Meetings of the Committee of Heads of University Grants Commission/Equivalent Bodies

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.