A Talk Programme on "
Enhancing Cultural and Educational Exchange between Nepal and the United Kingdom," chaired by
Dr. Nastu Sharma, President of the Association of British Alumni in Nepal (ABAN), and graced by
His Excellency Rob Fenn, British Ambassador to Nepal, as the Chief Guest, was organized by
ABAN in association with the Advanced College of Engineering and Management (ACEM) on Ashadh 32, 2083 (July 16, 2026), at the ACEM premises in Kalanki, Kathmandu. The programme brought together academicians, education leaders, policymakers, government officials, researchers, and international partners to explore opportunities for strengthening educational collaboration, cultural exchange, and transnational education between Nepal and the United Kingdom.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Prof. Dr. Durga Prasad Sangroula, Principal of ACEM, who warmly welcomed the distinguished guests and participants. He expressed his sincere appreciation to Dr. Nastu Sharma, His Excellency Rob Fenn, the British Embassy, British Council Nepal, Mr. Ramesh Kumar Silwal, Chairperson of ACEM, the Vice-Principal, Chiefs, Heads, Deputy Heads, faculty members, staff, students, and all academic departments, research centers, and administrative units of ACEM for their invaluable support in making the programme a success. He also reaffirmed ACEM's commitment to advancing international collaboration in higher education through meaningful global partnerships.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Nastu Sharma, President of the Association of British Alumni in Nepal (ABAN), expressed his sincere appreciation to His Excellency Rob Fenn, the British Embassy, British Council Nepal, the ABAN and ACEM family, and all distinguished guests for their gracious presence and continued support. He highlighted the importance of strengthening educational and cultural ties between Nepal and the United Kingdom through academic collaboration, international partnerships, and transnational education while encouraging greater cooperation among academia, government, industry, and international partners.
This was followed by a presentation by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shanker Dhakal, Chief of the Center for Academia-Industry Linkages and International Collaboration (CAILIC) at ACEM, who highlighted the college's ongoing international collaborations and shared its vision for expanding global partnerships through research, innovation, industry engagement, and international cooperation. He also presented ACEM's strategic initiatives to strengthen academia-industry linkages, promote faculty and student mobility, facilitate collaborative research, and establish partnerships with leading universities, industries, and international organizations. Furthermore, he shared the progress of ACEM's Monkey Control and Damage Mitigation R&D Project, highlighting its interdisciplinary research approach, practical relevance, and potential contribution to addressing human–wildlife conflict and supporting sustainable agricultural development in Nepal.
The programme was further enriched by the presence of distinguished policymakers, senior government officials, and renowned professionals, including Dr. Ojaswee Sherchand, Chair of the Education, Health, Science and Information Technology Committee; Mr. Suman Prasad Sharma, former Secretary to the Government of Nepal and an accomplished policymaker and consultant in the water resources sector; and Mr. Swambhu Man Amatya, former Secretary to the Government of Nepal, ABAN member, and an alumnus of the University of Oxford. Their presence and interactions contributed valuable perspectives to discussions on education, science, technology and innovation (STI), policy development, and international collaboration.
The technical sessions featured an insightful presentation by Mr. Ashok Shahi from ABAN, who shared the Nepalese perspective on enhancing educational and cultural exchange between Nepal and the United Kingdom. Mr. Gaurab Sharma from British Council Nepal delivered a presentation on transnational education programmes, highlighting opportunities to strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions in Nepal and the United Kingdom. The presentations were followed by engaging question-and-answer sessions, encouraging meaningful dialogue and the exchange of ideas among participants.
Delivering his remarks as the Chief Guest, His Excellency Rob Fenn, British Ambassador to Nepal, emphasized the vital role of educational partnerships, cultural understanding, and people-to-people connections in deepening the longstanding relationship between Nepal and the United Kingdom. He encouraged continued collaboration among academic institutions and stakeholders to create greater educational opportunities and promote mutual growth through stronger academic engagement and institutional partnerships.
The programme concluded with the presentation of tokens of appreciation to the distinguished speakers and guests, followed by a vote of thanks by Mr. Ramesh Kumar Silwal, Chairperson of ACEM. He conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency Rob Fenn, Dr. Nastu Sharma, the British Embassy, British Council Nepal, the Principal, Vice-Principal, Chiefs, Heads, Deputy Heads, faculty members, staff, students, the entire ACEM family, collaborating partners, eminent guests, esteemed speakers, and all participants for their gracious presence, invaluable support, and meaningful contributions to the successful conduct of the programme. He expressed confidence that the discussions and partnerships initiated through the programme would further strengthen educational collaboration and create new opportunities for academic and institutional cooperation between Nepal and the United Kingdom.
The programme was gracefully emceed by Er. Isha Pant, Faculty Member of the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering; Er. Silsila Poudel, Event Coordinator of the Research and Innovation Unit (RIU); and Ms. Apekchhaya Bhattarai, a second-year student of Electronics, Communication and Information Engineering at ACEM.
Following the formal programme, participants visited the AI Research Center, led by Dr. Bipun Man Pati, D.Eng.; the Center for Academia-Industry Linkages and International Collaboration (CAILIC), led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shanker Dhakal; and the Research and Innovation Unit (RIU), led by Er. Sojan Prajapati. During the visits, participants gained deeper insights into ACEM's initiatives in research, innovation, academia-industry collaboration, entrepreneurship, and international engagement. The extended interaction provided a valuable platform for discussions on emerging policy issues in education, science, technology and innovation (STI), health, and information technology, while exploring opportunities for future collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and policy engagement. The interaction reflected a shared commitment to strengthening institutional linkages, fostering collaborative initiatives, and advancing meaningful academic and cultural partnerships between Nepal and the United Kingdom.
ACEM extends its sincere gratitude to the Association of British Alumni in Nepal (ABAN), His Excellency Rob Fenn, British Ambassador to Nepal, the British Embassy, British Council Nepal, all distinguished speakers, policymakers, intellectuals from various organizations, officials from government and private sectors, esteemed guests, distinguished participants and the entire ACEM family for their valuable support and active participation in making the programme a grand success. The College looks forward to building upon the relationships and discussions initiated through this programme to further strengthen international collaboration, promote academic excellence, and foster meaningful educational and cultural partnerships between Nepal and the United Kingdom.
Please click here to take a glimpse of this programme. 
