KATHMANDU, JULY 7

A two-day 'National Conference 2024' on 'Shifting Landscape and Future Paradigm of Higher Education,' jointly organized by Nesfield International College and Jana Bhawan Campus, concluded on a high note on Saturday.

The conference aimed to bring together academicians, researchers, professors, students, and stakeholders from across the nation to present their papers and shed light on the ongoing challenges in higher education in Nepal.

Dr. Santosh Raj Gautam (Phd), Chairman of the College Committee Management at Nesfield International College, and Rabin Sharma, Chairman of Jana Bhawana College, jointly welcomed the dignitaries and panelists with tokens of appreciation.

Uday Shamshar Rana, Member of Parliament and former State Minister for Commerce, inaugurated the event by lighting a ceremonial lamp.

On the occasion, Tribhuvan University Rector, Dr. Khadag KC (Phd), highlighted the government's minimal GDP investment in higher education, ranking just above Afghanistan among SAARC countries. "Look at Trichandra College, ASCOL, Patan College; they reflect the government's investment in higher education," KC stated.

Despite being plagued by political intervention and poor execution of the academic calendar, TU has made significant strides. "We have established an incubation center and an endowment fund for research, appointed 38 Nepali professionals on a fast-track basis, and forged collaborations with all tiers of government to enhance research-based learning in the future," said Dr KC.

Similarly, Dr. Shankar Prasad Bhandari (Phd), Member Secretary at the University Grants Commission (UGC), emphasized the faculty enhancement program aimed at delivering quality education and advancing faculty research to deepen subject matter expertise.

At a time when Nepali students increasingly prefer studying abroad, Uday Shamshar Rana, Member of Parliament from Lalitpur-1, noted that at least 57 foreign-affiliated colleges are offering courses in Nepal. "These institutions provide courses at prices lower than what our students pay abroad, bringing foreign direct investment, information, technology, and resources into the country," he said adding that they also compel our universities to strive for excellence, fostering healthy competition.

One of the keynote speakers, Dr. Pushkar Bajracharya (Phd), shed light on the evolution of higher education. He urged concerned stakeholders to address the issues of brain drain caused by a lack of opportunities, an uncertain future in Nepal, and limited earning potential.

Echoing Dr. Bajracharya's sentiments, another keynote speaker, Dr. Yuvraj Sangraula (Phd), stated that it is high time to speak out against political appointments and challenged TU stakeholders to initiate self-reform before transforming TU into a center of excellence.

Opening the panel discussion, moderator Dr. Ganga Ram Gautam (Phd) asked the panelists about the changing paradigm in higher education in Nepal. Dr. Dilli Raj Sharma (Phd) noted that while there has been a significant drop in the number of students attending worldwide, developed nations are increasingly attracting students from least-developed countries, which now poses a challenge for us.

Another panelist, Dr. Mana Prasad Wagle (Phd), highlighted the socio-economic factors driving students abroad. He urged stakeholders to create an environment conducive to earning and learning in Nepal. Dr. Wagle also mentioned pioneering psychology counseling services, possibly the first of their kind in the nation, aimed at helping students cope with growing frustrations across various dimensions.

Similarly, other panelists Narottam Aryal and Dr. Amina Singh (Phd) emphasized the adoption of teaching pedagogy to enhance teaching and learning activities. Bandana Kumari Jain stressed the importance of practical learning to connect students with prospective jobs.

After the panel discussion, paper presenters and researchers from across the country presented their findings on various thematic topics, aimed at fostering their research capabilities and opening up new avenues in their research works.

During the sideline meeting, Ashok Bhandari, representing the National College of Computer Studies (NCCS) in Paknajol, Kathmandu, appreciated the efforts of both colleges in providing an excellent platform for paper presenters and teaching faculty.

Echoing Bhandari's remarks, Jeet Shrestha, BHM Program Coordinator at Nesfield International College, said, "This marks just the beginning of a new era in research and paper presentations. We are committed to ensuring continuity in such conferences, including inviting researchers from abroad to enhance our research skills in this field."

At the conclusion of day one, participants were entertained with cultural programs featuring students from both colleges, with great fervor.

On day two, keynote speakers Dr. Chi H Truong (Phd) from ICIMOD and Dr. Ganga Ram Gautam (Phd), co-authors of "Embedding Sustainable Development Themes in Higher Education Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Assessment," highlighted the Himalayan University Consortium's initiatives on student and faculty exchanges among eight nations to enhance their teaching and learning activities.

In between the sessions, thematic presentations were delivered by various researchers, students, and faculty members gathered from across the country, who presented their papers.

Before the closure of the session, Dr. Neeti Aryal Khanal (Phd), Department Head of Sociology at Patan Campus, delivered a keynote speech on workplace harassment and women's rights.

The two-day national conference 2024 was co-hosted by Sapana Rana and Navaraj Sanjel.

All photos captured during the two-day national conference 2024 were provided by the organizers.