Other keynote speakers for the different sessions were Prof. Chachanat Thebtaranonth, President, Thai Business Incubation and Science Park Association, Thailand; Associate Prof. Bjorn Otto Elvenes, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Norway; and Mr. Navneet Bhushan, Founder Director, Craffiti, Consulting India. Prof. Hira Bahadur Maharjan, Vice Chancellor, Tribhuvan University, Nepal; Professor Bhakta Bahadur Ale, Director, Center for Applied Research and Development (CARD), Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University; Prof. Bharat Raj Pahari, Dean, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University; Dr. Rajendra Shrestha, Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering; Representative from the Norwegian Embassy in Nepal; Mr. Suraj Vaidya, President, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI); Prof. Elvenes and Dr. Ritu Kumar, Advisor, Office of International Relations, NTNU delivered remarks at the inauguration ceremony.
The President also had a meeting at the FNCCI during which discussions took place on strengthening industry-university linkages. It was agreed that a small dedicated team from FNCCI and the Institute of Engineering, Nepal, would look into specific areas in which there could be collaboration such as in the joint development of academic programs geared to the job market, individuals from the private sector serving as invited lecturers and speakers, internship opportunities for students, and inputs on student research topics of relevance.
From left: Prof. Bhakta Bahadur Ale, Dr.
Bjorn Otto Elvenes, Prof. Said Irandoust, President, AIT; Prof. Bharat
Raj Pahari, Dean, Prof. Hira Bahadur Maharjan, Representative from the
Norwegian Embassy, Nepal; Mr. Suraj Vaidya, Dr. Ritu Kumar, and Dr.
Rajendra Shrestha.