Nepal’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has started the process of modifying its rules on colleges affiliated to overseas higher education institutions. The move comes after two expert committees found that many institutions offering foreign university courses lack sufficient quality and have not been abiding by the existing laws. The Ministry has formed a new committee to implement these changes, which include limiting transnational education to universities in the top 1,000 of international rankings.

According to the available information, out of 34 foreign university and academic institutions that have provided their affiliation to 59 Nepali institutions, only eight were ranked in the global top 1,000 of the Times Higher Education global ranking. All eight of these universities are from the UK.

In addition to amending the criteria for the overseas partner universities, other recommendations from the two expert committees include reforming rules for student admissions; establishing a student quota system; establishing a unit under the UGC for quality assurance and monitoring of foreign affiliated institutions; managing student enrolment data at the UGC level; scholarship provision; and establishing provisions for physical and human resources; and setting up minimum standards. 

The newly established committee has been established under the chairmanship of a joint-secretary of the Education Ministry to move forward on these amendments. The Ministry has already asked all institutions running foreign affiliated degrees to submit a report to the Ministry and to receive certification of their quality assurance and accreditation from the University Grants Commission within three years. 

However, private colleges have opposed these changes and challenged the decision in the Supreme Court on the grounds that the expert panels were dominated by representatives of Nepal’s largest state-run university.

British Council Comments

Like other South Asian countries Nepal is taking drastic measures to improve the quality of higher education. As widely discussed, quality of the education offered in many Nepali public and private colleges needs significant improvements. The current decision mirrors the decision of UGC India on restricting their foreign affiliations only to universities among the top 500 in global rankings. 

As of the last academic year, nearly 30,000 students were enrolled in bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes at foreign-affiliated colleges, and this move will have a big impact on the students and access to higher education opportunities in Nepal. 

See also:

The committee reports on which the decision is based:

https://moest.gov.np/content/13270/pratibedan1/

https://moest.gov.np/content/13359/september-2081-run-in-a-foreign-university/


Other relevant news articles
https://kathmandupost.com/national/2024/11/18/ministry-to-tighten-foreign-affiliations-of-nepali-colleges 

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20241122114032301 

https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/45222

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