By Office of International Affairs, Office of Development and External Affairs
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) participated in the Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) Stakeholders’ Retreat held on 18–19 March 2026 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Representing AIT, Dr. Sumana Shrestha, Director of the Office of International Affairs, attended the retreat, which was organized under the theme “Coordinate, Communicate, Collaborate for the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH).” The event brought together approximately 70 international participants, including 29 vice-chancellors and leading academic figures from higher education institutions across Thailand, India, China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bhutan. Ambassadors and diplomats from around ten countries also took part.
The retreat focused on developing a strategic roadmap for the future of HUC and ensuring its financial sustainability within a global, multilateral framework. Academic leaders from institutions interested in joining the consortium also participated in discussions.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Vibha Dhawan, Chancellor of The Energy and Resources Institute School of Advanced Studies, India. The special guest was Dr. Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal. Participants engaged in seven technical sessions addressing key regional issues, including HUC’s financial sustainability, multilateral academic and research collaboration, global positioning, annual activity planning, and the establishment of a vice-chancellor’s forum for regional cooperation.
Dr. Shrestha co-chaired Technical Session 3 on the Yearly Plan of Activities alongside Dr. Babar Khan, Interim HUC Secretariat Lead and Regional Lead at International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Nepal. Dr. Shrestha contributed to formulating HUC’s short-, medium-, and long-term plans.
Several AIT alumni also played active roles in the retreat. These included Prof. Vishnu Prasad Pandey, Professor at the Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus and Executive Director at the Centre for International Relations at Tribhuvan University, and Dr. Dinesh Manandhar. They co-chaired sessions and contributed to in-depth discussions throughout the event.
Over the two days, participants collaborated across twelve thematic areas, including the Food-Energy-Water Nexus, Cryosphere and Society, Disaster Risk, Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Climate Change and Carbon Neutrality, Mountain Agriculture, and the Green Economy. These discussions aim to address critical challenges facing the HKH region while fostering knowledge partnerships across the developing world.
The retreat concluded with the signing of the “Kathmandu Declaration”, emphasizing joint efforts toward climate resilience and sustainable development in the HKH region.
Established in 2007, HUC is a consortium of 107 member universities across the HKH region. Initially hosted by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the consortium was transferred to Kathmandu University in December 2025. AIT, as an associate member, looks forward to strengthening collaboration in academic, research, and outreach activities to support sustainable development in the region.
In addition to attending the retreat, Dr. Shrestha held several bilateral meetings with key partners, including ICIMOD, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara University, Agriculture and Forestry University, and Royal University of Bhutan, exploring opportunities for collaboration. She also engaged with institutions such as the TERI School of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, SAARC Secretariat, and Nepal Academy of Science and Technology.
Furthermore, Dr. Shrestha met officials at the Asian Development Bank Nepal Resident Mission to discuss potential collaborative initiatives between AIT and ADB Nepal.
