With over 100,000 Nepali students leaving for foreign education annually, Dr. Nar Bahadur Bista, Principal of Uniglobe College, argues that the problem isn't Nepal's curriculum but outdated teaching methods. In this candid interview, he shares insights on transforming Nepal's education system through practical learning, entrepreneurship focus, and industry collaboration to compete with international standards.

As Nepal grapples with brain drain and educational reform, Dr. Bista's perspective offers hope that with modernized teaching methods, industry collaboration, and entrepreneurship focus, Nepali universities can retain talent and compete globally. The challenge lies not in rewriting curricula but in transforming how education is delivered and evaluated.

As Nepal witnesses an unprecedented exodus of students seeking education abroad—with recent data showing over 110,000 students obtaining No Objection Certificates in the fiscal year 2023/24—the debate around "Study in Nepal" versus studying abroad has intensified. College Readers Magazine sat down with Dr. Nar Bahadur Bista, Principal of Uniglobe College, who brings 25 years of educational expertise to discuss this critical issue facing Nepal's higher education sector.

With the massive trend of students going abroad and the simultaneous "Study in Nepal" campaign, what's your message to students facing this choice?

There are compelling reasons to study in Nepal. First, the cost is significantly lower compared to studying abroad. Students can live with their families in a familiar environment. Quality-wise, our programs are excellent and competitive with international universities—there's no doubt about that. Universities here have recently updated their curricula to match foreign programs, even those operating within Nepal.

Students studying here can still gain skills to work globally—that's a significant advantage. However, I acknowledge our challenge: limited post-graduation employment opportunities, which drives many abroad.

That's why we're focusing heavily on skill development and entrepreneurship. We see entrepreneurship as essential not just for business students, but for engineering, medicine, and all fields. A business mindset is universally important. By studying in Nepal, students can create jobs, contribute to national development, and maintain family relationships while building successful careers.

The "learning while earning" model is gaining traction globally. How should Nepali universities balance work and study without compromising education quality?

Globally, there are two main approaches: full-time study and part-time study with earning opportunities. Many foreign universities emphasize the earning-and-learning model due to abundant job opportunities and sometimes to fill labor shortages. But this doesn't automatically mean it's superior.

Often, students abroad work in fields unrelated to their studies. They get an international degree but their work experience doesn't match their education. In Nepal, full-time study allows complete focus on learning and skill-building, producing highly skilled graduates who can succeed anywhere. This offers greater long-term benefits—the knowledge gained translates to better earning potential later.

The government has now introduced policies supporting part-time work with set hourly rates. Students must understand that while this offers financial support and practical skills, it may compromise academic quality compared to full-time study.

Should universities design courses considering that students might work in unrelated fields?

Absolutely. The curriculum should align with market demands so students can find related work. This develops relevant skills benefiting all sectors. Pokhara University has already implemented this—our curriculum is built according to market needs, identifying required human resources across sectors.

Students from reputable Nepali universities with good skills aren't unemployed. They're fully employed and earning well. Unemployment primarily affects those who don't study seriously, lack skills, or have negative mindsets. Currently, opportunities exist in Nepal—students just need to put in the required effort.

Critics claim Nepali universities have outdated curricula that don't match market demands and make courses unnecessarily difficult. As someone involved in curriculum development, what's your perspective?

We've made significant curriculum changes recently. The market expectations gap isn't due to curriculum but to teaching methods and evaluation systems. The curriculum is good, but delivery and assessment follow traditional mindsets.

For instance, we still believe students learn only through lectures. Universities measure success by lecture counts, while foreign universities use flexible systems. In evaluation, we rely heavily on written exams promoting rote learning. Even with excellent curriculum, if assessment focuses only on theory, students gain fewer practical skills.

We urge all Nepali universities to adopt project-based, thesis-based, and practical approaches focusing on skill development. Evaluation should be based on practical outcomes, moving away from excessive memorization. Some students hesitate to study here not because of poor quality, curriculum, or infrastructure, but because of outdated delivery and evaluation methods.

Comparing graduates from foreign-affiliated colleges in Nepal with those from Nepali universities, who performs better professionally?

There's minimal capability difference. Students from Nepali universities who work hard often perform equally well or better. However, some lose focus through excessive extracurricular involvement.

Interestingly, many foreign-affiliated university graduates struggle adapting to Nepal's work environment. Their different education system doesn't always match local needs. Some highly qualified foreign university graduates have faced frustration and depression working here.

Meanwhile, many Nepali university graduates successfully work and earn here. We must change the mindset that our graduates cannot perform well. We're building student confidence, though challenges remain. Senior professors sometimes resist changes, and the "government mindset" focusing on rigid rules and fault-finding hampers progress. If all stakeholders collaborate with flexibility, Nepal's education can advance significantly.

What are Pokhara University's program strengths?

Pokhara University runs only semester and trimester-based, market-oriented, employment-focused programs. None are outdated—we've replaced any that became irrelevant. However, technical subjects remain theory-heavy with extensive content, leading to lower pass rates and student demotivation. If we can provide more practical exposure like foreign-affiliated universities and improve our examination and evaluation patterns, students wouldn't need to go abroad.

Why should students choose Uniglobe College specifically?

Uniglobe offers BBA, BCA Finance, BCSIT, and MBA programs. We've made these highly practical and market-oriented beyond just curriculum through additional exposure activities.

We provide strong international exposure—hosting international conferences, inviting foreign professors, and facilitating exchange programs. Our students gain substantial practical and international experience.

We're also research-focused. Every student must conduct original research, write articles, present papers, and publish in research journals. This builds essential research skills for any sector.

Additionally, our Uniglobe Entrepreneurship Centre and incubation center support students with business ideas to actually establish their ventures.

What advice would you give plus-two graduates choosing colleges?

Look at the college's teaching methodology—whether it offers practical, skillful, market-driven courses with effective pedagogy. Examine the evaluation pattern, graduate quality, career achievements, and placement records. Choose colleges with visible strengths in these areas.

Regarding universities, I can confidently say Nepali universities equal or exceed foreign ones for our context. Whether Pokhara, Tribhuvan, or Kathmandu University, the courses are well-designed. The key is choosing institutions that implement modern teaching methods and practical approaches effectively.