC.

The First Meeting of the Governing Board of SACODiL was held in New Delhi on January 2005.

The Second Meeting of the Board was held in Colombo on 23-24 January 2006.

The Third Meeting of the SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning (SACODiL) was held in Islamabad in February 2007. The Meeting discussed matters relating to granting equal status to the degrees/diplomas granted by Open Universities/Distance Learning Institution, creation of SACODiL Resource Centres in Member Institutions/States in the areas of ICT enabled distance education, ODL staff development and training, regional collaborations and networking and innovations in distance education.

At the 31^st Programming Committee held in New Delhi in December 2007, it was decided for the mandate of SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning (SACODiL) to be assumed by the Heads of University Grants Commissions/Equivalent Bodies.

At the First Meeting of SAARC Ministers of Education/Higher Education held in Colombo in March 2009, the Ministers recommended that the Member States may continue to implement the decisions of the Third Meeting of the SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning (SACODiL) and as directed by the Ministerial Meeting on Education/Higher Education, these decisions were considered by the Fifth Meeting of the Heads of University Grants Commissions/Equivalent Bodies held in Male, 1-2 June 2009.

A three-day workshop on research through Distance Learning Institutions will be organized by Pakistan at the AIOU, Islamabad for which tentative dates will be notified shortly as the case is under process.

SAARC Chair, Fellowship and Scholarship Scheme

The SAARC Chair, Fellowship and Scholarship Scheme was instituted in 1987 with the aim of providing increased cross-fertilization of ideas through greater interaction among students, scholars and academics in the SAARC countries. The Standing Committee at its Twenty-seventh Session while recognizing the importance of the Scheme for Member States decided to hold a workshop in Nepal to recommend means of more effective implementation of the Scheme.

Pursuant to the above decision, the second meeting of the Technical Committee on Human Resources Development (Colombo, November 2002) considered the recommendations on operational modalities of the SAARC Chairs, Fellowships and Scholarships Scheme as proposed by the Workshop held in Kathmandu on 22-23 October 2002. After approval by the Standing Committee, the revised Scheme has become fully operational.

 The Third Meeting of the Committee of Heads of University Grants Commission/Equivalent Bodies held in Colombo in January 2007 considered matters relating to SAARC Chairs, Fellowships and Scholarships Scheme and underscored the importance of implementing the Scheme more effectively and expressed the view that the Scheme is instrumental in promoting increased cross-fertilization of ideas through interaction among students, scholars and academics in the Member States as envisaged in the SAARC Social Charter.  

Offers under the SAARC Chair, Fellowship and Scholarship Scheme from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal are being circulated as per mutually agreed timeframe while Bhutan and Maldives have regretted to initiate this scheme. Sri Lanka will notify offer under this scheme shortly.

In Pakistan, the case for the establishment of Chairs and Fellowships and Scholarships falls under the Ministry of Education, Islamabad where the matter is under consideration for preparation of PC-I and allocation of funds for the scheme. After this procedure, Pakistan is likely to notify offer under the subject scheme in due course of time to fulfil its commitment made at this August Forum i.e. SAARC.

Two topics have been finalized for the Debate Contest which are as under:

1.      Role Of SAARC in Promoting Peace and Harmony in the Region

2.      SAARC Response to Alleviate Poverty in the Region.

Nominations have been asked from the Member States. As soon as the nominations from all Member States are received, the dates for the holding of the Debate Contest will be circulated to all the Member States.

The leaders recognized at the Fourth Summit in 1988 that HRD was one of the means to achieve the objectives of SAARC. In this context they welcomed the offer of Pakistan to host the SAARC Human Resource Development Centre in Islamabad. The Centre undertakes research, imparts training, and disseminates information on HRD issues and advises Member States on HRD related policies and strategies.

At the Twelfth SAARC Summit held in Islamabad in January 2004, the leaders underlined that investment in human resource development was critical for future development of South Asia. It was, therefore, essential to establish a network of centers of higher learning and training, and Skill Development Institutes across South Asia.

At the Thirteenth SAARC Summit held in Dhaka in November 2005, the leaders considered the achievements of the Member States during recent years in the area of primary education and emphasized that to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century, Member States must make important strides in the areas of science, technology and higher education.

The First Meeting of the Technical Committee on Human Resource Development was held in Islamabad in January 2004. The Second Meeting of the Technical Committee held in Colombo in January 2007 considered a number of issues pertaining to human resource development, education, culture, sports, skill development and cooperation between SAARC and UNESCO.

South Asian University

At the Thirteenth SAARC Summit held in November 2005 in Dhaka, India proposed to create a Centre of Excellence, in the form of a South Asian University, which can provide world class facilities and professional faculty to students and researchers drawn from every country of the region.

The Expert Group Meeting to Finalize the Modalities for Establishing the South Asian University was held in March 2007 in New Delhi.

Since then, the following Meetings have been held:

First Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Steering Committee on the establishment of South Asian University was held in May 2007 in New Delhi.

Second Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Steering Committee on the establishment of South Asian University, was held on 3 -4 December 2008, in Dhaka

Third Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Steering Committee on the establishment of South Asian University, was held on 15-16 April 2009, in Mussoorie

Expert Group Meeting of the Establishment of South Asian University, was held on 2- 4 December 2009, in New Delhi

Fourth Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Steering Committee on the establishment of South Asian University, was held on 6-8 October 2009, in Kathmandu

Fifth Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Steering Committee on the establishment of South Asian University, was held on 7 – 9 January 2010, in New Delhi

Sixth Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Steering Committee on the establishment of South Asian University, was held on 9 – 13 March 2010, in New Delhi