The proceedings of the inaugural session of this UNESCO-sponsored seminar, which reviewed new developments in higher education in the Asia and Pacific region and formulated a proposal for the establishment of a regional resource center for distance education, are presented in four chapters. The first introduces the seminar's purpose, summarizes its major conclusions, and lists seminar participants. The second chapter contains the text of a proposal for the establishment of a regional resource center which outlines: (1) the rationale for the center; (2) its projected scope, function, organization, and structure; (3) anticipated sources of revenue for its support; and (4) the initiative of the Asian Association of Open Universities in establishing the center. Resolutions of the seminar are presented in the third chapter, and the final chapter contains minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Asian Association of Open Universities. Appended are speeches presented at the inaugural session and a list of participants and their addresses. (GL)