AIT President, Prof. Said Irandoust had a fruitful trip in Nepal during 16-19 April 2007, which was coordinated by the AIT Alumni Association Chapter in Nepal, lead by its President, Mr. Ramesh Bista together with Mr. Suraj Vaidya, President and CEO of VOITH Industries, Nepal (also member of the AIT School of Management Board). Mr. Arjun Kant Mainali, Charge d' Affaires, Embassy of Nepal and the UNEP.RRC.AP Office also assisted in facilitating some of the important meetings.
During his stay in Nepal, AIT President was arranged to meet with senior officials from the government, education and private sector which included H.E. Mr. Pradip Nepal, Minister of Education and Sports; H.E. Mr. Mahanta Thakur, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology; H.E. Mrs. Sahana Pradhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, Minister of Finance (former AIT trustee); Dr. Jagdish C. Pokharel, Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission; Dr. Saroj Devkota, Vice Chairman, High Level Commission for Information technology (HLCIT) - who is also President of the Nepal Engineering Association - together with the other members of the Commission; Prof. Suresh Raj Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Kathmandu University and senior officials from the University; Professor Dr. Ram Krishna Poudel, Dean, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Pulchowk Campus and faculty members; Dr. Swaroop Sinha, Executive Director, National Center for Educational Development (NCED), Ministry of Education and Sports; Mr. Gopal Jung Rayamajhi, Executive Director Nepal Administrative Staff College (NASC); Dr. Andreas Schild, Director, International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD); and Mr. Matthew Kahane, United Nations Resident Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nepal.
On 18 April 2007, AIT President was officially invited by the High Level Commission for Information Technology (HLCIT), Government of Nepal to deliver an address at the national stakeholders' workshop on "Modernization of Nepal through the Development of ICT and E-Governance" which was organized by HLCIT and the Asian Development Bank in Kathmandu. Dr. Madan Pariyar Member Secretary of HLCIT who is also as an AIT alumnus played a key role in the event.
AIT has established close linkages and partnerships with various government agencies and academic institutions in Nepal over the years. One such cooperation has been with the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and HLCIT, aimed at further enhancing the research and development capacities in information technology, biotechnology and renewable energy and energy efficient technologies in Nepal. The objectives of the cooperation are to establish a basic framework for conducting cooperative activities in the above mentioned three areas with poverty reduction as the overarching developmental goal. The event was also covered by the national press - "The Rising Nepal" - and AIT President also took part in a press conference and was interviewed by the "The Himalayan" news media.
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/content.php?nid=16927
AIT President also met with some of AIT alumni during the high-level meetings and interactions. A special dinner reception was also hosted by the AIT Alumni Association in Nepal to which more than 60 of our alumni and family members participated.
He was also invited to the residence of former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr. K. P. Sharma Oli who expressed his continued support to AIT's new strategies and directions, namely the AIT Charter and establishment of an AIT Center in Nepal, noting that he had in follow up to his visit to AIT, raised this with the Prime Minister and also in the cabinet.
The Government of Nepal strongly supports AIT's future directions and strategies and assured AIT President that it will extend all necessary support towards ensuring that Nepal enlists as a signatory and founding member to the new Charter. There is also strong interest and support on the part of the alumni, government and academic partners in Nepal to the proposal to establish a branch or center in Nepal, which would add synergy and complement the efforts of the national institutions and other local partners.
A lot of new and innovative forms of cooperation have been discussed between AIT and its partners in Nepal. The AIT Alumni Association in Nepal will be setting up a task force which will in discussion with the local institutions and partners come up with concrete plans towards implementing the array of initiatives outlined. One important task will be to develop the proposal for the establishment of an AIT Center in Nepal, namely the financial and governance structure, focus areas, role of public and private sector, 3 year budget and activity plan etc.
Kathmandu University (KU) and the Institute of Engineering (IOE), Pulchowk Campus, have both expressed great interest in some of AIT's new innovative academic programs such as the two-stage masters program, unified bachelors-masters program etc. as well as in partnering AIT in jointly competing for sponsored contracts and research projects, and in attracting funding for joint initiatives such as through the University Grants Commission. Both KU and IOE will also be setting up their own internal task forces and working closely with the alumni task force and AIT