Stakeholders Urge Reforms to Retain Students and Attract International Enrollment in Nepal

Kathmandu. Stakeholders have emphasized the need to create an environment that encourages Nepali students to pursue their undergraduate studies within the country.

During a program organized by Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu on Thursday, participants stressed that universities must introduce programs designed to retain Nepali students while simultaneously attracting international students.

Dr. Bijukumar Thapaliya, Vice-Chancellor of Purbanchal University, highlighted the significant potential in medical education. He noted that Nepal could attract students from India, as well as from countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

He suggested that developing curricula focused on unique subjects could help attract students, adding that Purbanchal University is preparing to launch an MBBS program. 

Professor Dr. Bim Shrestha of Kathmandu University stated that an environment must be created to keep Nepali students in the country for their undergraduate education. He emphasized that this requires providing facilities comparable to those offered by foreign universities. 

He further suggested that Nepal should place special emphasis on climate change education, noting that the country may struggle to compete globally in IT and AI-related education. 

Former Vice-Chancellor of Tribhuvan University, Dr. Tirtha Khaniya, argued that the status of an international university is not determined solely by the number of foreign students enrolled.

He described the exchange of learning as the greatest achievement of a university, while expressing concern that the Ministry of Education lacks information regarding the international rankings of Nepal's universities. 

He asserted that universities are universal entities that foster the best of human concepts, lamenting that the Ministry of Education has failed to grasp these principles. He concluded that unless the Ministry actively works to elevate Nepal's education sector to international standards, meaningful progress will remain elusive.