Signatories of the MoU: Professor Jean-Louis Armand, AIT President; Mr. Sharad Chandra Shaha, Vice-Chairman of the HLCIT, HMG and Dr. Swoyambhu Man Amatya, Secretary, MOST, HMG
AIT Partnership with Nepal
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), His Majesty's Government of Nepal (HMG), High Level Commission for Information Technology (HLCIT), HMG and AIT, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a special ceremony held on February 9, 2004 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The MoU is aimed at further enhancing the research and development capacities in information technology, biotechnology and renewable energy and energy efficient technologies in Nepal. The objective of this cooperation between the High Level Commission on IT, Ministry of Science and Technology of His Majesty's Government and the AIT is to establish a basic framework for conducting cooperative activities in the above mentioned three areas with poverty reduction as the overarching developmental goal. Although the MoU initially focuses on the three specific areas, proposals or concept papers for development of new projects that are of mutual interest to MOST Nepal and the AIT will be considered.
On February 10, President Armand was also invited as the Chief Guest at the second convocation ceremony of Purbanchal University (PU), which was held in Biratnagar located in the eastern region of Nepal. PU was established in 1996 by the Government of Nepal and conducts its academic programs through its two constituent campuses as well as sixty five affiliated campuses and colleges. Currently 5,000 full time students are enrolled under PU in Science & Technology, Management, Education, Arts, and Law faculties.
In November 2003, the AIT alumni in Nepal helped coordinate the visit of a high level delegation from PU led by Prof. Toran Bahadur Karki, Vice-Chancellor, to AIT. In follow up to the visit a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between AIT and PU wherein AIT has offered to extend its assistance and support in enhancing the University's research and academic capacities in standardizing its academic programs by extending the experience AIT has gained in curriculum design, faculty exchange and conducting collaborative programs leading up to the Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in selected academic areas. Similarly, PU will also be initiating joint research programs with the AIT.
Right Honorable Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa and Chancellor of PU; Prof. Jean-Louis Armand, AIT President and Prof. Toran Bahadur Karki, Vice-Chancellor of PU.
The AIT Alumni Association Chapter members in Nepal hosted a special reception in honor of President Armand on February 10, 2004.