A new polytechnic college has opened in Nepal equipped with the latest in Korean technology and equipment.
After four years of construction, the Korea-Nepal Institute of Technology (KNIT) is ready to provide quality technical education in the Tamnagar municipality of Butwal, a town located approximately eight kilometers southeast of the capital city of Kathmandu.
Programs of study will be offered in various specialties such as automobiles, electronics, and machinery. The school expects to produce a total of 270 students each year with the skills to meet Nepal’s demand for technical professionals.
Construction on the school was overseen by Nepal’s Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) with support by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), which included approximately USD 5.68 million in grant funds.
An inauguration ceremony to celebrate the school’s opening took place on July 21 (local time) and was attended by approximately 450 distinguished guests, including Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav, Education Minister Dinanath Sahrma, and CTEVT Vice Chairman Dr. Gopal Khanal, who is also the new school’s chancellor.
(left) meets with President Ram Baran Yadav of Nepal (right) in the capital city of Kathmandu on July 23 to discuss plans to advance development cooperation between Korea and Nepal (photo courtesy of KOICA).
Also in attendance were Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nepal Il-doo Kim, KOICA President Dae-won Park, and celebrated travel writer, relief worker, and KOICA advisory committee board member Bi-ya Han.
“We look forward to the contributions that the Korea-Nepal Technical Institute will make to the Nepalese government’s initiative to promote employment-based economic growth,” said Park.
“KOICA will continue to support Nepal with aid in the education, public health, and public administration sectors for the promotion of socioeconomic stability and national growth.”
KOICA estimates that 40,000 new workers enter Nepal’s labor market each year, but the shortage of jobs and limited availability of technical training results in many of these workers seeking work in the Middle East, Malaysia, and other countries.
“The development of Korea’s economy over such a short period of time was possible because of the abundance of skilled human resources,” remarked President Yadav.
“We hope that the Korean government will continue to show interest and provide support for Nepal as it pursues development based on the model of Korea’s past experience.”
