The Academic Structure of South Asian University provides for creation of Faculties for the study of philosophy, history, culture, languages, social sciences, humanities, scientific and technological disciplines like engineering, life sciences, biotechnology, earth system sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics and medicine. The University is envisaged to be a super university, which in keeping with the Inter Governmental Agreement of April 2007 will endeavour to build a culture of understanding and regional consciousness, nurture a new class of liberal, bright and quality leadership, and build the capacity of the South Asian Region in science, technology and other disciplines, vital for improving quality of human life in SAARC nations.

The much delayed state-of-the- art campus of South Asian University on its permanent premises will take some more time before its full infrastructure takes off, sources in the Ministry of External Affairs, which is the nodal Ministry, said.

The South Asian University has been set up by an Act of Parliament of India notified and enforced with effect from January 13, 2009 with its Headquarters Agreement signed with SAARC Secretariat on December 1, 2008.

The proposal for a South Asian University was mooted in 2005. The formal agreement between SAARC Member countries, to this effect, was signed in April 2007 during the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi.

The upcoming South Asian University has generated huge expectations among the SAARC nations. It is visualized as a major initiative to build upon the civilisational and historical linkages and the past shared experiences to enable countries of the region to rediscover and rebuild connectivity of the people and their commonalities in the region in order to deepen bonding among themselves for further development of peace and progress.

Meanwhile, legal formalities have been completed for the establishment of the Nalanda University, which is an initiative of the East Asian Summit. Accordingly, under the Nalanda University Act, 2010, the University has been set up with effect from November 25, 2010. A Vice Chancellor since appointed has commenced operations from the project office in New Delhi.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the nodal Ministry in charge of the University, the Government of Bihar has already agreed to transfer land acquired by it for the University, the process for which has been set in motion. The Nalanda Mentor Group, which is now the Interim Governing Board of the University, is in the process of deciding various administrative issues relating to the establishment of the University including framing of its statutes and financial rules.

The Nalanda University will recapture the learning of the civilisational strengths of India’s glorious past and deepen further the country’s engagements with the East Asian Tigers i.e. nations following Buddhism.