SWEDISH SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES NETWORK

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SASNET and the Third Task:

Principles suggested by Jan Magnusson, SASNET acting programme secretary, 17 November, 2000

Approved by the Working Group meeting on 9 February 2001 as a guideline for SASNET’s work.

An important reason behind the formation of SASNET is a perceived lack of public knowledge about South Asia in Sweden. A primary activity in SASNET is therefore of a third task character; to diffuse information about South Asia. What follows are some suggested principles for SASNET’s third task work:

1. SASNET’s Third Task is a primarily a network activity.

2. SASNET’s service is predominantly Internet based.

SASNET will launch an Internet gateway for South Asian studies. The gateway is a tool that can be used to search and supply information, for example through accessing an Internet link library, list of experts, research projects etc. It is also a tool for diffusing information.

3. SASNET’s role is primarily to mediate information, not to produce it.

Using the gateway users searching for information and users providing information can find each other. The gateway can be used, for instance, by researchers, teachers, students, journalists, and the business community in Sweden and abroad to locate and exchange information. SASNET should actively encourage and promote this service.

4. The initiative for supplying and diffusing information lies mainly with the network at large.

The network coordinator and the webmaster at the node in Lund will constantly promote and encourage this network activity. The supply of information to the gateway should be allowed to flow randomly, and should be guided by an ambition to be open-minded and examine and store whatever comes up.

5. Network users update information.

A good gateway for South Asian studies resources in terms of (country specific) link libraries will attract users who want to be linked. For practical reasons, principal responsibility for updating the information accessible through SASNET’s gateway must be with the supplying user, and not with SASNET.

6. The information accessible through the gateway should be of good quality.

The quality screening and evaluation of information made accessible through the gateway is secured by recruiting a webmaster with academic qualifications in South Asian studies as well as general knowledge and interest in South Asia, and the gateway can be reviewed by SASNET’s reference group.