By AIT Public Affairs
10 July 2025: The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) welcomed Hon. Mr. Gagan Thapa, Member of Parliament and former Minister of Health and Population of Nepal, on 9 July 2025. During his visit, Mr. Thapa engaged with AIT leadership, senior officials, and Nepali faculty to explore potential collaborations between Nepal and AIT in areas such as climate resilience, education, and skill development.
Joining Mr. Thapa were Mr. Niranjan Shrestha, Executive Director of Laxmi Group; Mr. Nishant Khanal, Economist and Advisor; and Mr. Deependra Chamlagain, Director of Samriddhi Foundation, Nepal.
Prof. Manukid Parnichkun, Vice President for Academic and Research, welcomed the delegation and noted the longstanding relationship between AIT and Nepal, spanning more than four decades. He highlighted the contributions of Nepali faculty, staff, and students at AIT and emphasized the importance of strengthening ties for mutual development.
Prof. Siddharth K. Jabade, Vice President for Administration and Development at AIT, emphasized the Institute’s commitment to integrating formal education with practical skill-building. “We see great potential in collaborations like this to create an integrated ecosystem where higher education and skills development are aligned,” he said. “Through accessible, credit-based programs that combine technical knowledge, entrepreneurial thinking, and digital competencies, we aim to equip young people to drive sustainable economic, social, and environmental progress.”
Mr. Thapa remarked that Nepal’s young population is its greatest asset, but many graduates still lack the practical skills and critical thinking needed in today’s world. “Many talented Nepalese succeed abroad, our challenge is to keep them engaged with Nepal,” he said. “That’s why partnerships with institutions like AIT are so important. We want to bridge the skills gap and ensure our youth are part of the global knowledge economy.”
He also emphasized the importance of creating strong academic institutions within Nepal, stating that it’s time to shift the belief that quality higher education only exists overseas. He expressed support for AIT’s proposed center in Nepal, calling it a potentially transformative initiative for the country’s education and development.
The delegation and AIT officials discussed ways to deepen collaboration in higher education, technical training, and policy engagement. AIT shared updates on ongoing partnerships in areas including water and sanitation, aquaculture, renewable energy, agriculture, and vocational training. A key point of discussion was the proposed AIT Centre in Nepal, envisioned as a hub for skill development and regional research collaboration.
From AIT the meeting was attended by Prof. Sangam Shrestha, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology (SET); Mr. Voravate Chonlasin, Executive Director, AIT Extension; Prof. Rajendra P. Shrestha, Professor, NRM/FANR/SERD; Prof. Anil K. Anal, Professor, FEBT/FINH/FANR/SERD; Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, Professor, SE/ECC/SERD; Dr. Ram C. Bhujel, Associate Research Professor and Director, Aqua-Centre, AARM/FANR/SERD; Dr. Anish Ghimire, Assistant Professor, EEM/WREE/SET; Mr. Karma Rana, Institute Secretary; Dr. Sumana Shrestha, Director, International Affairs, OIPA and Mr. Sanjeet Amatya, Director, Public Affairs, OIPA.
The visit concluded with tours of AIT’s research and innovation facilities, including the AI and Simulation Lab, Greenhouse, and the Global Water and Sanitation Center (GWSC), where the delegation explored AIT’s ongoing research and innovation efforts.
