Study in Nepal & Transnational Education Forum 2026 Calls for Quality-Driven Reform in Higher Education

Kathmandu — The Study in Nepal & Transnational Education Forum 2026 concluded with a strong national message: Nepal’s ambition to become an emerging global education hub must be built on quality, credibility, research excellence, and long-term institutional trust.

Bringing together students, academicians, policymakers, diplomatic representatives, development partners, researchers, university leaders, industry experts, media, and international stakeholders, the forum created one of the most comprehensive national conversations yet on the future of Nepal’s higher education ecosystem.

At the center of the discussions was a critical question:

How can Nepal develop a globally credible, internationally connected, and quality-driven higher education system capable of competing within the global knowledge economy?

Throughout the forum, speakers repeatedly emphasized that expanding access to education alone is not enough. Participants highlighted the urgent need to strengthen institutional standards, improve research ecosystems, ensure policy consistency, enhance student wellbeing and employability, and build greater public trust in Nepal’s academic institutions.

The participation of Times Higher Education added an important international dimension to the event, particularly around global rankings, institutional benchmarking, research visibility, and internationalization strategies.

Distinguished voices including Rob Fenn, Greg Klemm, Shailaja Adhikary, Birendra Pandey, Manoj Gyawali, Dr. Roshee Lamichhane, Jaco Du Toit, and N. D. Lama contributed to discussions focused on the future direction of Nepal’s higher education sector.

One of the defining aspects of the forum was its inclusive nature. The dialogue extended beyond universities and policymakers, incorporating the perspectives of students, young voices, educators, researchers, development partners, and government representatives. Participants stressed that meaningful transformation in higher education can only be achieved through collective national collaboration.

The forum also addressed the growing challenge of educational outmigration, as billions of rupees continue to leave Nepal annually through overseas education. Discussions explored how Nepal can simultaneously strengthen domestic academic quality, retain more students within the country, expand transnational education partnerships, attract international students, and improve its research and innovation ecosystem. (British Council)

A broad consensus emerged during the event that “Study in Nepal” must evolve beyond a promotional campaign and become a long-term national strategy supported by credible policy frameworks, institutional excellence, research capacity, international partnerships, and consistent quality standards.

Speakers noted that countries earn recognition as respected education destinations not through marketing alone, but through sustained academic trust, strong governance, global collaboration, research output, and student-centered institutional development.

The forum concluded with appreciation for all participating speakers, universities, diplomatic missions, development partners, students, media representatives, and organizing teams who contributed to initiating what many described as an important national conversation.

As participants emphasized during the closing discussions, the dialogue has begun — but the real challenge now lies in sustaining momentum through long-term action and reform.

The event also reflected broader regional and international conversations around transnational education and higher education collaboration, which have increasingly gained policy attention in Nepal in recent years. (British Council)