KATHMANDU: British Minister for the Indo-Pacific and Equality Seema Malhotra, currently on a three-day visit to Nepal, has said the United Kingdom (UK) is ready to expand cooperation with Nepal, particularly in education and technical skill development.
Speaking at a high-level discussion on “Scope of UK’s Educational Partnership for Nepal” organized by the Nepal-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Sunday, Minister Malhotra said the UK will prioritize investment in human capital to further strengthen bilateral relations.
She said expanding access to education and linking it with employment opportunities is essential to strengthen the connection between education and the economy.
“One of the UK’s ambitions is educational development. We are thinking about how we can help create opportunities for youth through education,” she said. “The educational cooperation and relations between the two countries are reflected in British-affiliated colleges in Nepal and Nepali students studying in the UK. We are ready to increase cooperation in other areas of education based on the priorities of the new government of Nepal.”
During her visit, Minister Malhotra held meetings with Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle, Foreign Minister Sishir Khanal, Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel, and Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya.
Meanwhile, British Ambassador to Nepal Rob Fenn said the discussions focused on multi-sectoral cooperation and sustainable investment under long-term development partnerships. The UK continues to support international development through Official Development Assistance (ODA) under its long-term partnership framework.
At the event, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports Chandrakanta Bhusal said Nepal is seeking foreign cooperation in areas such as inclusive education, technical and vocational training, and good governance.
Former Member Secretary of the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) Dr. Ramhari Lamichhane said Nepal needs to establish a Sector Skills Council, adopt quality measurement systems similar to the UK model, and promote research-oriented higher education.
Dr. Uddhav Khadka, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepal Educational Consultants, said that 23,000 Nepali students went to the UK for higher education in the last fiscal year.
During the discussion, education sector stakeholders including Ava Shah, Managing Director of Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management, and JD Bhatta, Principal of James College, also highlighted the need for stronger educational cooperation between Nepal and the UK.
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