On the first day in Kathmandu, the AIT delegation called on the
President of Nepal, Rt. Honorable Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, whose son is
also an AIT alumnus. President Yadav thanked AIT for its contribution
to the human resource development of the country. He also made
reference to the cordial relations between Nepal and Thailand by citing
the “The Story of Mahajanaka”, a book written by His Majesty the King
of Thailand about the Kingdom of Mithilain (present day Janakpur in
Nepal). The president assured AIT of his country’s full support,
including the possibility of AIT setting up a satellite campus in
Nepal.
President of Nepal, Rt. Honorable Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, whose son is
also an AIT alumnus. President Yadav thanked AIT for its contribution
to the human resource development of the country. He also made
reference to the cordial relations between Nepal and Thailand by citing
the “The Story of Mahajanaka”, a book written by His Majesty the King
of Thailand about the Kingdom of Mithilain (present day Janakpur in
Nepal). The president assured AIT of his country’s full support,
including the possibility of AIT setting up a satellite campus in
Nepal.
On July 19, the delegation paid a
courtesy call on the Rt. Honorable Mr. Khil Raj Regmi, Chairperson of
the Interim Election Government (official name for the Interim Prime
Minister), who thanked AIT for playing an important role in the country
and region.
courtesy call on the Rt. Honorable Mr. Khil Raj Regmi, Chairperson of
the Interim Election Government (official name for the Interim Prime
Minister), who thanked AIT for playing an important role in the country
and region.
During the meeting, Dr. Sahas spoke
of the possibility of AIT launching modular programs intended for
Nepali government officials. To achieve a work-study balance, the
program would see officials complete one year of course work at the
main AIT campus, followed by job-relevant research work conducted in
Nepal, he said.
of the possibility of AIT launching modular programs intended for
Nepali government officials. To achieve a work-study balance, the
program would see officials complete one year of course work at the
main AIT campus, followed by job-relevant research work conducted in
Nepal, he said.
President Worsak also explored the
possibility of AIT setting up an undergraduate satellite campus in
Nepal as a way to stem the tide of thousands of undergraduate students
who every year leave the country to pursue their tertiary level
studies, especially to colleges in India. The idea was welcomed by
Chairperson Regmi, who recommended pursuing further discussions with
the Ministry of Education.
possibility of AIT setting up an undergraduate satellite campus in
Nepal as a way to stem the tide of thousands of undergraduate students
who every year leave the country to pursue their tertiary level
studies, especially to colleges in India. The idea was welcomed by
Chairperson Regmi, who recommended pursuing further discussions with
the Ministry of Education.
Dr. Naveed Anwar, Executive Director,
AIT Consulting and Mr. Karma Rana, Institute Secretary, who both
happened to be in Nepal for other business, also joined the AIT
delegation which included Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Interim Head of
Alumni Affairs and AIT Fundraising Director. Aside from members of the
AIT delegation, Mr. Madhu Sudan Paudel, President, AITAA-N; Mr. Kiran
Dongol, Vice President, AITAA-N; Prof. Dr. Sriram Bhagut Mathe,
Chairperson of NEF-CCN; Mr. Pramod Pradhan, Former President of AITAA-N
and Board Member, NEF-CCN; and Mr. Kamal Pande, former President,
AITAA-N also joined the meeting.
AIT Consulting and Mr. Karma Rana, Institute Secretary, who both
happened to be in Nepal for other business, also joined the AIT
delegation which included Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Interim Head of
Alumni Affairs and AIT Fundraising Director. Aside from members of the
AIT delegation, Mr. Madhu Sudan Paudel, President, AITAA-N; Mr. Kiran
Dongol, Vice President, AITAA-N; Prof. Dr. Sriram Bhagut Mathe,
Chairperson of NEF-CCN; Mr. Pramod Pradhan, Former President of AITAA-N
and Board Member, NEF-CCN; and Mr. Kamal Pande, former President,
AITAA-N also joined the meeting.
This was followed by a meeting with
the Nepal Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Madhav Prasad Ghimire, who is also
an AIT alumnus. The meeting was attended by AIT alumni Dr. Rabindra
Shakya, Vice-Chairman, National Planning Commission (NPC) and Mr. Yuba
Raj Bhusal, Secretary of the NPC.
the Nepal Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Madhav Prasad Ghimire, who is also
an AIT alumnus. The meeting was attended by AIT alumni Dr. Rabindra
Shakya, Vice-Chairman, National Planning Commission (NPC) and Mr. Yuba
Raj Bhusal, Secretary of the NPC.
Foreign Minister Ghimire gave his
assurances in expediting the launch of the inaugural two scholarships
from the Government of Nepal for Nepalese nationals to pursue their
higher studies at AIT, as well as for the replenishment of the AIT
Nepalese Local Currency Fund.
assurances in expediting the launch of the inaugural two scholarships
from the Government of Nepal for Nepalese nationals to pursue their
higher studies at AIT, as well as for the replenishment of the AIT
Nepalese Local Currency Fund.
Mr. Ghimire also welcomed any
proposal to set up an AIT satellite campus in Nepal, and assured AIT of
the Government of Nepal’s full blessing. He advised AIT to submit a
proposal directly to the Government of Nepal. Dr. Shakya and Mr. Bhusal
made reference to Nepal’s national strategy, and viewed it very timely
to identify specific areas of collaboration.
proposal to set up an AIT satellite campus in Nepal, and assured AIT of
the Government of Nepal’s full blessing. He advised AIT to submit a
proposal directly to the Government of Nepal. Dr. Shakya and Mr. Bhusal
made reference to Nepal’s national strategy, and viewed it very timely
to identify specific areas of collaboration.
AIT Ex-Com Chairman Dr. Sahas
proposed a scheme wherein government officials could pursue their
higher studies at AIT by matching funds between the
Government of Nepal and AIT or other donor funding agencies.
proposed a scheme wherein government officials could pursue their
higher studies at AIT by matching funds between the
Government of Nepal and AIT or other donor funding agencies.
President of Nepal, Rt. Honorable Dr. Ram Baran Yadav
(center) is flanked by Professor Emeritus Dr. Sahas
Bunditkul (left) and Interim AIT President Prof. Worsak
Kanok-Nukulchai.