KATHMANDU: On August 5, 2024, KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) and the KOICA Alumni Association of Nepal (KAAN) hosted a networking meeting and departure orientation for the 2024 Master’s Scholarship Awardees at Hotel Kutumba in Lalitpur. The event aimed to connect KOICA fellows with KAAN members and provide crucial information before their departure to Korea for their studies.

The program was marked by live experience sharing from KAAN executive members who discussed their time studying in Korea, as well as detailed insights into Korean culture, customs, and university specifics. Mooheon Kong, in his congratulatory speech, expressed hope that the new scholars would enhance their contributions to Nepal’s development upon completing their degrees. Jaya Narayan Acharya, Director General of the Department of Prison Management and a 2014 KOICA graduate, also provided motivational insights.

Nabaraj Gautam, President of KAAN, spoke about the association and shared his personal experiences, while other former KOICA graduates offered their own stories of studying in Korea. To date, KOICA has successfully supported 182 government officials in completing their Master’s degrees through its scholarship program. This year, 11 new government officers have been selected for the program.

In addition to the long-term Master’s programs, KOICA is conducting short-term fellowship programs starting in October 2024. A total of 95 officials from various ministries will participate in training on topics such as NVQS implementation, E-learning for TVET instructors, health insurance systems, early flood warning systems, and meteorological satellite data utilization. These initiatives have been requested by the Government of Nepal and will be supported by KOICA.

Since its inception in 1995, KOICA’s Capacity Improvement and Advancement for Tomorrow (CIAT) program has been a key component of its development cooperation efforts, focusing on human resource development through short-term training and Master’s scholarships. Over 2,601 government officials have participated in KOICA’s capacity-building programs to date.