Works on South Asian University in progress: Govt

New Delhi, Mar 11 (UNI) The Government would soon be appointing a CEO for the SAARC project of establishing a South Asian University in the country, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Human Resource Development D Purandeswari, in a written reply, said the decision to set up the institution was taken at the 14th SAARC Summit, following which an Inter-Governmental Agreement for establishing South Asian University had been signed.

The Inter-Governmental Steering Committee set up to finalise the modalities for operationalisation of the University at its first meeting in May 2007 had agreed to establish a Project Office for the main campus of the University.

The Office will be responsible for acquisition of land, overseeing construction, drawing up Charter, Byelaws, business plans etc of the South Asian University.

''It was agreed that the Project Office will be headed by an interim CEO from the host country with appropriate academic and administrative credentials and experience of running a large institution/university. The Government has already initiated action in this regard,'' Mr Purandeswari said.

UNI NAZ SHB RN1913