South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

Founded in 1985, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an intergovernmental organization comprising eight countries in South Asia, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAARC was established in 1985 with the objective of promoting economic and social development in the region through regional cooperation and integration.

One of the areas of focus for SAARC is higher education. The organization has established the South Asian University (SAU), a regional university located in New Delhi, India, with the aim of promoting higher education and research in the region. SAU offers a range of postgraduate programs in various disciplines, including social sciences, mathematics, computer science and biotechnology.

In addition to SAU, SAARC also supports various initiatives and programs to promote higher education and research in the region. This includes facilitating academic and research exchanges among universities in the member countries, providing scholarships and grants to students and researchers and supporting the development of regional networks and partnerships among higher education institutions.

To recap SAARC plays a significant role in promoting regional cooperation and integration in higher education and research, with the aim of advancing economic and social development in South Asia.