KATHMANDU, Aug. 10: The First International Conference on Applied Psychology (ICAP2026) concluded in Kathmandu with the adoption of the Kathmandu Declaration, calling for a shift in psychological practice from treatment-focused approaches to prevention-centred models.
The three-day conference, organized in a hybrid format at National College, Kathmandu University, brought together 245 participants from 22 countries, including the USA, Canada, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Argentina, Mexico and Spain, according to a press release issued by the organizers.
The Kathmandu Declaration was adopted during the valedictory session. ICAP2026 Organizing Secretary Dr Narendra Singh Thagunna said the conference committed to strengthening international networks and partnerships among universities, professionals and communities, particularly by connecting Nepal and South Asia with the global psychology community.
The conference also called for integrating applied and preventive psychology into academic curricula and linking theory with practical, community-based learning and internships, according to the press release.
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Thagunna said the conference aimed to transform psychology “from treatment to prevention, from institutions to communities, and from local knowledge to global partnerships".
Prof. Dr Nirmal Mani Adhikari, head of the Department of Language and Mass Communication at Kathmandu University, stressed the importance of cross-cultural perspectives in understanding psychological disorders.
“Many established perspectives remain heavily Westernized,” Adhikari said, noting that the growing emphasis on de-Westernization in academic circles has opened space for alternative viewpoints.
At the opening ceremony, Kathmandu University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Rishikesh Wagle highlighted psychology’s interdisciplinary nature and its relevance to pressing societal challenges, including unemployment and youth migration.
Dr Uddhab Pyakurel, dean of Kathmandu University’s School of Arts, described the conference as a landmark occasion for Nepal’s academic community.
Keynote speaker Prof. Dr Hridaya Ratna Bajracharya explored the intersection of Buddhism and modern psychology, emphasizing the role of the mind in shaping suffering, happiness and human behavior.
According to Chhatra Karki, organizer and vice principal of National College, the conference featured 12 physical sessions and five virtual sessions, with 160 papers presented by national and international scholars.
Dr Ukesh Raj Bhuju, a member of the conference’s scientific committee, expressed pride in hosting the event, while Madhav Prasad Neupane, convener of ICAP2026 and principal of National College, thanked the delegates and pledged to organize similar events in the future.
Prof. Dr Nirmal Mani Adhikari and Chhatra Karki distributed certificates to student volunteers. Dr Badri Dev Pandey formally closed the conference, noting that the key takeaways would benefit both national and international participants, according to the press release.
