KATHMANDU, July 16: The Ministry of Education and Sports has launched an initiative to connect universities with the information technology, or IT, industry and encourage young people to pursue careers in the sector.
The ministry held discussions with technology entrepreneurs and experts in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and other stakeholders.
A national roundtable discussion titled "Accelerating Nepal's Digital Economy through Innovation, Technology Transfer, Talent Development and Global Collaboration" was organized in partnership with the Information Technology Society, ITS Nepal, and the ICT Committee under the Nepal Chamber.
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Speaking at the event, Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel said the government has given high priority to expanding the use of information technology in schools and universities. She said the ministry is advancing policies and programs to integrate digitalization, inclusion and digital skills development into the education system.
Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun said Nepal has enormous potential in the IT sector, and the government is committed to creating an environment that generates employment opportunities for young people through the industry. He said IT offers high earning potential with relatively low investment by relying on skills and expertise, adding that the sector can contribute to both individual prosperity and national economic growth.
Shailendra Jha, an advisor at the Ministry of Education, said discussions focused on expanding the use of IT in schools and universities, attracting more young people to the sector and introducing policy reforms. He said the initiative will be implemented in phases in line with government priorities.
Participants highlighted Nepal's vast potential in the IT industry and said stronger collaboration between the government and the private sector could improve the quality and relevance of education, create jobs and support economic growth. They also pledged continued cooperation with the government's initiative.
According to the ministry, the program aims to strengthen institutional collaboration among university leaders, policymakers and representatives of the IT industry. The goal is to expand employment opportunities within Nepal, encourage students to pursue higher education at home and reduce the outflow of skilled professionals, commonly known as brain drain.
As part of the strategy, the ministry has instructed newly appointed vice chancellors to ensure that all central universities, constituent campuses and affiliated colleges organize annual job and career fairs starting from the current academic session.
The ministry is also working with the private sector to institutionalize partnerships with IT companies and develop a mechanism through which qualified students can receive conditional job offers before completing their studies. Officials expect this will give students a clear career pathway before graduation.
The initiative also focuses on narrowing the skills gap between educational institutions and industry. Authorities plan to assess the technical and professional skills of graduates and revise university curricula to make them more practical, updated and aligned with industry needs.
Universities and IT companies will jointly develop elective courses, invite industry experts for guest lectures and conduct joint evaluations of final-year projects to help students gain industry-relevant skills.
To further strengthen the initiative, the ministry is developing standards for credit-based internships and residential professional placements. Internships will be recognized as an integral part of academic programs and linked to academic credits.
The ministry also plans to promote the "earn while you learn" concept by working with private companies to provide basic stipends to interns.
To improve coordination between students and employers, the ministry is preparing to launch a central digital portal that will offer verified internship and employment opportunities in one place.
According to the ministry, the initiative is expected to connect university graduates directly with industry, support the growth of Nepal's digital economy and help develop an innovation-driven workforce.
