The government is mulling over setting up a ‘world class’ engineering and IT institute with the focus on research-based study. Such an institute will be established with the support from the Asian Development Bank, according to government officials. 

At a press conference at the Ministry of Education on Thursday, Minister for Education Dhani Ram Poudel said the plan to set up National Engineering and Technical Academy (NETA) at Chitlang of Makwanpur will is aimed at setting an example for the transformation of education system in the country. 

In order to formulate a policy to set up the institute, the MoE is organising a three-day workshop where experts from various top IT institutes across the world, including the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), will share their experience. 

Based on the outcome of the workshop the government will formulate a policy to guide the technical institute whose construction will start from early 2018. 

The idea to set up NETA was conceived after realising that Nepal can have great academy institutes like the IIT in India, National University of Singapore, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and University of Science which are renowned as excellent institutes. 

“We have everything required to set up world class academic institutes here in the country. The only thing we are lacking here is dedication and commitment,” said Poudel. 

Also speaking at the press meet, Kenichi Yokoyama, country director of ADB Nepal, said economic progress is possible only if the country has competent human resource. 

“Our support is for generating human capital which can lead Nepal to the path of prosperity,” he said.

According to Minister Poudel, the MoE will consult all the stakeholders before developing a policy for setting up NETA.