Nepal university strives to break free of political interference

A new national university planned to open next year could lead the way in reforming Nepal’s underperforming higher education sector if it can secure sustainable funding and resist political pressure, academics believe.

Kathmandu policymakers have given the go-ahead for the creation of the University of Nepal, a new kind of public university designed to tackle the low quality of higher education in the country.

Crucially, unlike Nepal’s other universities, the institution’s governing body will be free to select the vice-chancellor, a change from the existing politicised appointment process. Currently, Nepal’s prime minister is ex officio chancellor of all 11 of the country’s universities – a situation that some believe hinders their development.

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“If implemented successfully, this new university could serve as a model for academic rigour and innovation, which may inspire reforms across other institutions in the country,” said Krishna Bista, professor of higher education at Morgan State University in Maryland.

However, it might not be straightforward to untangle the university from political control. Former vice-chancellors of Nepal’s leading institution, Tribhuvan University, spoke out earlier this year about government pressure on universities in the country, arguing that it adversely affected their functioning.

“Given Nepal’s history of political involvement in university affairs, the true test of autonomy will be in how effectively the institution can resist external pressures over time,” said Professor Bista.

“Should it succeed, it could indeed set a new precedent for governance in Nepal’s higher education institutions, encouraging a shift towards more autonomous and globally competitive universities.”

A fund will be established to finance the new university, with contributions from federal and local governments, as well as businesses. The mayor of Gaindakot, where the university will be located, told local press that the regional government would allocate funding for “infrastructure development”.

The development board is also set to begin approaching businesses for investment. An important – and potentially challenging – part of the process will be ensuring sustainable funding, said Philip Altbach, professor emeritus at Boston College’s Center for International Higher Education.

“Often, good ideas are floated with a flourish, and [then] sustained funding peters out and the effort fails,” he said. “Starting a top-quality university is expensive and requires a long-term commitment. And if the government is investing funds and is used to bureaucratic control, can they keep their hands off?”

The idea for the university was conceived in the late 2010s by a group of Nepalese scholars. Other academics on the development board told The Kathmandu Post that the university would aim to begin enrolling students in August 2025.

They hope the new university will help to prevent the exodus of students from Nepal. In 2021, 19 per cent of tertiary-level Nepali students were studying abroad, according to the United Nations – one of the highest ratios globally.

“For the University of Nepal to reduce this trend, it will need to provide competitive academic programmes, research opportunities and pathways to global recognition,” said Professor Bista. “While the university could gradually retain more students, it will take time to rival the international appeal of foreign education.”

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com