MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Higher education in Nepal for general public opened only after the dawn of democracy in 1950 and it has been growing rapidly ever since.  Tribhuvan University, the first university in the country established in 1959 expanded its services commensurate to the demands by adding its constituent campuses in different parts of the country as well as affiliating campuses opened and operated by communities and private entrepreneurs.  TU system now consists of 60 constituent campuses as well as some 800 affiliated campuses. In 1987 Sanskrit University was established. The development took its full swing along with the People's Movement in 1990. As we look at the development trend, we find a discernible progress in the expansion of higher education access. At present, there are already six functioning universities and three other universities have been enacted by the parliament. Three academies in the area of medicine and health science are functioning.  All together there are 80 constituent campuses and 900 affiliated campuses where about 351000 students are enrolled in, about 284973 engaged in studies at Bachelors level and above.

However, Nepal faces three important challenges at this juncture.  The first challenge is meeting the growing demand for higher education access and also meeting the challenges of the world development trend.  Although the access expansion seem rapid, it falls short compared to the world development trend.  The higher education GER of Nepal is about 10.1% this is one of lowest among the countries in the South Asia.  The world average is about 26%.  The second challenge relates to ensuring quality and competitiveness.  This challenge also represents the growing concerns and much of the criticism regarding higher education development in the country.  And the third challenge relates to ensuring that the expansion is relevant to the country contexts and needs.  The expansion of higher education system in Nepal has taken place without much planning and provisions.  Whereas the country priorities are economic development with emphasis on poverty alleviation, creation of jobs, and strengthening the newly achieved democracy through social inclusion, equity, harmony, and inclusion, much of higher education developments tended to be in classical literary and theoretical study areas.  A country with many diversities like ours has to strengthen and enhance higher education system with a focus on socio-economic transformation for its all round development. The focus should very much be guided by the principles of social inclusion, social cohesion, peace and prosperity.

The government of Nepal, in this regard, has to make concerted efforts to devise well-timed policies and functional programs in order to make its higher education as competitive and responsive to the changing needs of the country in particular and the world in general.

University Grants Commission which has been established in 1994 to look after these concerns should take up the challenges and make headway for better development of higher education in the country.  The functioning modality of UGC is to coordinate the higher education institutions along with the stakeholders.  In this line it has already initiated some important steps – It has been planning and supporting the efforts of quality improvements through research, training, and basic infrastructure development.  It has constituted a Research Council.  It has set up Quality Assurance and Accreditation (QAA) system, conceptualized teacher training and testing services. Strengthening of EMIS has been initiated. The developments are however at the initial stage.  They need to be strengthened and expanded; most importantly their implementation must be made effective and sustainable.  This will not be possible without the support and cooperation of the stakeholders including the students, teachers, parents, community, employers, government organizations, as well as national and international organizations. 

With these convictions, UGC team pledges its commitments for taking up the challenging roles and responsibilities, working together. 

Prof. Dr. Ganesh Man Gurung

Chairman, UGC