摘要：The South Asia is at the focus of Post 2015 developmental agenda primarily because of the
largest concentration of poor population. Though the region is growing at the rate of 6 % during
past 20 years the inequalities are on rise. It is a major impediment in the realization of
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The glaring socioeconomically inequalities in the
region call for major educational interventions in the region. Open and Distance Learning
systems (ODL) have emerged as a viable option due to its potential to smooth out inequalities.
However the growth of these systems has been largely uneven in the region. Whereas some
of the countries have been able to develop world class capabilities to design and deliver such
programmes, the smaller countries have little policy level sensitization on these matters. The
Quality, Scope and Diversity of these programmes make them ideal option for Educational
Diplomacy. Regional Cooperation based on ODL can help the South Asia to achieve SDGs.
Such soft diplomatic initiatives will build “People to People Contacts”, create workforce to
Strengthen Trade, develop Mutual Appreciation and Trust in South Asian Communities.
Further it will counter the hard diplomatic interventions of developed countries and balance the
geopolitical environment of the South Asian region. This article evolves a perspective for
networking of ODL institutions for meeting the emerging developmental needs and describes
the issues which come across such a networking.
关键词：Open and Distance Learning (ODL); Educational Diplomacy; Satellite;
Sustainable Development Goals; SAARC; South Asia; Space Diplomacy
