ABOUT SARDEC
Southern African Regional Distance Education Centre (SARDEC), is an Open and Distance Learning (ODL) centre of excellence in Southern Africa. The Centre’s main function is to build ODL capacity within the region at all levels. SARDEC will assist the region to widen access to education provision through various projects and programmes prioritized in its action plan. The result is expected to be the accellerated facilitation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that all Southern African countries have committed to.
SARDEC started operating from 1st June 2005 and already a number of projects have been lined up for the region. The Centre hopes to get maximum support from the regional institutions in terms of participating in all arranged activities and availing expertise on short term attachments/secondments to its office for identified projects and activities. The SARDEC offices are located in Botswana at Botswana College of Distance and Open Learning (BOCODOL) along Garamothose Road, plot number 39972/1. Botswana also hosts the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat.
I believe you will find visiting the SARDEC web site a worthwhile experience.
Thank you.
Thulaganyo Thutoetsile
SARDEC Coordinator
For more information about SARDEC, please contact the Coordinator at;
tmogotsi@bocodol.ac.bw or tthutoetsile@bocodol.ac.bw
Tel. 00267 3180094
Fax. 00267 3191089
Vision
SARDEC is a hub of collaboration and capacity building in the management of ODL for accelerated human resource development in Southern Africa.
Mission
SARDEC provides capacity building programmes for effective and efficient management of ODL institutions within the SADC countries and acts as a repository for institutions’ information, materials and expertise.
This is achieved through
· Responsive and relevant training
· Collecting and disseminating ODL information and materials
· Facilitation of collaboration amongst ODL institutions
· Maintaining up to date database of research and expertise
· Establishing and maintaining SARDEC Web Site
Values
- Quality Service : We shall strive for excellence
- Team work : We shall promote collaboration amongst ODL institutions
- Consultation : We shall adopt the right modes of effective communication
in dealing with beneficiaries of our service
- Life long Learning [Thuto]: We shall promote the culture of continuous
learning and the quest for excellence
SARDEC Principles
The following principles underpin the SARDEC work ethos and as such define its value statement;
- Sensitivity to diverse needs of the Southern African member states
- Sensitivity to differing levels of development of the Southern African member states
- Sensitivity to partners and other stakeholders
- Ensuring a common vision/purpose within the Southern African ODL fraternity
- Ensuring collaboration of government ministries of education, international development agencies, civil society, and non governmental organizations
- Researched educational needs of the region to form the corner stone of SARDEC action plan
- Avoidance of reinvention of the wheel
- Use of existing structures and expertise to address the Southern African ODL needs
Governance
SARDEC is headed by a Coordinator who reports to the Advisory Board that comprise the following countries; Botswana (Chair), Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Mauritius, Zambia and Swaziland. Other board members include UNESCO, DEASA, ADEA, SADAC Secretariat and COL. The Board meets once or twice a year. The first Board meeting is scheduled during week beginning 31st October 2005. In addition, there is a Consultative Forum that meets either annually or biennially. All Southern African countries are automatic members of the Forum until a country withdraws its membership.
