Afghanistan ministry of higher education

SOUTH ASIAN UNIVERSITY

Date: 15 Mar 2011

The 1^st meeting of the Governing Board of the South Asian University was held in New Delhi on 7 March 2011.
   Seven SAARC Member States had nominated two persons each to serve on the Governing Board of the University.  All fourteen Members attended the maiden meeting.  The Secretary General of SAARC also sent her representative to participate.
   Prof. Mohammad Osman Babury, Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister for Higher Education, was elected as Chairman of the Governing Board, which position he will hold for a period of one year.
    The Governing Board appointed Prof. G.K. Chadha as the first President of the South Asian University, for a term of five years.  A former Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University and former member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, Prof. Chadha has been the CEO of the South Asian University Project Office since May 2008 and guided the processes that enabled the University to start its academic operations in August 2010.
    The Governing Board considered various matters and proposals placed before it, and provided valuable guidance and recommendations.  As the apex policy organ of the South Asian University, the Governing Board’s inputs, suggestions and approvals will ensure the proper development and smooth operations of the University.
    Members of the Governing Board noted the absence of nominees from Pakistan at its first meeting.  Recognizing the importance of Pakistan in participating fully in all the objectives, processes, tasks and funding of the South Asian University, the Board requested the Secretary General of SAARC to request the Government of Pakistan to nominate its members to the Governing Board at the earliest, as also its Focal Point for conduct of the South Asian University’s Common Entrance Examination which is scheduled to be held on 21 May in select cities in all SAARC Member States for admitting students into six courses that are on offer in the academic year beginning July 2011.
    These six courses are: MA (Development Economics), M.Sc. (Computer Science), M.Sc. (Biotechnology), MA (Sociology), MA (International Relations) and LLM (Master of Laws).

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