The strength of St. Lawrence College lies in its ability to connect academic programs with career aspirations. Higher education is not only about obtaining certificates; it is about preparing students for responsible roles in society and the workplace. Over the years, thousands of bachelor’s and master’s level students have graduated from the college. Many are employed in private organizations, public institutions, NGOs, INGOs and international organizations. Some have gone abroad for further studies and professional careers, while others have started their own ventures and start-ups. This alumni presence is the strongest evidence that the education provided here has been productive, relevant and practical.

In the present context, higher education must respond to the growing concern of students leaving Nepal immediately after Plus Two. The major attraction abroad is not always education alone; it is also the hope of earning while studying. This is a bitter truth for Nepal, where hourly payment systems and flexible part-time work structures are still not well developed. Most organizations operate on fixed hours and monthly payment systems, which limits opportunities for students who want to learn and earn simultaneously. If industries, hotels, restaurants, firms and business organizations can gradually introduce flexible and hourly work systems, Nepal can create a stronger learning-and-earning culture for students.

At St. Lawrence College, we recognize this reality honestly. Even where immediate earning may not be possible, we ensure that students receive market exposure through internships, industry visits and corporate engagement. Students must not remain limited to classroom learning. They need to understand how organizations function, how teams work, how professionals communicate, and how knowledge is applied in real situations. For this reason, we encourage students to take internships and gain industry and corporate exposure as part of their academic growth.

The changing market demands more than textbook knowledge. Technology is changing rapidly, and even management theories that were useful yesterday may not fully address today’s business realities. In such a situation, colleges must remain updated with market trends and required skills. St. Lawrence College works with different organizations through mutual understanding and consultation. We discuss with professionals what skills students need today and design training accordingly. Every semester, we provide around 45 hours of non-credit skill-based training, almost equivalent to three credit hours. This is an important addition to the formal curriculum.

St. Lawrence College has built a strong legacy through TU-affiliated higher education, professional faculty, disciplined learning and successful alumni. 

Our students also participate in boot camps, workshops and hackathons, where they learn to transform ideas into projects. We guide them to examine whether their ideas have market feasibility and how those ideas can be developed into start-up possibilities. This approach is not limited only to IT-related programs. In BBS, BA and BSW programs too, we collaborate with organizations to conduct training, workshops, seminars and practical sessions. We have also received support through UGC-related initiatives and have conducted faculty training. A good institution cannot upgrade students without upgrading teachers. Therefore, faculty development and student development must move together.

One of the distinctive strengths of St. Lawrence College is its faculty team. Our teachers are not merely classroom instructors; many of them are professionals actively connected with the real market. Some are bankers, some are managers or officers in cooperatives, some run investment companies, IT firms or social organizations. Their professional exposure helps students understand real-life situations. When such teachers enter the classroom, they do not bring only theory; they bring experience. This helps connect education with the market and makes learning more meaningful.

Discipline and merit are also central to our academic culture. In quota-based programs such as BSc CSIT and BCA, students enter through Tribhuvan University’s entrance system and are selected on merit. This helps create a serious and disciplined learning environment. Regularity, academic seriousness and proper completion of programs are important values at St. Lawrence College. We take pride in the fact that our students graduate consistently and move forward with both academic confidence and practical skills.

Infrastructure is another area where we continue to upgrade. We are developing digitalized and smart classrooms to match contemporary teaching-learning needs. We have established modern computer labs, a research lab, digital lab, microprocessor lab and physics lab, along with other facilities required by IT-related courses. However, infrastructure alone does not define quality. Quality comes when infrastructure, faculty, curriculum, discipline, training and student ambition work together.

The college focuses on producing graduates with academic knowledge, soft skills, technical skills and market exposure, not certificates alone.

The identity of St. Lawrence College is therefore built on a proud history and a future-oriented vision. We are different because we believe students should graduate not only with certificates but also with skills in hand. Academic knowledge, soft skills and technical skills together make students more sellable in the market. In the coming years, colleges that cannot connect education with employability will struggle. Our focus is to ensure that every student who enters St. Lawrence College leaves with clearer direction, stronger confidence and better preparation for life.

My message to Plus Two graduates is simple: choose your subject and institution carefully. A bachelor’s degree is not only an academic step; it is the foundation of your career. What you study and where you study will shape your future. At St. Lawrence College, we welcome students who want guidance, discipline, exposure and quality education. As students build their own future, they must make thoughtful decisions. Our commitment is to stand beside them with academic strength, professional guidance, ethical counselling, practical exposure, research culture and a legacy of quality education for tomorrow’s Nepal, where graduates must compete locally, nationally and internationally with confidence and dignity successfully.