The SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning (SACODiL) is a regional cooperation agency set up under the auspices of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) with the objectives of promoting cooperation and collaboration among institutions imparting knowledge through open and distance learning within member states, and promoting its use as a viable and cost-effective method of imparting quality education at all levels.
A Task Force, comprising the four Vice-Chancellors of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and delegates from Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal, was formed which recommended, inter alia, that the organisation be designated as the SAARC Consortium of Open and Distance Learning (SACODiL).
[2] The Task Force was eventually redesignated as the SACODiL Task Force met on August 23–25, 1999 at the SAARC Secretariat and proposed a regional mechanism for cooperation and collaboration in the SAARC region, and to promote the use of open and distance learning at all levels of education.
The proposal identified the objectives of the SACODiL as joint development of programmes/courses, evolving mechanisms for credit transfer, accumulation and accreditation, sharing information technology to reach out to remote areas and under-privileged people and other matters relating to achieving the goals spelt out by the Vice-Chancellors during their Colombo Meeting.
[3] The SAARC Forum of Vice Chancellors met for the second time on December 2–3, 2002 in New Delhi, India and a decision was made to operate SACODiL through a rotational Secretariat.