UK willing to expand cooperation with Nepal in technical education

KATHMANDU, May 24: Visiting UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Indo-Pacific and Minister for Equalities, Seema Malhotra, has said the British government was willing to expand collaboration with Nepal in the sector of technical education.

Malhotra, who is currently on a three-day Nepal visit, said this during a high-level discussion organized by the Nepal-Britain Chamber of Commerce and Industries in the federal capital today. She was speaking on 'British education partnership for Nepal'.

The collaboration would further deepen Nepal-Britain ties, she said, arguing that expansion of educational access and employment could be promoted to link education with economy. "We're thinking how youths can be linked to entrepreneurship and industry through education," she said, reminding, "The number of colleges getting British university affiliation and Nepali students in the colleges in Britain reflect educational collaboration and ties between the two countries."

She further showed readiness of her government to work together on educational priorities aligning them with Nepal government's plan.

On the occasion, British Ambassador to Nepal, Rob Fenn informed that the visiting British Minister held talks to Nepal's dignitaries including Education Minister on topics of sustainable investment.

Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports, Chandrakant Bhusal, informed that the Nepal government was also willing to establish collaboration on the issues of diversity, equitable inclusion, technical education and good governance.

Former Member Secretary at CTEVT, Dr Ramhari Lamichhane, said Nepal is in need of establishment of 'sector skill council' and research-oriented higher education.

Director General of the Federation of Nepal Educational Consultancies, Dr Uddhav Khadka, informed that as many as 23,000 Nepalis had gone to the UK for higher study in the last fiscal year alone.

Various other speakers dwelt on a range of issues on Nepal-Britain educational collaboration.

Minister’s Speech

Excellencies. Distinguished guests. Ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you to Roshan and the whole team at the Nepal Britain Chamber of Commerce and Industry for bringing us together. The UK has a long-standing partnership with Nepal. We were Nepal’s first partner and it’s the only friendship in the world that is rooted in a treaty.

We have uniquely strong ties between our people and government.

And now, at a time of democratic renewal in Nepal, I’m here to deepen our partnership and modernise it for today’s challenges.

I’m so pleased to be here with you and to see the work you’re doing to support educational opportunities in Nepal.

Because no nation can achieve its aspirations without investing in human talent.

For more than 70 years, the UK and Nepal have worked together on education.

Much of that began by supporting schools and training teachers.

And together, we’ve seen real progress, with far more children now able to access education.

But access is only the first chapter.

The next chapter is about outcomes, about quality, skills, and opportunity.

And that is where the UK is now working closely with your new government.

For example, we are supporting Nepal to develop its first foundational learning framework – drawing on expertise here in Kathmandu and in London.

And this builds on long-standing partnerships like the UK’s Girls’ Education Challenge, which has supported over 30,000 of Nepal’s most marginalised girls – helping them learn, stay in school, and move towards work.

So this is a partnership that continues to evolve.

Because the question is no longer just whether children are in school?
The question is what are they learning, and where will it take them?

And that brings me to my second point.

Like the UK, Nepal understands that education and the economy are deeply connected.

If you want growth, you need skills.

If you want jobs, you need the right training.

And if you want a modern economy, you need a system that can adapt quickly.

Many of you here are educators, while others are employers and investors.

You offer choice to families.

You create jobs.

And you help shape a workforce that can keep pace with a fast-changing world.

This is exactly where the UK can be a natural partner.

We see education as one of our greatest global strengths and we want to be your partner of choice at every stage of learning.

From schools and A-levels, to skills, higher education, and research.

And we can already see what that partnership looks like in practice.

Today, 19 UK universities are working with 27 campuses across Nepal, reaching more than 17,000 students.

That is the power of transnational education.

That ambition sits at the heart of our International Education Strategy – which is about more than growth.

It is about shared prosperity, helping countries like Nepal build the skilled workforce that the future demands.

And this is where transnational education, or TNE, really comes into its own.

It means students can gain a UK qualification without leaving Nepal.

It keeps talent here. It lowers costs. And it opens up opportunity to far more people.

But it is more than just delivering degrees.

TNE is producing graduates who are ready for real jobs in the local economy.

And underpinning all of this is quality.

UK qualifications are trusted around the world because of strong standards, rigorous assurance, and a focus on employability.

That is why demand remains high, including here in Nepal.

And we welcome the Nepal government’s focus on quality assurance. This is something we stand ready to support, through the British Council and our quality bodies.

My third and final point is about students.

We are delighted that Nepalis are the 6^th largest group of internationals students in the UK. It is a sign of trust, and of the deep ties between our countries.

But it has to be the right choice, for the right student.

That means strong preparation, including language skills.

And it means proper support once students arrive.

Both our governments are increasingly focused on this.

Together with the British Council and organisations that connect people across our two countries – like the Britain Nepal Society and the Nepal Britain Society – we are strengthening support for Nepali students in the UK, building on more than 100 years of friendship between our nations.

It is a practical example of the friendship between our countries in action.

Those students are part of a living bridge between our countries, shaped by friendships and warm personal ties. So Nepal is a partner shaping our shared future – building skills, driving innovation, and growing our economies together.

Because it is through education that opportunity is created.

And it is through opportunity that talent is unleashed.

That is the promise of this partnership. And that is the future we are building together.

I look forward to working all of you to build a brighter future for all our people.

Thank you.