SWEDISH SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES NETWORK

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Directions for SASNET - Swedish South Asian Studies Network, Lund University:

From 1 January 2010, SASNET is only funded by Lund University. The national board was dissolved on 30 September 2010.
On the same date, SASNET’s directions – see below – ceased to be in force.
New directions will hopefully come into force during 2011, after a Lund University reorganisation of SASNET.

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Directions issued by the Vice-Chancellor, Lund University, on 2001-06-07 (dnr I D 9 2830/2001).
Revised on 2008-10-23 (dnr RÄ 2008/410); and on 2009-05-07 (dnr LS 2009/244).

SASNET is a national network for research, education, and information about South Asia. The aim is to encourage and promote an open and dynamic networking process, in which Swedish researchers co-operate with researchers in South Asia and globally. The network is open to all sciences. Priority is given to co-operation between disciplines and across faculties, as well as institutions in the Nordic countries and in South Asia. The basic idea is that South Asian studies will be most fruitfully pursued in co-operation between researchers, working in different institutions with a solid base in their mother disciplines.

A network root node will be based at Lund University. The network root node will operate an Internet gateway for interaction and information on South Asian studies. The network root node will initiate, stimulate, and support South Asian studies at Lund University and within Öresund University.

1. The main tasks of the network are to:

• in various ways initiate, stimulate, and support research co-operation via planning and programme grants for networking (e.g., meetings, travel, visit of guest researchers, co-ordination, etc.)
• in various ways initiate, stimulate, and support academic South Asian studies in Sweden, or studies relevant to South Asia, e.g., via grants for networking in developing undergraduate and graduate courses in Sweden and the Nordic countries, if possible in partnership with universities in South Asia
• encourage PhD studies specialising on South Asia, including networking among single research students in institutions that do not specialise on South Asia
• promote student and researcher exchange between Sweden (the Nordic countries) and South Asia
• build an information system for South Asian studies in partnership with academic and public institutions, media, business communities, and NGOs
• contribute to co-ordination of consultations between researchers and different public institutions, business organisations, and NGOs

2. The board

SASNET will be led by a board consisting of 9-11 persons from:

• Lund University (3)
• Other universities and university colleges in Sweden (4)
• Universities and university colleges in the other Nordic countries
• PhD candidates
• Sida
• Business organisations and NGO’s

Deputy members may be appointed for each category.
The vice-chancellor appoints the chairperson, the members and deputy members. However, the members representing students, especially PhD candidates, is appointed according to existing rules and regulations, see * below.
The mandate period for the board members is three years, execept in the case of the student representatives for whom the mandate period is one year.

At the time of elections for a new board, the board will appoint an election committee with a majority of members from outside the board. The election committee will put forward candidates to the vice-chancellor.

The board will direct all activities including decisions about the distribution of grants to various activities and networking programmes in accordance with the aims of the network. Larger grants are to be distributed after due applications and assessment by a reference group of established scholars in the field.

3. Network root node

The network root node is led by a director (co-ordinator). The vice-chancellor, advised by the board, will appoint a director for a period of three years. The appointment may be renewed.

The director (co-ordinator) will organise the meetings of SASNET’s board and manage the work at the root node. The co-ordinator will plan and carry out various activities in close collaboration with the board, the co-ordinators of SASNET supported programmes, as well as South Asian, Swedish and international network partners. Granted the idea of an open and dynamic network of activities, the director’s main role should be that of a broker, connecting people and resources, starting up new activities and supporting the programme co-ordinators in their work.

The director (co-ordinator) should be a highly qualified South Asia researcher, university teacher, supervisor, administrator and programme-builder, with well-established research contacts in, and familiarity with, the South Asian region. Experience of work in a research council is desirable.

The network root node is responsible for running SASNET’s information and communication system.

4. Reference group of South Asian Researchers

SASNET will establish association with a reference group of South Asian researchers, with whom the root node and the board will consult about SASNET’s aims and activities. The reference group will function as an advisory and evaluative body and should have at least five but not more than ten members. The communication between the members of the reference group and SASNET should primarily take place through modern communication technology.

5. Finance

SASNET is financed by annual grants from Sida, grants from Lund University, and from any other grants that SASNET may receive from other funding bodies for short or long –term projects and programmes.

6. Institutional affiliation

SASNET belongs to the division of Special Activities of Lund University. SASNET may be moved to any faculty at the University by decision of the vice-chancellor.

7. Work report

SASNET will submit an annual work report.

8. Monitoring

SASNET’s activities are to be evaluated at the end of each three-year period (the mandate for the board and the director).

9. Any changes of these directions

will be stipulated by the vice-chancellor on the advice of the board or following consultation with the board.

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* Ledamot som är studentrepresentant ska, enligt 1 kap. 7 § högskoleförordningen (1993:100) utses i den ordning som föreskrivs i 16 § förordningen (1983:18) om studentkårer, nationer och studentföreningar vid universitet och högskolor.  Vid Lunds universitet gäller att studentrepresentanter utses av LUS.