KATHMANDU: In order to further fortify its industry-academia synergy, Apex College has brought on board Deepak Raj Joshi as an Industry Advisor to the BBA-Travel and Tourism program. To mark the start of his association with Apex, a program—attended by the college’s staff and faculty members — was held at the college located in Mid-Baneshwor, Kathmandu.

Joshi is, among others, the former CEO of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Founding Executive Member of World Tourism Network, and former Chairman of the Destination Committee and Executive Board Director at Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). Joshi has also been an independent director of Soaltee Hotel Limited since 2021. The college zeroed in on Joshi on account of his unmatched expertise, experience, and contribution in the tourism sector.

Besides mentoring and advising Apex’s faculty and students, Joshi will also help the college design elective courses that will better arm the graduates with the skills that the industry demands. “We have been in need of an advisor of his caliber for some time to elevate our travel and tourism-focused business administration program,” said Principal Durga Rijal during the ceremonial event. “We are thus exceedingly elated that he agreed to join the Apex College family.”

“Mr. Joshi is not just a country-level industry expert. He is also well versed with international trends in the tourism sector,” shared the Academic Director for the undergraduate program at Apex, Nabin Kumar Jha. “His inputs will thus be of immense value to us. And his relations with key actors in the sector will help bring the highest quality visiting faculty members to Apex.”

The BBA-TT Program Head of the college Anup Shrestha talked about how the faculty too—and not just the students—at Apex would hugely benefit from Joshi’s guidance and involvement in the college.

During his turn at the podium, Industry Advisor Deepak Raj Joshi talked about how the tourism sector in Nepal and abroad needs far more graduates of the type the modern industry needs. And he said that together with Apex College, he would help ensure that Nepal gets managerial talent to steer the tourism sector now and into the future.