Nepal Open University

27.666563°N 85.318823°E / 27.666563; 85.318823

Nepal Open University
नेपाल खुला विश्वविद्यालय
Nepal Open University
TypePublic
Established2016
ChancellorAshok Kumar Rai
Vice-ChancellorDr. Shilu Manandhar
RegistrarDr. Govinda Singh Bista
Students1,204 (2019)[1]
Location
Lalitpur
,
Nepal
CampusOnline
Websitenou.edu.np

Nepal Open University (Nepali: नेपाल खुला विश्वविद्यालय) is a distance learning public university in Nepal.[2] It was established in 2016 through an act of Parliament.[3][4] The degrees awarded by the university are treated as equivalent to degrees awarded by any other Nepali University under the purview of the University Grants Commission.

History of Establishment

The initial formal endeavor of establishing an Open University in Nepal can be traced to 1999, when the government became a signatory of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Consortium to Open and Distance Education.[5] The budget speech of Fiscal Year 2008/09 allocated funding to implement Open University concept in order to provide an opportunity to youths who were deprived of getting education during the conflict period.[6] However, the government did not take any concrete action due to the lack of a proper institutional body to initiate implementation of the plan.

Meanwhile, a Canada-based non-profit organization, Canada Forum for Nepal (CFFN) involved in delivering education to the people living in the economically deprived regions of Nepal since 2007,[7] brought together three North American Nepali Diaspora leaders Dr. Ambika P. Adhikari, Dr. Drona Prakash Rasali and Dr. Pramod Dhakal and an Australian Nepali Diaspora leader Dr. Raju Adhikari to initiate the issue of establishing Open University in Nepal as one of the prime agenda for the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA)’s International Coordination Council (ICC), which endorsed the Open University of Nepal (OUN) initiative as its flagship project in 2010.[8][9]

In two instances, the legislative bills for OUN were tabled in the Parliament. The first one was aborted due to dissolution of the Parliament in May 2012.[10] The second bill was passed by the Parliament on June 30, 2016. and authenticated by the President of Nepal on July 14, 2016.

Administration
  • Chancellor – Ashok Kumar Rai, Minister of Education, Science and Technology
  • Vice-Chancellor – Dr. Shilu Manandhar
  • Registrar – Dr. Govinda Singh Bista
  • Faculty Deans
    • Faculty of Science, Health & Technology – Dr. Kedar Prasad Rijal
    • Faculty of Social Sciences & Education – Dr. Khagendra Prasai
    • Faculty of Management & Law – Dr. Arhan Sthapit

Chancellor

The Chancellor is the Head of the university and presides at the convocation of the university. The Minister of Education, Science and Technology serves as Chancellor in an ex-officio capacity.[11]

Vice-Chancellor

The Vice-Chancellor is the executive head of the university.[12]

Registrar

The Registrar is the financial and administrative head of the university.[13]

Faculties

The university consists of three Faculties which offers 16 academic programs comprising courses at Diploma, Bachelor's, Master's and MPhil levels.[1]

Faculty of Management and Law

Faculty of Science, Health and Technology
  • Master's Degree in e-Governance
  • Master's Degree in Natural Resource and Development
  • Master's Degree in Geoinformatics
  • Masters of Science in Environmental and Occupational Health
  • MPhil in ICT

Faculty of Social Sciences and Education
  • Master's Degree in Media and Communication Studies
  • Diploma in Library and Information Management

References
  1. "Program Introduction 2075-76" (PDF). Nepal Open University.
  2. "Vission Mission & Objectives". Nepal Open University. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  3. "Open University Bill endorsed". Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  4. "House panel endorses open university bill - The Himalayan Times". The Himalayan Times. 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  5. Chouhan Tara (December 2014). "Distance Educations for Computers Undeveloped Country Like in Nepal: Prospects and Challenges" (PDF). International Journal of Information and Education Technology. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  6. Finance Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai (19 September 2008). "Bhattarai Unveils Annual Nepal Budget for 2008/09". Nepal Monitor. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  7. Pramod Dhakal (2007). "Inclusive Education: A Framework for the New Age of Communication". Canada Foundation for Nepal (CFFN). Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  8. Dhakal, P., Adhikari, A., Rasali, D. (15 December 2015). "A proposal for an Open University of Nepal for providing higher education to the rural and marginalized people". Himalayan Research Papers Archives. Nepal Study Center, New Mexico University. Retrieved 11 February 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. Dhakal, P. (20 July 2014). "A White Paper on Open University of Nepal Initiative" (PDF). Open University Infrastructure Development Board, Ministry of Education, Kathmandu. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  10. ""CA dissolved; PM proposes fresh election for Nov 22". eKantipur". 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. "नेपाल खुला विश्वविद्यालय ऐन, २०७३" [Nepal Open University Act, 2016]. Article 17, Act No. 3 of July 14, 2016 (PDF) (in Nepali). Prof. Indra Bahadur Karki is currently serving in an acting capacity.
  12. "नेपाल खुला विश्वविद्यालय ऐन, २०७३" [Nepal Open University Act, 2016]. Article 18, Act No. 3 of July 14, 2016 (PDF) (in Nepali).
  13. "नेपाल खुला विश्वविद्यालय ऐन, २०७३" [Nepal Open University Act, 2016]. Article 19, Act No. 3 of July 14, 2016 (PDF) (in Nepali).
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