KATHMANDU: An agreement has been reached to develop a Master's program in History and Philosophy between Kathmandu University (KU) and the Southasia Institute for History and Philosophy (SIHP). Three specialty streams with an emphasis on society, technology, and the environment will be available in this program. Associate Professor Ekku Maya Pun, the KU School of Arts' acting dean, and SIHP Chair Kanak Mani Dixit signed the agreement.

Professor Bhola Thapa, the vice chancellor of KU, emphasized at the signing event the need to offer high-quality social science instruction to close gaps in Nepal's higher education system. He was optimistic that the joint initiative would institutionalize quickly and gain backing from both domestic and foreign partners. Thapa also thought that students from all around South Asia would be drawn to the educational options.

Professor Achyut Wagle, KU's registrar, highlighted that higher education's dual goals of developing "committed citizens" and talented professionals are equally important. He explained that the partnership hopes to foster an educational atmosphere that will eventually help Nepal and the larger Subcontinent.

Acting Dean Pun expressed excitement about the partnership's potential to improve humanities education and benefit the academic community as a whole. The speaker emphasized that the curriculum would include courses that are specially tailored to the socio-ecological conditions and goals of the South Asian and Himalayan contexts. The ultimate goal of these courses is to create graduates who are capable and socially conscious.

Chair of SIHP Dixit thanked Kathmandu University for realizing that there was a significant void in higher education concerning the humanities, social sciences, and arts. He felt that the Master's program graduates from the KU-SIHP partnership would make a big impact in a lot of different areas, such as academia, state administration, law, the media, and other professions.

The academic program will be led by noted historian Yogesh Raj, the Director of SIHP’s academic program. Dixit mentioned that the instruction would be closely tied to the historical and cultural contexts of Nepal, the Himalayan region, and South Asia.

The Memorandum of Understanding that was previously signed on June 24, 2024, between KU and SIHP is expanded upon by this agreement. The Master's program is slated to begin in February 2025, and more information about the curriculum and application procedure will likely be posted on the official websites of SIHP and the KU School of Arts.