KU, NPI sign agreement for collaboration on research

LALITPUR: The Kathmandu University and the Nepal Policy Institute (NPI) have signed a memorandum of understanding relating to collaborate on the issues of education and research.

The MoU was signed amidst a programme organized at the School of Management, KU, Lalitpur on Monday. The NPI is a Hague-based institute.

Global engagement department chief at KU, Dr Dinesh Kafle, informed that the agreement was made on joint research, publication and exchange of students and teachers. As per the MoU, both institutions would jointly mobilize grants for policy research and cooperate with each others to foster research initiatives.

On the occasion, KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Achyut Wagle expressed confidence that MoU would help create opportunity for both sides to exchange expertise and experiences among the education communities. “KU has the policy to invite foreign scholars and professors for long-term teaching and research. The expert team in diaspora can therefore contribute to KU’s educational programmes for short or long-term. I believe this initiative helps us foster cooperation and exchange views between the two academic institutions,” Dr Wagle observed.

Similarly, Chairman of NPI Board of Directors, Dr Khagendra Dhakal, shared information on how NPI had played a role in Nepal and Nepal’s policy research and strengthening of think tank system. The separate academic and research activities carried by the KU and the NPI would now be further bolstered, he commented.

According to Dr Dhakal, the MoU has paved way for the Nepali talents living and working aboard to demonstrate their intellect in Nepal, which ultimately benefits Nepal. He also stressed the need for the tri-lateral cooperation- among public sector, university and think tank.

The KU is a leading university established in 1992. It has some 22,000 students, while the NPI was set up in Hague City of Netherlands in 2017. More than 1,260 experts are associated in its global network. The MoU signing ceremony was attended by university dignitaries.