Lalitpur, October 9, 2024
Kathmandu University (KU) and the South Asia Institute for History and Philosophy (SIHP) have signed an agreement to operate a postgraduate program (MA) in History and Philosophy, focusing on three disciplines: society, technology, and the environment. Associate Professor Ekumaya Pun, Acting Dean of KU School of Arts, and Kanak Mani Dixit, Chair of SIHP, signed the memorandum of understanding.
During the signing ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of KU, Prof. Bhola Thapa, emphasized the importance of quality social science education in Nepal's higher education system. He expressed confidence that with support from national and international partners, this institution and its programs would soon be well-established and that the proposed curriculum would attract more students from South Asia.
KU Registrar, Prof. Achyut Wagle, highlighted that the goal of higher education is not only to produce well-trained professionals but also to create an environment for committed citizens and thinkers. He expressed belief that this collaboration would contribute significantly to that goal and lay the foundation for the development of a new intellectual community that will benefit both Nepal and the entire subcontinent.
Acting Dean Ekumaya Pun expressed her belief that this collaboration would deepen, broaden, and enrich the field of humanities. She added that this partnership would open doors for developing a tradition of thinking that addresses the shared social, technological, and environmental aspirations, realities, and challenges of the Himalayan region and the South Asian community.
Kanak Dixit, Chair of SIHP, expressed gratitude to Kathmandu University for stepping forward to address the significant gap in arts, social sciences, and humanities education. He expressed confidence that graduates from KU and SIHP would enrich various fields such as academia, state administration, law and justice, environment, technology, media, and various professions. He also emphasized that under the capable leadership of historian Yogesh Raj, SIHP’s academic programs would contribute to linking and understanding Nepal, the Himalayan region, and the broader South Asia.
Today's agreement finalizes the preliminary signing between KU and SIHP that took place on 2081 Ashadh 10. The program is planned to commence in February 2025 (2081 Falgun), with details on the curriculum and admission process to be made available soon on the websites of Kathmandu University, the School of Arts, and SIHP.
