Himalayan University Consortium Nepal Members’ Meeting

Date11 Aug 2018 to 12 Aug 2018VenuePokhara, Nepal Contact PersonsAchala SharmaTypeMeetingProgrammesMountain Knowledge and Action Networks(MKAN), Himalayan University Consortium
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The Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) was established with a mandate to develop an effective, sustainable network of universities in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). The initiative is part of the regional programme on Mountain Knowledge and Action Networks (MKAN) at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). It works in collaboration with academic, research, and knowledge generating and exchange institutions within and outside the HKH.

Over the past decade, ICIMOD has provided technical support in strengthening research capacity in climate change sciences and natural resource studies and management. The HUC Secretariat responds to requests to help build and upgrade curricula for sustainable mountain development from schools and departments at universities—both members and non-members of HUC.

Membership of the Consortium has grown in recent years, from 33 in the beginning of 2016 to 61 by the end of 2017.

Since early 2018, the HUC has been consulting members and experts to draft its first Strategy and Action Plan (2018–2022).

Given the increase in the number of HUC members in Nepal, as well as the country’s involvement in the Consortium’s activities, HUC membership should expand in Nepal to boost national and regional collaboration for research and education in sustainable mountain development. The Himalayan University Consortium Nepal Members’ Meeting has been organized to this end.

Objectives

Vice Chancellors, Pro-Vice Chancellors, and senior administrators and researchers from HUC member institutions in Nepal will be discussing: 

  • A draft of the HUC Strategy and Action Plan I (2018–2025)
  • Potential funding sources for research and training collaboration among HUC members in Nepal and members within and outside the region
  • Thematic areas for Nepal and the role of HUC Nepal members in thematic working groups
  • Promotion of science-policy dialogues through HUC linkages with policy making institutions
  • Potential linkage between HUC and Nepal’s University Grants Commission
  • The need to establish an HUC Country Chapter in Nepal
  • Procedure to nominate an HUC Steering Group member representing members in Nepal

Expected Outcomes

The meeting is expected to arrive at:

  • A summary of comments and inputs to the HUC Strategy and Action Plan I (2018–2025)
  • A summary and action points regarding resource mobilization and potential for collaboration
  • A summary and action points regarding the HUC Country Chapter in Nepal
  • A summary and action points of the nomination procedure for an HUC Steering Group member representing Nepal