About the meeting
The Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) is a growing network of universities within and outside of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, aiming to promote regional and global collaboration in research and education for sustainable mountain futures. In Nepal, two new members – Nepal Open University and Far Western University – have recently joined the Consortium, bringing the total number of university members to six (out of 12 universities in the country). An increasing number of Nepali researchers have taken part in HUC’s capacity building programmes in the past two years. Some Nepali scholars have co-led various thematic working groups and cross-cutting workgroups.
HUC’s previous country chapter meeting took place on 11-12 August 2018 in Pokhara, generously hosted by Pokhara University. This country chapter meeting on 23 December 2021, will be hosted by Kathmandu University at its Dhulikhel campus, and will bring together Vice Chancellors (VCs), Deans and focal persons to review recent activities of the Consortium in the region and in Nepal and deliberate on the future and sustainability of the network.
This meeting is convened by Prof. Bim Prasad Shrestha, HUC Steering Committee Member, Kathmandu University, and coordinated by the HUC Secretariat, ICIMOD.
Objectives
- Review current activities by HUC members, Thematic Working Groups and fellows in Nepal
- Discuss potential collaboration and synergy amongst HUC members in Nepal and between Nepal’s members and other Consortium’s members
- Engage University Grants Commissions Nepal in pursuit of mountain-focused, HKH-specific higher education agenda of the Consortium
- Handover of the Steering Committee membership by the current Steering Committee member, Prof. Bim Prasad Shrestha, to the incoming SCM, Prof. Tri Ratna Bajracharya, Tribhuvan University
Expected participants
- VCs of HUC members and incoming members
- Two representatives from each of HUC members
- Representatives of HUC Thematic Working Groups and fellows
- Invited guests from the University Grants Commissions and UNESCO Nepal
Agenda
| Time (NPT) | Programme | Facilitators/ Resource persons |
| Wednesday, 22 December 2021 | ||
| 14:00 | Check-in at Himalaya Drishya Resort, Dhulikhel | Achala Sharma, Programme Associate, HUC, ICIMOD |
| 17:30 | Registration | Achala Sharma |
| 18:00–20:00 |
Orientation and reception dinner Welcome remarks by Bim Prasad Shrestha, Introduction and expectations of participants HUC in Nepal through fellows’ perspectives
|
Chi H Truong (Shachi), HUC Secretariat, ICIMOD |
| Thursday, 23 December 2021 | ||
| 9:00 | Transfer from hotel to Kathmandu University Dhulikhel campus | Achala Sharma, ICIMOD |
| 9:30–9:40 | Opening remarks – Bhola Thapa, Vice Chancellor, Kathmandu University | Uddhab Pyakurel, Associate Director, Global Engagement Division, Kathmandu University |
| 9:40–10:00 |
The role of University Grants Commission in nurturing excellence in higher education for Nepal – Bhim Prasad Subedi, Chairperson, UGC Nepal (TBC) UNESCO initiatives for SDG 4.7 – Balaram Timalsina, Chief of Education, UNESCO Nepal |
|
| Group photo | ||
| 10:00 – 11:30 |
World Café: Exploring potential for collaborations amongst HUC members in Nepal Participants will rotate across four stations sharing information about their university, focusing on thematic areas of research and training, resources, partnership, and potential synergy. Coffee and refreshments will be served during the World Café |
Biraj Singh Thapa, Kathmandu University; Amina Maharjan, Senior Specialist Livelihoods & Migration, Livelihoods, ICIMOD; Rajesh Bahadur Thapa, Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Specialist, Geospatial Solutions, ICIMOD; Santosh Raj Pathak Partnership Officer, Strategic Cooperation, ICIMOD; Sunita Chaudhary, Ecosystem Services Specialist, Ecosystem Services, ICIMOD |
| 11:30–12:00 |
Summary of World Café 5 minutes for each station and 10 minutes for Q&A |
|
| 12:00–13:00 | Lunch break | |
| 13:00–14:30 |
Parallel workgroup Group 1 – HUC Visioning Exercise Vice Chancellors, Steering Committee Members and invited guests from UGC and UNESCO Nepal review half-way implementation of the HUC Strategy 2018-2025 and discuss medium future of the Consortium, including sustainability pathway. |
Bim P Shrestha, Kathmandu University; Tri Ratna Bajracharya, Professor, Tribhuvan University; Madan Koirala, Professor, Tribhuvan University, and Santosh R Pathak |
|
Group 2 – Member consultation regarding higher education and graduate competency for sustainable mountain futures Focal persons and fellows to share information about their university and knowledge and experience on current and future curricula |
Ganga Gautam, Director, Open and Distance Education Center (ODEC), Tribhuvan University; Amina Maharjan; Rajesh B Thapa; Sunita Chaudhary; Shachi Truong |
|
| 14:30–15:00 |
Presentation of groupwork and discussion Summary of key action points |
Bim P Shrestha and Tri Ratna Bajracharya |
| 15:00–15:30 | Tea/coffee break | |
| 15:30–16:30 |
Global aspirations, leadership transition, and closing Rethinking Global in Higher Education in Nepal – Ashok Gurung, Professor, Julien J. Studley Graduate Program of International Affairs at the New School, New York, and HUC Steering Committee Member Revisit participants’ expectation of the meeting Handover of Steering Committee membership Closing remarks – Tri Ratna Bajracharya Votes of thanks – Chi H Truong |
Uddhab Pyakurel |
