The Nepal President referred to the positive experience of his son
when he was studying at AIT, stating that AIT enjoys a prestigious
place in the realm of education. He termed education as the backbone
for development of a country, while adding that graduates from AIT were
occupying significant positions all over the world.
President Yadav, who is from the field of medicine, and has served as
a Minister of Health in Nepal, highlighted the longstanding
relationship between Nepal and Thailand. President Yadav also offered
his full support to AIT and wished the Institute success in its
endeavours.
The AIT delegation also met the Prime Minister, Rt. Honorable Jhala
Nath Khanal. Prime Minister Khanal highlighted the importance for Nepal
to consolidate and update its educational system, and termed the
partnership between AIT and the Nepal Education Foundation – Consortium
of Colleges, Nepal (NEF-CCN) NEF-CCN as an important step in this
direction. The Prime Minister extended the Government of Nepal’s
unequivocal support in expediting the ratification process of the new
AIT Charter, which was endorsed by the Nepal Council of Ministers in
its meeting held on 15 June 2011.
The Prime Minister welcomed AIT’s plans to open an AIT Satellite
Campus in Nepal, and indicated that the government is willing to help
in land allocation for this project. The Prime Minister also
highlighted the tremendous hydro potential in Nepal, and welcomed AIT’s
plan to launch an academic offering in this area.
During the interactions with the President and the Prime Minister of
Nepal, President Irandoust appreciated Nepal’s active engagement in
processing the new AIT Charter, stating that he hoped that Nepal would
be among the first five countries to ratify the new AIT Charter. He
also thanked the Government of Nepal, for approving the replenishment
of the Nepalese Local Currency Grant.
The President elaborated on AIT’s partnership with NEF-CCN, which
would not only make the AIT degree more affordable to students in
Nepal, but also help Nepal in its efforts to internationalize its
higher education. President Irandoust spoke about AIT’s plans to
explore the establishment of an AIT satellite campus in Nepal, Vietnam
and Sri Lanka, under different Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
modalities.
The Nepal Prime Minister appreciated the idea of PPP in education, and
fully supported the concept.
The members of the AIT delegation included Prof. Dr. Joydeep Dutta,
Vice President for Academic Affairs; Prof. Ram Manohar Shrestha,
Emeritus Professor; Mr. Karma Rana, Institute Secretary, and Dr. Pritam
Krishna Shrestha, Head of External Relations and Communications Office.
They were joined by the team from NEF-CCN, along with the President and
officials from the AIT Alumni Association (AITAA) Nepal Chapter and
other senior alumni.
AIT delegation led by its President Prof.
Said Irandoust with the President of Nepal, Rt. Honorable Dr. Ram Baran
Yadav.