DHULIKHEL, Feb 13: Kathmandu University (KU) is set to host the International Vice-Chancellors’ Meet and the Bharat-Nepal Higher Education Summit from February 15 to 17 at its main campus in Dhulikhel, Kavre.
The event, organized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU)–North Zone, of which KU is an Associate Member, aims to bring together Vice-Chancellors and leaders from over 150 international universities.
According to a press statement issued by Nirmal Mani Adhikari, head of the Department of Languages and Mass Communication in KU, a total of 227 participants from abroad have so far confirmed their participation in the events.
Reading Between the Lines of Why Bharat Matters
While the majority of participants are from Indian universities, representatives from the ASEAN University Network (AUN) and universities from Europe and Africa will also join the meet and the summit. This particular VC Meet, themed “Globalization and Internationalization of Higher Education”, aims to delve into the impact of globalization on higher education institutions, fostering international collaboration and the exchange of ideas.
The event also provides a platform for networking, forming partnerships, and sharing best practices. The meet also promotes cross-cultural cooperation among academic communities from different regions, especially within the South Asian region.
During the meet, attendees will discuss effective strategies for internationalizing higher education, including student mobility, joint research, and curriculum development. The VC Meet will have three technical sessions. In the first session, titled “International Collaborations & Partnerships: Building Bridges for Higher Education”, participants will focus on the value of international collaborations between HEIs by highlighting the benefits of research partnerships, student exchange programs, joint degree programs, and faculty collaborations across borders.
In the second session, titled “Global Higher Education Policy & Regulations: Harmonizing Standards”, the participants will address the regulatory and policy considerations in global higher education by deliberating on topics such as accreditation standards, quality assurance mechanisms, recognition of foreign credentials, and the role of international organizations in promoting harmonization and collaboration.
In the third session, titled “Student Mobility & Diversity: Enhancing International Experience”, the participants will focus on ways to promote students’ mobility while fostering an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally diverse learning environment on campuses for success in a globalized world by embracing the richness of human experiences and perspectives.
At both the International VC Meet and the Bharat-Nepal Higher Education Summit, there will be simultaneous events throughout the valley. While the main event will be held at Dhulikhel, representatives of higher education institutions that are not part of AIU’s North Zone will interact with faculties and students at Kathmandu University as well as other universities and campuses to explore future collaborations among institutional, departmental, and individual (faculty) levels.
The summit will be an opportunity for Nepalese Universities to showcase their strength before their counterparts globally, according to the statement.
