By AIT Public Affairs
9 October 2023 – A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was renewed between the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and Pokhara University (PU) in Nepal on 9 October, 2023. The primary aim of this MoU is to foster and strengthen cooperation between the two institutions in the realms of academics, research, and outreach initiatives.
The initial MoU was signed between AIT and PU in 2009 to enhance higher education and research opportunities for PU’s faculty and students. This renewal highlights their commitment to continually enrich this partnership.
Prof. Dr. Prem Narayan Aryal, Vice Chancellor of PU, emphasized that this partnership has facilitated continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and capacity building, spanning over a decade.
Prof. Abdul Salam, Dean of the School of Environment Resources and Development at AIT, emphasized the successful collaboration between the two institutions and expressed their anticipation of broadening their partnership to explore new horizons and establish a more robust alliance in the future.
Under this MoU, the agreed-upon activities include the establishment of a Capacity Building PhD Partnership Program for PU faculty and staff, collaborative programs and projects to advance university education through research and teaching, faculty and researcher exchanges, joint supervision of PhD student research, collaborative projects, research and consultancy initiatives, workshops, conferences, and training opportunities.
The signing ceremony was attended by Prof. Mokbul Morshed Ahmad, Head of the Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS), and Mr. Sanjeet Amatya, Director of Public Affairs, Office of International and Public Affairs (OIPA) at AIT. Vice Chancellor of PU, Prof. Aryal signed the MoU, witnessed by Prof. Dipak Bahadur Bhandari, Registrar; Assoc. Prof Dr. Ajay Thapa, Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; Assoc. Prof. Daya Raj Dhakal, Dean of Faculty of Management Studies; Assoc. Prof. Amar Nagila, Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences; Dr. Umesh Singh Yadav, Director of International Relations, and several esteemed faculty and senior officials from Pokhara University.
Following the signing ceremony AIT delegates engaged in a comprehensive and fruitful discussion with the director, faculty, and staff of the School of Development and Social Engineering (SDSE). This engaging exchange was facilitated by the SDSE Director Dr. Ananta Raj Dhungana, where many ideas were explored on how AIT and PU can develop strategies for student exchange, collaborative programs and faculty development.
The primary focus of these discussions revolved around how to harness the full potential of the renewed memorandum of understanding, fostering a collaborative partnership between the two institutions with a common goal is to create and nurture abundant opportunities for mutual growth and advancement in the fields of development and social engineering.
In addition to several significant discussions, Prof. Mokbul Ahmad further enriched the engagement by interacting with a selected group of Ph.D. students. During this session, he shared invaluable insights into the intricate world of development concepts, which will undoubtedly prove invaluable to these aspiring scholars as they pursue their doctoral studies.
The coming together of the experts and institutions promises exciting prospects for the future, with collaborative efforts aimed at pushing the boundaries of knowledge and development to new horizons. AIT looks forward for promising developments that will undoubtedly emerge from this engaging partnership with Pokhara University in Nepal.
