Message from the Chancellor

Greetings from Gandaki University! 

Gandaki University is the first university in the seven provinces of Nepal to be established under the provincial Act in higher education. I understand that the institutions of higher education in the 21st Century should gear their operations to create “innovative, excellence and sustainable knowledge society” by developing competent knowledgeable, technical oriented, skillful, and practical technicians, professionals, practitioners, scientists, experts, academics, and ethical human beings.  

Now, I serve as the Chancellor of Gandaki University succeeding Prof Dr Ganesh Man Gurung. As the executive head of the university, I would focus on the operation of the university with the four pillar-academic principles: knowledge, science and technology, skill, and practice which would be reinforced by the four pillar responsibilities of the academic staff: teaching, research and innovation, publication, and academic service.  

The Gandaki University was established with a historic shift in decision making structure and governance. After five years of its establishment, the University has firmly stood in its course of purpose and we have to take firm commitment to academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and excellence in education and move ahead with. At Gandaki University, our mission is to become a center of excellence—an academic hub where young minds are inspired to explore, innovate, and lead. We aim to nurture graduates who are not only well-versed in their disciplines, but also are ethically grounded and socially responsible citizens of their respective Marti Bhumi (motherland) and Karma Bhumi. To fulfill this vision, we are introducing glocally relevant academic programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. These programs are and will be designed to address the demands of the 21st century academia, with a balanced focus on disciplinary clarity, interdisciplinary rigor, cutting edge research and innovation, functional skill development as well as impactful community engagement. We are committed to ensure quality education and firmly adhere to comply with the indicators and standards of the University Grants Commission, Nepal as well as to follow the international indicators and standards of higher education that are being used by organizations like Times Higher Education (THE), Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy (the Academic Ranking of World Universities; ARWU). The Gandaki University also envisages the lifelong learning philosophy through continuous education, refresher and training programs. Lifelong learning programs encompass a wide range of activities focused on continuous personal and professional development. These programs can be formal, non-formal, and informal, and often include initiatives like professional development courses, vocational training, community education, and online learning platforms. 

Gandaki University is committed to attracting talented teaching and research scientists both from Nepal and abroad, ensuring that our students learn from competent educators and researchers who are leaders in their respective fields. Located at the lap of the snowclad mountains of Machhapuchhare and Annapurna and surrounded by second, third and fourth largest lakes in Nepal: Fewatal, Begnastal, and Rupatal, Pokhara in the words of Tony Hagen is probably the most beautiful place on the Earth. I have conceptualized Gandaki University to be a town that offers a peaceful and inspiring learning environment and the culture that encourages inquiry, creativity, critical thinking, and mutual respect. As Chancellor, I am committed to fostering a university built on integrity, inclusiveness, and academic rigor. We welcome collaboration with national and international institutions, and we look forward to the shared journey ahead—with our students, professors and scientists, administrative team, non-academic staff and our extended academic family. I would like to request all our stakeholders work together to build a university that not only meets international/global standards, but also remains firmly rooted in the values and dreams of our community.  

Prof. Dr. Indra Prasad Tiwari 

Chancellor, Gandaki University