I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for taking the time to read and share the write-up on "Reimagining Nepal's Higher Education: A Call for Strategic Reforms." The link is provided below in case if you missed the original post.
The proposed reforms ideas are the result of review of higher education reports study, observation, discussions, and comments provided by numerous educators and scholars, including high-level university officials (see acknowledgement section). This paper serves as an organic document presented as a starting point to trigger discussions on the crucial ma…
Your engagement is greatly appreciated, and I extend special thanks to policymakers and educators who have shared their feedback and encouragement through personal emails and public comments.
As we approach the parliamentary session where discussions on this matter will unfold, I am hopeful that the insights presented in the article, along with your comments and feedback, will play a crucial role in shaping the ongoing debate.
Furthermore, recent news about Tribhuvan University's proposal to transition from a 4-year undergraduate program to a 3-year plan should capture our attention as we engage in discussions about the nature and reforms of our higher education system. In response to this development, I have shared my thoughts in the Note section of the UnpluggedNepal platform. This piece has also been covered in Myrepublica:
Summarizing the discussions from the articles comparing the 3-year (UK) and 4-year (US) models, several crucial considerations come to the forefront:
How might this change impact the current 4-year model followed by another flagship institution, Kathmandu University?
What implications could it have for the new university act (currently under discussion) that aims to promote a liberal arts focus within its educational framework?
How would a three-year program accommodate the emerging paradigm of research engagement in undergraduate education, involving study abroad, community engaged research, internships, independent studies, and capstone projects? [Please refer to the Note for illustrative examples of how the undergraduate experience can be enhanced.]
Has a thorough credit hour assessment of the proposed 3-year program been conducted vis-a-vis the UK’s 3 years and the US’s 4 years programs?
Are we potentially compromising quality for the sake of quantity?
These questions demand thorough consideration as we navigate this significant shift in our higher education system.
Precisely, Dr. Upadhyay. I just saw an interview with MP Ms. Sumana Shrestha and Dr. Upreti and Dr. Koirala, where they were discussing issues related to higher education. Let’s hope that the concerned authorities in Nepal like Ms. Sumana Shrestha can participate in these exchanges to foster a better understanding.
Excellent observations. The idea behind a four-year bachelor’s degree education is that students get opportunities for several critically important skills. Exposure to courses in diverse disciplines in the first two years of college is expected to broaden students’ thinking. The students are more likely to engage in critical reading when introduced to courses in physical, biological and social sciences, humanities and arts, and others. The all-important facility of writing can only come from good comprehension of the text read and reviewed, and from careful analysis. A three-year college education will fail to provide adequate exposure to the diversity of classes a student needs to broaden her perspective. Most of the students in public universities in Nepal will come from K-12 schools in the public sector, and given the state of public education through the high school, many of them will be unable to post solid achievements in college unless reasonable time is provided to them. Only a four-year degree offers the best combination of skills, namely critical reading, analytical reasoning, and effective writing that every college graduate should acquire.
Precisely, Dr. Upadhyay. I just saw an interview with MP Ms. Sumana Shrestha and Dr. Upreti and Dr. Koirala, where they were discussing issues related to higher education. Let’s hope that the concerned authorities in Nepal like Ms. Sumana Shrestha can participate in these exchanges to foster a better understanding.
https://youtu.be/JYCAoRAsBQE
Excellent observations. The idea behind a four-year bachelor’s degree education is that students get opportunities for several critically important skills. Exposure to courses in diverse disciplines in the first two years of college is expected to broaden students’ thinking. The students are more likely to engage in critical reading when introduced to courses in physical, biological and social sciences, humanities and arts, and others. The all-important facility of writing can only come from good comprehension of the text read and reviewed, and from careful analysis. A three-year college education will fail to provide adequate exposure to the diversity of classes a student needs to broaden her perspective. Most of the students in public universities in Nepal will come from K-12 schools in the public sector, and given the state of public education through the high school, many of them will be unable to post solid achievements in college unless reasonable time is provided to them. Only a four-year degree offers the best combination of skills, namely critical reading, analytical reasoning, and effective writing that every college graduate should acquire.