ICIMOD transfers Himalayan University Consortium Secretariat to Kathmandu University

KATHMANDU, Dec 11: The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has formally transferred the Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) Secretariat to Kathmandu University (KU), marking an important milestone in strengthening regional cooperation and advancing mountain-focused research in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). The handover was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Wednesday at ICIMOD Headquarters in Lalitpur, according to a press statement by ICIMOD.

Established in 2007, HUC aims to enhance collaboration among universities in the HKH and beyond to address shared development challenges in mountain regions. Hosted by ICIMOD for the past 17 years, the consortium has expanded into a vibrant network of more than 100 universities and knowledge institutions, connecting experts, researchers, and students across the region.

Dr Eklabya Sharma, former ICIMOD Deputy Director General and former HUC Steering Committee member, said the transition marks a proud moment. “Deepened regional collaboration in research, education, capacity development, and knowledge generation will be crucial for shaping policies and practices that support sustainable mountain development,” he said.

The handover represents a long-envisioned step toward making HUC an independent, academically driven and regionally rooted consortium. Programme Advisory Committee Chair Teresa Fogelberg highlighted ICIMOD’s crucial role in nurturing HUC since its inception. “ICIMOD has provided the support, stability, and visibility necessary for HUC to grow. But the moment had come for the consortium to stand on its own feet—and now, that moment has arrived,” she stated.

The transition follows review recommendations that HUC be hosted by a university to ensure stronger autonomy and institutional independence. Kathmandu University expressed its readiness to host the Secretariat after an intervention by the ICIMOD Director General in September 2025, the statement noted.

ICIMOD Director General Pema Gyamtsho said the MoU reflects a shared commitment to strengthening regional research and leadership for sustainable mountain development. He added that Kathmandu University is well positioned to guide HUC into its next phase as an independent consortium.

KU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Achyut Wagle described the move as a milestone in academic cooperation across the HKH. “With intensifying global warming and extreme climate events, universities in the region bear added responsibility to generate credible data and research to address the crises facing people and the planet. This shared responsibility binds us together,” he said.

British Ambassador to Nepal Rob Fenn welcomed the transition, saying the shift strengthens the academic ecosystem in the HKH and supports global mountain agendas, including discussions under the UNFCCC.

With Kathmandu University taking over the Secretariat, HUC aims to further expand mountain-focused research, education, outreach, and innovation, and nurture a new generation of scholars and leaders capable of addressing emerging challenges in the HKH, the organisers said.