The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology has taken a significant move in shaping the future of higher education in Nepal by introducing the draft of the Higher Education Act, of 2080. The proposed legislation aims to establish a national standard for the creation and operation of universities, responding to a growing demand for a comprehensive framework to manage higher education effectively.
Recognizing the need for a systematic approach to the administration and regulation of universities, the Ministry has made the draft of the Act available on its website for public review and suggestions. The draft outlines key components such as physical and educational infrastructure, teacher-student ratios, investment and resource management, human resource policies, and the structure of academic programs, all designed to serve as national benchmarks for university operations.
One notable aspect of the draft is the proposed classification of universities into three types: central, province, and deemed university. The legislation specifies that existing universities failing to transform into central universities within five years of the Act coming into force will be designated as province universities.
Furthermore, the draft designates the Prime Minister as the Chancellor of certain universities considered as ‘centers of excellence,’ while other universities may have the Chancellor position filled by a university office-holder. The Education Minister is designated as the Chair of the Higher Education Commission, according to the provisions outlined in the draft.
