By AIT Public Affairs
Kathmandu, Nepal – AIT President Prof. Pai-Chi Li concluded a three-day official visit to Nepal from February 19 to 22, 2025, aimed at enhancing AIT’s collaborations with Nepali government ministries and agencies, industry leaders, and academic institutions. The visit also featured meetings with AIT alumni and prospective students.
Strengthening Government Partnerships
Prof. Li engaged with senior government officials to explore potential collaborations in scholarships, training programs, and infrastructure development:
Meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Urban Development, Hon. Prakash Man Singh
Discussions focused on AIT’s role in providing educational opportunities for ministry staff through short-term training and flexible degree programs in Structural Engineering, Urban Innovation and Sustainability, Water Engineering Management, and Environmental Engineering and Management. The conversation also covered AIT’s expertise in environmental management and urban infrastructure projects aligned with Nepal’s long-term development goals. Both parties agreed to continue discussions on future collaborations, including AIT’s potential support for infrastructure development initiatives.
Meeting with Ministry of Water Supply
Prof. Li met with Pramila Devi Shakya Bajracharya, Secretary of Ministry of Water Supply (MoWS), Government of Nepal and Er. Ramakanta Duwadi, Joint Secretary MoWS, also a current doctoral student at AIT, to discuss wastewater management and capacity-building initiatives. Talks emphasized the need for customized academic and capacity-building training programs (short & long term) for engineers and explored funding opportunities in the field of urban sanitation and wastewater treatment in Kathmandu. Potential scholarship opportunities for ministry staff were also discussed.
Meeting with Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies
Prof. Li met with the Secretary duo of Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS), Mr. Krishna Bahadur Raut (Secretary, Industry) and Mr. Govinda Bahadur Karki (Secretary, Commerce) to strengthen academia-industry collaboration. AIT highlighted its existing partnerships with private sector entities and the recent MoU with the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) to develop an ESG framework. Proposed synergy areas included scholarship programs for government officials in Industrial Systems Engineering, Business Administration, and Entrepreneurship, with AIT offering partial tuition scholarships and support for short-term training programs. The discussion also covered plans to formalize cooperation through an MoU, facilitating research and development in industrial technology, energy transition, and sustainable practices.
Meeting with Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology
In a meeting with Mr. Bishwo Babu Pudasaini, Secretary (Science & Technology) of MoEST, discussions centered on fostering collaboration in engineering and technology education. Key areas included joint workshops, knowledge exchange programs, faculty development, and capacity-building initiatives. The possibility of establishing an AIT campus in Nepal was explored, along with resource-sharing strategies to advance research in environmental studies and technology transfer.
Expanding Academic Collaborations
Meeting with Tribhuvan University
Prof. Li met with Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Keshar Jung Baral to discuss strengthening academic ties through joint research projects, faculty and student exchanges, and co-publications. Discussions also included the development of unified bachelor-master degree programs, dual-degree master’s and doctoral programs, and expanded collaboration.
Meeting with the University of Nepal
AIT explored potential collaborations with the University of Nepal (UoN) through discussions with Chancellor Dr. Bindu Nath Lohani, also a member of the AIT Board of Trustees and UoN board members. Areas of cooperation included academic program development, faculty and researcher exchanges, joint research projects, knowledge sharing on digitalization and co-hosting conferences and seminars. Establishing an AIT Center in Nepal was recognized as a long-term goal.
Strengthening Industry-Academia Partnerships
Meeting with the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI)
Prof. Li met with CNI President Rajesh Kumar Agrawal and Senior Vice President Birendra Raj Pandey to discuss industry-academia collaboration. AIT reaffirmed its commitment to innovation and skills development, emphasizing its recent MoU with CNI to support ESG framework development. Possible areas of collaboration included industry-specific training programs, executive education, and internship opportunities for AIT students in Nepal.
Meeting with Nepal Telecom
Discussions with Managing Director Ms. Sangita Pahadee, an AIT alumna, explored collaborative educational opportunities for Nepal Telecom employees. AIT highlighted the new AI and Data Science Lab, a significant resource for workforce upskilling. Interest was expressed in short-term diploma programs and professional training sessions tailored to employees’ work schedules.
Meeting with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Nepal
Prof. Li met with ADB Nepal Country Director Arnaud Cauchois to discuss potential joint initiatives and capacity-building efforts. Mr. Cauchois emphasized ADB’s role as a regional climate bank, focusing on adaptation strategies to enhance Nepal’s climate resilience, particularly in its hydropower sector. Key discussions included improving environmental policies, resilience projects like “Building Location and Resilience,” and establishing a green resilience financing facility. AIT acknowledged its 40-year partnership with ADB during the meeting and reaffirmed its commitment to contributing to ADB’s development initiatives in Nepal. Proposed initiatives included joint research projects, matching tuition scholarships for Nepali students, and internship opportunities, aligning with ADB’s mission to drive sustainable development in the region.
Engaging with AIT Alumni
AIT’s strong alumni network in Nepal warmly welcomed the delegation. The AIT Alumni Association Nepal Chapter (AITAAN) hosted a welcome dinner and an alumni gathering to discuss alumni contributions and future engagement with AIT.
H.E. Mr. Suwapong Sirisorn, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Thailand to Nepal, Dr. Bindu Nath Lohani and Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha from the AIT Board of Trustees were present at the gathering.
President also handed over the distinguished alumni award to Ms. Binda Pandey, (SERD, 2002) and Dr. Dinesh Manandar (SERD, 1998), which was awarded during the 53rd Asian Institute of Technology Alumni Association Governing Board Meeting (AITAA-GBM) held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, last year in November 2024.
AIT Roadshow was also organized in Kathmandu, which introduced prospective students to AIT’s programs and encouraged applications for the August 2025 semester.
Joining Prof. Li was a delegation comprising Prof. Sangam Shrestha, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology (SET) and Co-Director of the GWSC; Prof. P. Abdul Salam, Dean of the School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD); Prof. Yuosre Badir, Dean of the School of Management (SOM); Mr. Sanjeet Amatya, Director of Public Affairs, OIPA; Ms. Indra Kumari, Senior Program Officer, International Affairs, OIPA; and Ms. Sarina Pradhan Thapa, Senior Program Officer, SERD Dean’s Office.
President Li’s visit to Nepal reinforced AIT’s dedication to fostering partnerships across government, academia, and industry. The discussions held during the visit are expected to pave the way for new collaborations and strengthen AIT’s role in supporting Nepal’s development through education, research, and capacity building.
