Kathmandu, November 26
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has reported a significant rise in student enrollment at universities.
According to the UGC’s recent report, the number of students increased by 53,605 compared to the previous year, reaching 633,053 in the fiscal year 2080/81 BS.
UGC Chairman Devraj Adhikari attributed the growth to the implementation of academic calendars, ensuring timely results and regular classes. “Student numbers have grown, particularly in urban areas, due to the adoption of academic calendars,” he said. The UGC provided universities with a structured framework to follow for academic calendar implementation.
However, Adhikari noted that while enrollment has increased in hilly regions, classroom attendance remains low. “Although enrollment has risen, fewer students are attending classes in the hilly areas,” he added.
Tribhuvan University (TU) accounts for the majority of students, with 491,299 enrolled, representing 77.61% of the total.
UGC Member Secretary Shankar Prasad Bhandari highlighted that 505 campuses have fewer than 100 students. Among these, 19 are constituent campuses, 178 are community campuses, and 308 are private institutions.
The UGC has recommended merging campuses with low enrollment and close proximity to one another. “It’s essential to consolidate under-enrolled campuses to optimise resources and accessibility,” Bhandari said.
Bhandari also reported that 22,335 students are studying in colleges affiliated with foreign universities. He emphasised the growing trend of students going abroad for education, resulting in a significant outflow of financial resources. “We need to revise and align university curricula with global standards to address this issue,” he stated.
Currently, Nepal has 14 universities, including the recently established Ayurveda University and Nepal University, though classes have yet to commence at these institutions. Meanwhile, Bardibas, Butwal, and Surkhet medical colleges are under infrastructure development, and the bill to elevate Geta Medical College to university status is under discussion.
The report also revealed that Nepal has 164 constituent campuses, 545 affiliated community campuses, and 723 private campuses, totalling 1,432 campuses.
In terms of faculty, there are 12,082 teachers at constituent campuses, including 1,120 professors, 2,983 associate professors, 6,174 assistant professors, 1,599 teaching assistants, and 200 instructors.
The UGC stressed the need to curb anarchic and non-academic activities at universities. “Discussions with political parties and stakeholders are necessary to address the disruptive activities affecting universities,” the report stated.
The government allocated NPR 11.78 billion for universities in the fiscal year 2080/81, of which NPR 19.43 billion was disbursed, and NPR 19.09 billion was spent, according to the UGC.
