r GNH lnsp~red Bhutanese Educatmn

r Ac&idernl~ Progl-am$ ta be Initiated In the South AslM univergrty

a Talks and Lectures

a & h w prepan$ far the t P &%ARC EkmPRlt

Message

Ministry of External Affairs New hlhi 110 01 1

Phone: 2301 2318 Fax: 2331 6781 E-mail: dirfsme9.gov.in

t was at the Thirteenth SAARC Summit in Dhaka in 2005 that I 1 the Prime W s t e r of Inda had proposed the creation of a

world class institution of learning to bring together the brightest and the most dedicated students of South Asia. This was the genesis of the South Asian University (SAU).

It gives me great pleasure to note that the vision, of setting up a

m University designed to inculcate a distinct 'South Rn'm comcs'omeess' among hture generations of the region, is close to realization. Pooling

together the collective knowledge and expertise of the region would not only create a regional centre of academic excellence, it would also promote peace, cooperation, amity and harmony in the region.

A major step forward in the establishment of the SAU has been the recent acquisition of land in the prestigious institutional area of India's capital city, close to many other reputed academic institutions and research organizations. We are hopeful that the infrastructural and legal contours of the SAU will be finalized at the upcoming Sixth Intergovernmental Steering Committee meeting in New Delhi in early March to allow the issue to be placed before the Sixteenth SAARC Summit in Thimphu. The timely fulfilment of these conditions will not only enable the SAU project office to begin planning and d e b of the LJniversity campus but to commence its first academic session on schedule in August 2010.

I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the Project Office of the South Asian University, under the able and enltghtened leadership of its CEO, Professor G.K. Chadha, for effectively steering the process of establishing the University. This challenging task could not have been undertaken without the fullest support and cooperation of every person, institution or organization, directly and indirectly involved. I thank them for the support and cooperation they have extended in the building of the SAU. I am confident ' that all stakeholders d continue to work together in bringing the process to fruition.

I have no doubt in my mind that many years from now those of us associated with the SAU project will be gratified to have been part of the realization of a vision that encapsulates the best hopes of a future South Asia.

Niruparna Rao

Igniting Minds for Progress

GNH Inspired Bhutanese Education

"We can dream of a stsang buraucracy of the high& atandardr, but we muet not farget th&t TProea, etandards arcs set in schools and crallegm where our future bureaucrats are;

We can dream af wor+d-clasa IT parks, financial centere.. .of competing ~ l t international str%mrds, but we must not Forget that WB can hwe none of these if our cdlegee do not bestow such talents and akills;

I want you ta know #at as King, my parnoion will dways be to nurture our youth for it is their ~Wlls, their labour and emmitmnt to the country that will build gur future;

Th~re ie rwt otfmr p&h - ns other tad -for Bhutm's

r he history of organized public education in Bhutan is just over 50

years. But with the commitment of the Royal Government, as His Majesty the King expresses, Bhutan has made great strides in education. Under the enlightened leadership of its Kings, the Government has always put people at the centre of its development strategies, guided by the development philosophy of "Gross National Happiness" (GNH)'. Education of its people has been central to all its efforts in the development of the country. Within the span of just over fifty years, Bhutan has developed a diversified system of educational institutions.

Tertiary Education .

Bhutan launched its one and only University, the Royal University of Bhutan, in June 2003, by bringing together the ten tertiary Institutes under one organization. The Jniversity also has two affiliated Colleges. Nhile the University as an organization is ielatively young, most of its constituent Colleges have been established in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

All the Colleges are dispersed across the :ountry as shown in the map. Each of the Colleges specializes in an area of study and research, and functions as Faculties 3f the University. The Calleges of the Royal University of Bhutan offer courses in Liberal Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Education including teacher training, Health Sciences including Traditional Medicine, Bhutanese Language and Culture, Natural Resources including

1 In the mid-1980s, His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck proclaimed that "Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product" and launched Bhutan on a unique path of development that seek to balance sustainable and equitable economic development with environmental conservation, cultural promotion, and good governance.

I the Constitution of Bhutan. While the dispersed population and the highly mountainous terrain pose formidable challenges, Bhutan has achieved a net I primary enrolment of 91.82 per cent and a net basic education enrolment of 88.36 per cent. The remaining are the hardest to reach and could pose the greatest challenge.

VboatPonal andTechnical Education

For those who do not continue further into academic studies on completion of basic education, there is a system of vocational and technical study program including traditional arts and crafts, to train the youth to enter skilled workforce as masons, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, etc. In addition, there

An Artist at Work are a number of private institutes which provide IT-enabled vocational training,

Agriculture, Commerce and Business in Bhutan and constitutes one of the basic financial

Studies. principles of GNH. Basic education with management and publishing.

The Royal University of Bhutan has a total 11 years of schooling is guaranteed by However, this is a sector which is probably

capacity of 5000 students, but it has expansion plans to accommodate 9000 students by 2013. All students admitted to the ~Znst i tusnt Coll6.ges of the University are sponsored by the Government and are selected on merit based on their Higher Secondary School Examination results.

School Education

Each morning from Monday through Friday, about 1,64,262 students across Bhutan start their day in a morning assembly, with the call for wisdom and confidence to guide their actions, and pray for the light of peace and happiness to shine over all the people of Bhutan.

This event is a unique feature of education

Never late to learn: a non formal class in session

3 e Royal UnSw~sity of Rhut9n, founded on June 3,2003, by a Royal Decree is he national university system d Bhutan. It was established to consolidate the nanagment of tertiary edwt ion in Bhutan. It is a system university with 10 mtituent colleges spread acmss lhe Kingclom. The underlying principle which nfluen~ed the development of a university system was the Government's priority or equitable developmmt. The 10 memW cdkges are:

Sherubtse College, in the East

Paro College of Education (PCE) in the West

Sarntse College of Education ( S E ) in the South

College of Science and Technology (CST) in the Soyth

Institute for Language and Cultural Studies (ILiGS) in the West

College of Natural Resources (CNR) in the West Central

National Institute of Traditional Mdi i ine (NITM) in the Wmt

Royal Institute of Health Sciences (RIHS) in the West

Gaeddu College of Business Studies (GCBS) in the Swth West

J i g m Namgyel Polytechnic (JNP) in the South East

The Institute for Language and Cultural Studies, presently in Semtcrkha near himphu, is s&tA to expand to 500+ students and move to Taktsi in Trongsa kongkhag.

rh% Royal University of Bhutan a lw maintains a strong connection with the Jniversity of New Brunswick, and mdinateS muttiple exchange and internship ~rograrns for students and faculty, I

2 Bhutan ushered in a democratically elected Government in 2008 which has been initiated and instituted by the Fourth King, Hi Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

I 1 3

An Update from South Asian Universil . .I . .

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"At the end of our week together, it still feels somewhat easier to describe what such a graduate is not. We know that what we want to see is very different from the economic animal that conventional educational systems so often seem to nurture, where success is measured by money, career, acquisition, fame, power, and self- aggrandizement".

Prime Minister of Bhuian Lyonchen Jigmi L: Thir 'Education for GNH"

iley addressing the international workshop on

the weakest link in the whole education system. Larger number sf training places and a broader range of courses are required to meet the skill needs of a growing economy which has a mandate to prwide meaningful employment to the growing number of youth leaving school on completion of basic education.

The highly successful "Non-Formal Education Program" organised by the Ministry of Education provides a second chance for those who missed the opportunity to attend a formal school. The program provides literacy training for adults in centres spread throughout the country. This program has covered more than 140,0(30 students' so far, representing 23 per cent at Bhutan's population. The Ministry of Education wants to use this program to enhance the literacy levels from 53 per cent at present to 70 per cent by 2013.

Monastic Education

A small monastic education system runs parallel to the formal secular education system at all levels for those who join the monastic system. For hundrds of years this weathia only formal education system. It teaches a combination of Buddhist philosaphy, logic, astrology, and language.

Bhutanese monastic institutions are a treasure trove of ancient wisdom which could provide solutions to present day problems.

I"utun Initiated and driven by the Prime Minister, Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinlsy2, Bhutan is embarking on a mission of infuaing its education system with the values and principles of Grass National Happiness. This initiative was launched, in a week long dialogue, which took place from 7th to 12th of December 2009, amongst 22 of the world's top educators in the fields of holistic education, ecoliteracy and sustainability education, contemplative education, indigenous knowledge, and critical and analytical thinking along with 59 intehrnattianal observers from 16 countries with Bhutan's own leading educators.

In his closing address, tf7g Prim@ M'tnihPfer remarked, "At the end of our week together, it still feel@ tomew what easier to

Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigmi L: Thinley

describe what suck a graduate is not. We . know that what we want tr, w e is very different from the economic animal that conventional educational systems so often seem to nurture, where sucws is measured by money, career, acquisition, fame, power, and self-aggrandizement.

Knowing how different our vision and goals are, we know with certainty that what we want to see is nothing less than transformative - graduates who are genuine human beings, realizing their full and true potential, caring for others in~luding Gher species, ecologically literate, contemplative as well as analytical in their understanding of the world, free . of greed and without excessive desires; knowing, understanding, and appreciating completttely that they are not separate from the natural world and from others in sum manifesting their humanity fully.

..... In the end, a GNH-educated graduate will have no doubt that Dr. Psma Thinley Vice Chancellor Royal University of Bhutan his or her happineas dwivss only from contributing lo the happing$$ of others."

What is attempted here is unprecedsnbd, While one finds examples of individual schools and institutions who teach along philosophical lines that are different from conventional practice, af which South Asian University is going to be om, no country hm ever tried to transform the whale of ib education system as Bhutan is naw @iTtmpting.

Dr. Pema Thinley Vice CIXWG~JI~

Royal Uniwr6ify af I Bhutan . . . - . .

Academic Programs to be Initiated in the South Asian University

S teering Committee of the SAU had decided to initiate academic activities

of the University by offering three specific programs; these being (a) a three year MCA (Masters in Computer Applications) program in the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences and lnformation and Communication Technology, (b) a two year MA (Developmental Economics) program in the Faculty of Economics, and (c) a two year M.Sc. Biotechnology program in the Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology. Of these three programs, the first two may be initiated as early as in August / September 2010 whereas the Biotechnology program may follow in the next academic session. Course outlines for these programs have been developed. Basic ideas behind these programs are as follows:

MCA program: The current development in Computing and lnformation and Communication Technology (ICT) has created a visible shift in IT - enabled technologies and services in the SAARC region. The existing Master's program in Computer Applications will provide exposure to candidates, especially in view of emerging inter-disciplinary techniques in governance, finance, life sciences, etc. It was considered imperative to design a program which should be a balanced blending of emerging needs and strengthening the basics of computing techniques. The proposed curriculum is inter-disciplinary in nature and prepares the candidate for higher learning not only in the field of lnformation and Communication Technology but also in the allied areas of computational sciences, lnformation Technology enabled management etc. The three important components viz. analytical tools, computing and computational techniques and emerging applications have been incorporated. Special care has been taken to keep the students abreast of the current and future trends in the field. The program would enable the graduating students to enter the job market as well as to embark upon further studies, such as M.Tech. and Ph.D. programs in Computer Sciences and ICT.

MA (Development Economics Program): The key objective of the

One of the prime objectives of

the South Asian University is to inculcate regional consciousness amongst students so that they can be

enlightened and informed citizens of not only their respective countries but also of the South Asian region All students of the South Asian University will therefore be required to take a compulsory course on Introduction to South Asia, which will cover the

history, economics, resources and challenges in the region.

program wi# be to introduce the students to economic theories along with their applications to developing economies in general, and South Asian economies in particular. The course will provide the necessary analytical and critical skills that will prepare the students for further research and for work as professional economists. Apart from providing rigorous quantitative training in applied economics, the course will aim at exposing the students to alternative theoretical foundations in economics. There will be a specific emphasis in understanding the problems of regional economic development in South Asia. The focus of the first two semesters will be on the core courses in economics. In the third and fourth semesters, there will be optional courses which will offer the students a wide range of choices.

M.Sc. (Biotechnology): SAARC region represents a community of developing nations beset with economic poverty. There is an urgent need to catch up with the latest technologies available in the world today and to develop more relevant technologies with an aim to facilitate the upliftment of societies in these countries. Tools of biotechnology would be of immense help in improving the health care

and food availability and would go a long way in ensuring safe environment; M.Sc. Biotechnology program of SAU has been developed with an aim to produce graduates who would have sufficient knowledge and expertise to pursue urgent problems of the region. There has been a serious concern about the existing biotechnology coursed. In most cases these are not significantly different from Biology or Life Sciences courses and have not empowered students in technical skills or ehtrepreneurship. It is important to devise a course structure that is technology-centric where students basically learn technology and are taught necessary basic subjects for that purpose. First semester would be devoted to recapitulate the basic Biology, Chemistry Physics and lnformation Technology and will bring all students coming from diverse disciplines and educational backgrounds at a common level. Second and the Third Semester will focus on science relevant to the development of appropriate biotechnologies as well as the ,

technologies and in the fourth semester the students will be instructed in the practice of animal, agricultural, microbial and medical technologies with an underlying thread of recombinant DNA techniques.

One of the prime objectives of the South Asian University is to inculcate regional consciousness~ amongst students so that they can be enlightened and informed citizens of not only their respective countries but also of the South Asian region All students of the South Asian University will therefore be required to take a compulsory course on Introduction to South Asia, which will cover the history, economics, resources and challenges in the region.

Details about the eligibility for various academic programs, admission procedure and information about the tuition and other fees will be placed on the university website (www.southasianuniversity.org) as soon as they are finalized.

Prof. Rajiv K. Saxena OSD (Academics & Planning), SAU

An Update from South Asian Universi

Talks and Lectures

Professor Chadha addresses the Vice-Chancellors and other Senior Education Administrators of Australian Universities

Prof. G.K.Chadha, CEO of South Asian University was invited to deliver the keynote address at the Universities Australia Annual Higher Education Conference 2010, held in Canberra between March 3 to 5, 2010. Prof. Chadha spoke on the effect of the recent global economic recession on the higher education sector in the developing world. Specifically dwelling upon the past five years of India's growth experience, he assured the Australian Academic Community that squeezing of educational plans was nowhere to be seen in India, and in most of the South Asian Region. On the contrary, the highly ambitious and growth-inducing university and college-level expansion plans that lndia is set to achieve during the on-going Eleventh Five Year Plan, and thereafter, are likely, not only to bridge India's big gaps in gross rnrolment ratio in higher education vis-a-vis the developed world but also catapult India's economy to a still higher growth trajectory. The gaps between rural and urban areas, between males and females and among social groups and religious communities have been a fester in the Indian society which the projected educational scenario is likely to reduce fairly substantially.

Professor Chadha addresses the First International Students Academic Convention at Panjab university, Chandigarh

Earlier, on February 23, 2010, Prof. Chadha delivered the presidential address at the First International Students Academic Convention at Panjab University, Chandigarh. Prof.

I Chadha reminded the strong gathering of about 200 students from lndia and other SAARC countries about the international dimensions of today's education. In particular, he shared with them

the high expectation of arousing regional consciousness among the students and faculty at the South Asian University soon to come up in New Delhi, lndia with its Regional Campuses coming up in due course of time in other SAARC countries, through the partnership of all the eight SAARC countries. The whole world academic community is keenly looking forward to the day when the South Asian University would carve out a highly 1 respectable academic niche among the best and the most respected Universities of the world, not only in terms of the outstanding quality of students that it produces year after year but also in terms of the quantum of goodwill, mutual respect and regional cohesion that it ushers in. C

Prof. Saxena speaks on Evolution and Human Fertility

Prof. Rajiv K. Saxena, OSD Academics and Planning, SAU, gave a popular talk on "Darwinian Evolur~on and the fate of Humanity" in Delhi University on February 10, 2010. The talk focused on the evolution of human brain and mind that has not only given humans the uniaue abilitv to contemplate and propagate knowledge, but is also responsible for development of Science and Technology as

well as changes in self-perception of humans in the post-modern era. The latter changes have resulted in a sharp decline in the fertility rate of humans in technologically advanced societies. Prof. Saxena said that the drop in fertility is not yet clearly visible in South Asian countries especially in India, though some southern states of lndia now have fertility rates that are lower than the minimum required for replacement of the population. High fertility rates associated with the South Asian countries, Prof. Saxena stressed, is a temporary phase that in the short run (next several decades) would impart a certain advantage to South Asian region and make this region a source of much needed skilled manpower for themselves as well as for the whole world. In the long run however, as the region develops, the attendant problem of falling fertility rates will have to be faced in this region also. Proper short and long term assessment of manpower requirement would therefore be needed for proper planning of developmental activities in the region.

Spotlight on Project Office Activities

Expert Group evolves cost-sharing principles for SAU main New appointments at SAU

campus in New Delhi Mr. Manpreet Vohra has joined the SAU Project Office as an OSD (Administration and Finance) with effect from Jan 1, 2010. Mr. Vohra comes to SAUPO 2 from the Ministry of External Affairs of lndia where he worked as a Joint Secretary and had served in various capacities in Indian Missions in Hong Kong, China, Mongolia, UK, Kenya and Pakistan. His last overseas assignment was in Islamabad, where he

I served as India's Deputy High Commissioner. Mr. Vohra has degrees in Economics and International Trade from the Punjab University, Chandigarh.

Mr. Md. Abdur Razzak from Dhaka Bangladesh, has joined the SAUPO as a Project Associate.

Expert Group for deciding cost-sharing, Prof. S. K. Thorat, during the Expert Group meeting in Mr. Razzak has a December 2009. master's degree in

h mass communication India as the host country of the main campus of the South Asian University would bear from University of Dhaka and before all capital cost of establishing the infrastructure of the main campus in Maidangarhi in joining the SAUPO he worked as a PRO New Delhi. This would include the cost of land, as well as the cost of construction and in the Bangladesh Council for Scientific furnishing of the university buildings, complete with science laboratories, research and Industrial Research. equipment and facilities. During its fourth meeting in Kathmandu, the Steering MS. Manori Yaps Committee of the SAU constituted an Expert Group comprising academics and finance Bandara from experts from all SAARC Member States, to recommend the operational expenditure of Alawwa, sri ~ ~ ~ k ~ , SAU as well as its sharing by the SAARC Member States. The Expert Group met in has also joined the New Delhi from December 2-5,2009 and fixed an operational budget of US$60 million SAUPO as a Project for the first phase (years 2010-2014) of the University. Cost-sharing of the operational Associate in the area budget of US$ 60m required for the first phase of five years would be (in of infrastr,ucture US$): Afghanistan, Bhutan and Maldives 2.30m each; Nepal and Sri Lanka, 2.95m development. MS.

Delhi from January 8-10, 2010.

each; Bangladesh 4.92m; Pakistan 7.85 and India 34.42. These figures were duly Bandara is a professional architect with a accepted during the subsequent fifth meeting of the Steering Committee, held in New master's degree in Architecture from the

University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

SAU Logo The Steering Committee of SAU in its fourth meeting in Kathmandu, selected the official logo of the university. The logo was submitted by Omair Faizullah, Director Creative and Product Development, Lahore. A first prize of US$ 3000 will soon be sent to Mr. Faizullah. The philosophy of the logo as described by the artist himself is:

"The logo represents the eight nations of SAARC. The basic form of the logo is octagonal, each side representing a country. The octagon, when used in the perspective of design turns into the numeral "8" which represents infinity (W) in a purely visual sense. The "8" 1 infinity symbol is then overlaid upon itself to present an evolving motif form that is present in varying contexts and interpretations in all of South Asia."

Bhutan prepares for the 16'h SAARC Summit The preparations for the 16th SAARC Summit are underway in earnest in Bhutan with various royal government ~ agencies spearheading the work, gearing towards a March-end completion deadline.

I

In all, about 450 delegates are expected to attend the Summit, besides a media contingent of approximately 150 persons.

The pre-summit meetings will commence from the third week of April at the Royal Banquet Hall, while the Summit on April 28-29 will be held in the National

r Assembly hall. The retreat for the SAARC leaders will be hosted at hotel Terma Linka in Babesa.

Thimphu will receive a major facelift with = gates, flags and banners planted all over. A group photograph of the pan'icipants of the fourth meeting of the Steering Committee of SAU,

held at Kathmandu from October 6-8, 2009

Progress in SAU main campus development Plans for creating a state-of-the-art campus for the South Asian University have moved up a gear. In February, the land - almost 100 acres - was formally purchased by lndiss Ministry of External Affairs from the Delhi Development Authority. Physical possession has also been taken by the Ministry, who will now transfer the land, free of

a cost, to the SAU. I . , I

Topographical survey and mapping of the site has been carried out by the Project Office. The Master Plan and Urban Design of the campus is now to be developed, as . also the architecture of the various buildings required to house 11 faculties, 5000 students and 500 teachers at the end of the first phase of the University's evolution.

The response to a planned international competition has been encouraging. The Project Office received expressions of interest from 70 architect firms in India, 4 from Pakistan, 4 from Sri Lanka, 1 from Nepal and 1 from

A massive 'Ieanmup campaign Of the the UK. An intensive scrutiny is going on 1 town and the riverbank shall begin shortly, involving Thimphu's residents.

to study the profiles of these firms and For mmentslsuggestions please contact:

The facades and rooftops of the buildings shortlist those that meet essential P,f. mm Editor

falling along the route of the dignitaries Standards and criteria* Email:rksaxena@swthasianuniver~ity.org

will all be done up. These pre-qualified firms will shortly be For more informatim:

The road between Thimphu and Par0 will invited b participate in the cor-fipetition. w . ~ n k w S i ~ l y O r ~

Tel No.: +91 11 26741738 be improved for safety, while hundreds They will be asked to submit drawings and No.: +91 243741741 of school children and other residents models for the Master Plan & Urban

Editorial Team: waving the flags of S A W and SAARC Design of the University, as also designs prof. Rajiv Saxena, OSD, SAU countries will receive the dignitaries for three specific buildings. An eminent Prof.S.V.D.Gamini Samamnecyake, along the way. international jury will select the winners. UGC1 Sri

Dr. Hassan Hameed, Rector, Maldives The heads of states and governments# The plan is to complete this exercise by al lege of Higher ~d~ti,,,, foreign ministers and foreign secretaries August 2010. will be housed at the Ministers' Enclave Editorial Support: Neelarn Gupta

in ~ ~ ~ i ~ h ~ ~ ~ , the major facelift work of For the remaining buildings, it is proposed D e s i g d and Printed by: Cybrwt Informations Pvt. Ltd.

which is ekpected to be complete by to invite architects from each Sv4RC Website: w.cyberart.co.in March 31. country to design these, ensuring thereby Telefax: 01334231676

An elabor&& security arrangement is that the University campus will contain Published by: Prof Rajiv I< Saxma on

being made besides entertainments elements from all and refJect a truly joint "ehalf of South Asian University

showcasing Bhutanese culture. : and cooperative South Asian endeavour.