Kathmandu, July 17 — Tribhuvan University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa has described research centres as fundamental pillars of both universities and the nation, pledging to create an environment conducive to high-quality research across the university’s four research centres.

Addressing the 55th anniversary celebration of the Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies (CNAS) on Friday, Vice-Chancellor Thapa said Tribhuvan University would prioritise the effective mobilisation of its physical, financial and human resources to strengthen research and innovation.

“Research and innovation continuously open new possibilities for universities, society and the country,” he said, expressing his strong interest and enthusiasm for advancing research within the university.

Tribhuvan University will work to create an enabling environment for high-quality research across all four of its research centres.

Prof. Dr. Thapa pledged to provide effective leadership in cooperation with experienced professors, researchers and other stakeholders. He said the university would work to create an institutional environment in which researchers could undertake meaningful studies and contribute to national development.

On the occasion, the newly appointed vice-chancellor also remembered and acknowledged the senior academics whose leadership and contributions had helped establish Tribhuvan University’s research centres and strengthen their role in the country’s academic, social and policy landscape.

CNAS was originally established as the Institute of Nepal and Asian Studies on Shrawan 1, 2029 BS. It was later transformed into the Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies on Bhadra 23, 2034 BS.

Since its establishment, the centre has conducted academic research in areas including language, culture, art, society, international relations and other social-science disciplines. It has also contributed to national policy discussions and established itself as an important intellectual and research institution within Tribhuvan University.

Addressing the anniversary programme, CNAS Executive Director Dr. Mrigendra Bahadur Karki briefly highlighted the centre’s history, academic reputation and contribution to research.

Dr. Karki requested the vice-chancellor to provide the university’s research centres with clearer policy guidance, stronger financial and administrative support, and permission to operate academic programmes and award doctoral degrees.

CNAS has called for stronger policy, financial and administrative support, along with authority to run academic programmes and award doctoral degrees.

He said such institutional support would enable the research centres to expand their academic activities, attract young scholars and make more substantial contributions to knowledge production and national policymaking.

Former CNAS executive directors Prof. Dr. Prem Kumar Khatri and Prof. Dr. Nirmal Man Tuladhar also attended the anniversary programme.

Other participants included Prof. Dr. Anil Kumar Mahapatra, chairperson of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations; Prof. Dr. Arjun Baral, executive director of the Centre for Economic Development and Administration; Prof. Dr. Meena Rajbhandari, executive director of the Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology; and Prof. Dr. Bishnu Prasad Pandey, executive director of the Tribhuvan University Centre for International Relations.

Retired Hiroshima University professor Dr. Keshav Lal Maharjan and professors Nobel Kishor Rai and Khagendra Prasad Luitel were also among those participating in the programme.

The speakers extended their best wishes to CNAS and expressed hope that the centre would preserve its distinguished research legacy while expanding its contribution to contemporary academic and policy issues.

They emphasised that research institutions must remain professionally independent, academically vibrant and responsive to the changing needs of society. They also highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration among universities, government agencies, international institutions and research communities.

CNAS is currently implementing two international research projects and one national research project. The projects are expected to contribute to the centre’s continuing work in academic research, knowledge production and policy-oriented studies.

The anniversary programme also served as an opportunity to reflect on the historical contribution of Tribhuvan University’s research centres and discuss the need for stronger institutional investment in research.

Participants stressed that universities could not achieve academic excellence through classroom teaching alone. They said research, innovation and the production of new knowledge must remain central to the university system if higher education is to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Academic excellence cannot be achieved through classroom teaching alone; research, innovation and knowledge production must remain central to higher education.

Vice-Chancellor Thapa reiterated that Tribhuvan University would work to strengthen all four research centres and enable them to play a leading role in academic research, policy analysis and innovation.

He said cooperation among university leadership, professors, researchers, students and administrative bodies would be essential to restore the research centres’ institutional strength and enhance their national and international standing.