M A I N   N E W S

S Asian varsity becomes operational
Ashok Tuteja
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 4
With the visa issue concerning Pakistani students having been settled, the South Asian University (SAU), a dream project of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has finally taken off. The university launched its first academic session on August 26, starting two courses-MA in Development Economics and Masters of Computer applications. Prof Rajiv K Saxena, Officer on Special Duty (Academics and Planning), told The Tribune that there were 25 students in each course. Of the total 50 students, 36 were from India and 14 from five other SAARC countries-Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. As of now, there is no student from the rest of the two SAARC nations, the war-affected Afghanistan and the Maldives.

When he was asked if the matter relating to Pakistani students reporting at police stations during their stay in India as is the practice in the case of Pakistani nationals has been resolved, Saxena replied the Indian government had started issuing special “SAU visas” to overseas students and the faculty of the university. In any case, police verification and other such matters of the students were now being handled by the university staff. At present, there are two Pakistani students, one each in the two courses.

About the faculty, he said its strength at present was eight. It included Bangladeshi nationals as well as Australian nationals of Indian origin. The faculty would be gradually increased when courses in other disciplines are launched from the next academic year beginning in July 2011.

Though the university, the first of its kind in the region, has been allotted land in the capital for its campus, classes for the first session are being held at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

The concept of a world-class university in South Asia was initiated by the Indian Prime Minister during the 13th SAARC summit at Dhaka in 2005, while a formal agreement for establishing the institute was signed in April 2007 during the 14th summit in New Delhi.

The foundation stone of the SAU campus at a 100-acre plot in Maidan Garhi here was laid in 2008 by the then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The initial investment for the university is being made by the Indian government. All SAARC member countries will contribute towards operational costs, and the university will also raise money from international financial institutions, educational foundations and donors.

The SAU will focus on research and postgraduate level programmes, and will ultimately have 12 postgraduate science and non-science faculties, as well as a small faculty of undergraduate studies. At full strength, the university will have 7,000 students and 700 teachers. A flagship Institute of South Asian Studies will also be established

In 2011, a Masters programme in Biotechnology and several other courses will be introduced. The announcement inviting applications from students wishing to enroll in these courses will be made in mid-May 2010.

Teachers of the University will also be predominantly from the eight SAARC Countries, but up to 20 per cent of teachers could be from other countries. To attract quality talent, attractive salary and benefits packages have been designed for teachers.

The SAU will operate on semester basis, with two semesters comprising one academic year. Master’s programmes at SAU are of two or three years’ duration.

PM’S DREAM PROJECT

l The concept of a world-class university in South Asia was initiated by the Indian Prime Minister during the 13th SAARC summit at Dhaka in 2005.

l The SAU will focus on research and postgraduate level programmes, and will ultimately have 12 postgraduate science and non-science faculties.

l  At full strength, the university will have 7,000 students and 700 teachers. A flagship Institute of South Asian Studies will also be established.