The Third SAF General Conference, 13th-14th December 2003, New Delhi, India

SAF Distance Learning Steering Committee meeting.
Resolutions adopted by the Steering Committee of SAFDL Academic Council at New Delhi on 13^th December 2003 - attended by:

UNESCO Ambassador Madanjeet Singh, Founder, South Asia Foundation.
Prof. Jamilur Reza Choudhry, VC, BRAC University, Bangladesh.
Prof. Ershadul Bari, VC, Bangladesh Open University, Dhaka.
Prof. H.P. Dikshit, VC, lndira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.
Prof. Suresh Garg, Content Coordinator
Prof. Suresh Raj Sharma, VC, Khatmandu University, Nepal
Prof. Altaf Hussain, VC, Alama Iqbal Open University, Pakistan.
Mr. Zahir Alam Kidvai - IT Coordinator
Prof. (Ms.) Uma Coomaraswamy, VC, Open University of Sri Lanka.

Special invitations

Prof. Hom Nath Bhattarai, Member Secretary, U.G.S. Kathmandu, Nepal.
Prof. Dasho Zangley Dukpa, VC,,RoyaI Bhutan University, Thimphu.
Prof. M. Akbar Popal, President, Kabul University, Kabul.
Prof. Islamudin Muslim, Advisor, University of Education, Kabul.
Prof. P. Ramaiah, Rector, Dr. BR Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad.
Ms. Kesang Dorna, Royal Bhutan University, Thimphu.

1. With the launching of post-graduate diploma courses in Environment and Sustainable Development (PGD-ESD), it was decided to rename the SAF Learning Initiative (SAKI). The new name is SAF Distance learning ( SAFDL).

2. With regard to the admission of new members it was recommended that Prof. Zangley Dukpa, Bhutan; Prof. Akbar Popal, Afghanistan; Prof. Hom Nath Bhattarai, Nepal be included in the Steering Committee and Prof. M.S. Palianchamy VC, Tamil Nadu Open University; Prof. J.A.K. Tareen, Kashmir University; Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, Jammu University; Prof. Islamudin Muslim, Afghanistan and the new members of the Steering committee be included in the Academic Council.

3. With the admission of the new members and a number of changes in the Vice-Chancellorships of some Indian Universities, the up-to-date list of SAFDL Academic Council (December 2003) reads as follows:

Dr. Abdul Waheed Khan,Representative, UNESCO Director-General, Paris.
Prof. M. Akbar Popal, President, Kabul University, Kabul.
Prof. Islamudin Muslim, Advisor, University of Education, Kabul.
Prof. Jamilur Reza Choudhry, VC, BRAC University, Bangladesh.
Prof. Ershadul Bari, VC, Bangladesh Open University, Dhaka.
Prof. Dasho Zangley Dukpa, VC, Royal Bhutan University, Thimphu.
Prof. H.P. Dikshit, VC, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.
Prof. Suresh Garg, Pro-VC, Indira Gandhi Open University, New Delhi.
Dr. Hassan Hameed, Maldives Collage for Higher Education, Maldives.
Prof. Hom Nath Bhattarai, Member Secretary, U.G.S. Kathmandu, Nepal.
Prof. Suresh Raj Sharma, VC, Khatmandu University, Nepal
Prof. Altaf Hussain, VC, Alama lqbal Open University, Pakistan.
Prof. Naveed A. Malik, Rector, Virtual University of Pakistan.
Prof. (Ms.) Uma Coomaraswamy, VC, Open University of Sri Lanka,
Prof. P. Ramaiah, Rector
Dr. BR. Ambedkar, Open University, Hyderabad.
Dr. Amrapali M. Merchant, VC, B. Ambedkar Open University, Ahmedabad.
Prof. Surabhi Banerjee, VC, Netaji Subhas Open University, Kolkata.
Prof. R.V. Vyas, VC,Vardhaman Mahavir Open University, Kota, Rajasthan
Prof. R.K. Singh, VC, Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University, Bhopal.
Prof. Vijay Shankar Dubey, VC, Nalanda Open University, Patna, Bihar.
Prof. D.P. Singh, VC, U. P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahabad.
Prof. K. Sudha Rao, VC, Karnataka State Open University, Mysore.
Prof. B.P. Sabale, VC, Y. Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik.
Prof. J. Ahmed Khan Tareen, University of Kashmir, Srinagar.
Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, University of Jammu, Jammu.
Prof. M.S. Palanichamy, VC, Tamil Nadu Open University, Chennai.

4. Encouraged by the success of the joint venture, it was unanimously agreed that the existing PGD-ESD be upgraded to a Masters-level programme by the same universities with terms and conditions of funding by SAF remaining the same. The content coordinator will liaise with the Open Universities.

 5. On the new teacher training courses, it was agreed that the courses will be developed at five levels - primary, secondary, senior secondary, head teachers and training of master trainers. SAF will fund 50 per cent of the total costs, which will be worked out by the content coordinator in collaboration with Prof. Altaf Hussain and Prof. Uma Coomaraswamy.

6. It was agreed in principle that SAF will help Afghanistan, Bhutan, the Maldives and will initially develop the proposal for Afghanistan in collaboration with Prof. Popai or his nominee by including the costs for connectivity, human resources and development requirements and the existing facilities.

7. Prof. Uma Coomaraswamy proposed that as with the groups and other conventional scholarships, the SAF may also offer distance learning scholarships to South Asian students in vocational training and higher education.

The proposal was accepted by the SAF Founder, Ambassador Madanjeet Singh, who called a special meeting of SAFDL Steering Committee next morning on 14^th December 2003 just before the start of the SAF General Conference), and announced the unprecedented decision to offer an additional 10,000 SAF Madanjeet Singh scholarships for vocational training and higher education for the marginalized South Asian students with social and economic disadvantages.

8. Accordingly, a Sub-Committee to formulate the guidelines for the 10,000 SAF Madanjeet Singh Scholarships was set up comprising:

a) Prof. H.P. Dikshit, VC, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
b) Prof. Suresh Garg, SAFDL Content Coordinator
c) Prof. Ershadul Bari, VC, Bangladesh Open University, Dhaka
d) Prof. Altaf Hussain, VC, Alama Iqbal Open University, Pakistan and
e) Prof. Uma Coomaraswamy, VC, Open University of Sri Lanka (Coordinator)

9. The scholarship amount will be equivalent to US $ 300 per annum for each awardee. One third of Scholarships will be reserved for fresh students within the overall limit of the number allocated to that country.

10. The number of scholarships per member country will be based on the enrollment in post-graduate programmes and vocational training programmes in an Open University/ ODL Institution/ Department in that country.

11. A minimum number of 100 scholarships will be made available for postgraduate programmes and vocational training programmes to countries not qualified under Article 10.

12. The selection of students will be made using the following criteria:

a) Gender equality and minorities balance.
b) Performance in the previous educational career.
c) Any other details to be decided upon by the respective universities/institutions.

13. Continuation of the Scholarship will be performance?based.

14. The concerned Universities/Institutions offering the courses will be responsible for monitoring the progress and reporting it regularly to the respective Chairpersons of the SAF Chapters.

15. The guidelines proposed by the above mentioned subcommittee were slightly modified subsequently by Ambassador Madanjeet Singh with the approval of SAF Chairpersons as follows:

16. Transparency will be the principal guiding factor in the management of the SAF-Madanjeet Singh Scholarship Scheme.

17. Applying for the scholarships will be subject to SAF membership which is free of cost. Members will have to sign a pledge stating that a dynamic South Asian culture of peace and democracy can emerge only through promotion of regional cooperation, nourished with the energy and idealism of Youth.

18. Only nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will be eligible for the Scholarships to be offered annually for Post Graduate Programmes and Vocational Training programmes.

19. The scholarships are reserved exclusively for the marginalized students with social and economic disadvantages. Annual income to be based as far as applicable to Government bursaries/need based scholarship of the respective countries.

20. The number of scholarships to be allocated for each University/Institution in the eight South Asian countries will be determined by the SAF Founder, Ambassador Madanjeet Singh, in consultation with the respective SAF Chairpersons and the two Coordinators, Prof. Uma Coomaraswamy and Prof. Suresh Garg.

21. 60% of the total number of scholarships will be made available to Indian Universities/ Institutions and processed through Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

22. The concerned Universities / Institutions will identify the locations and arrange for interviews of the students applying for scholarships in the presence of a SAF representative. They will prepare a short list to be sent for the final selection by Special Committees of eminent persons nominated by SAF Chairpersons.

23. Disbursement of scholarships shall be through the Chairpersons of SAF Chapters who will arrange to transfer the scholarship amounts directly to the bank accounts of the selected students with a copy for information to the concerned Vice Chancellor/Head of the Institution.

24. As regional cooperation is the cardinal objective of South Asia Foundation, it would be obligatory for of the concerned Universities/ Institutions to organize:

a) An Orientation meeting of selected students before the start of the courses.
b) Arrange a Mid-Term Seminar to make the students aware of the merits of regional cooperation and
c) Establish a statuary requirement for the student to submit a paper relating to regional cooperation on any subject of his/her choice before awarding them the diplomas/certificates.

25. The cost incurred on Article 24 will be paid for by the concerned Universities/ Institutions.

26. The SAF chapters in each country will arrange and pay for the widespread media publicity of the SAF-Madanjeet Singh scholarships programme in consultation with the concerned Universities / institutions, besides advertising through the SAF website www.southasiafoundation.org.

27. The scholarship winners (a female and a male) in each University/Institution who receive the highest percentages of marks and whose term paper on regional cooperation is adjudged to be the best will be awarded SAF-Madanjeet Singh Medals and provided financial support to travel in any one of the SAF-affiliated countries for a period of 15 days.

28. SAF shall have the right to discontinue the scholarship programme in any country, University/Institution that fails to strictly adhere to the above mentioned criteria of rules and regulations.

Madanjeet Singh
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Founder, South Asia Foundatio