Welcome to the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Law to a new era of thought, innovation, and impact
It is my privilege to welcome you to the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law. Having been entrusted with the responsibility of serving as the Dean of the Faculty, I am filled with excitement to cultivate a thriving environment for teaching, learning, and research. The Faculty’s vision of becoming a Centre of Excellence guides our approach, which encompasses community trust, transformative research and an inclusive and forward-thinking team. Our commitment is to foster a dynamic environment where ideas flourish, critical minds thrive, and real-world solutions are developed. We are here to serve our community – students, parents, and members of the wider community – through various means and light the lamp of hope. Whether you are a prospective student carving your educational journey, an alumnus carrying our legacy forward, a prospective academic collaborator, or a global partner seeking impactful development initiatives, you are a part of our vibrant team, determined to shape a better tomorrow.
Our faculty is the intellectual heart of Pokhara University – a place where critical inquiry into social and environmental justice, creative problem-solving, and freedom of thought in the liberal arts and natural sciences converge. We seek to bridge our deep tradition with modern innovation and foster interdisciplinary dialogues between the natural and social sciences. Our faculty is well-qualified; over one-third hold PhD degrees, and over 80% are full-time. They are determined to mentor students in cultivating imagination and critical questioning. We offer four undergraduate, four graduate, and two post-graduate programmes, together with a number of short-term credit courses and customised degree programmes of specific interest in Nepal and the Himalaya. We welcome both domestic and foreign students. Whether you are a prospective student, an international scholar seeking immersive regional research, or a global partner aiming to drive sustainable development, we offer a welcoming home in Pokhara, in the lap of the Himalaya, and a platform for growth and enhancement. By means of interactive teaching-learning and continuous assessment and mentoring in small-sized classes, we prepare students to engage with the complex challenges of the twenty-first century by bridging theory, practice, and societal impact across disciplinary boundaries.
The liberal arts disciplines cultivate deep critical thinking, historical perspective, cultural fluency, and ethical reasoning.. Our curriculum empowers students to analyze society, interrogate assumptions, and provide empathetic leadership in an interconnected world.
For the past seven decades, the global development debate has remained at the crossroads: the declared guiding principle has been ‘sustainability’ while the practice has been governed by ‘economic growth.’ In this context, our Development Studies programme prepares the next generation of development leaders, social innovators, policy analysts, and individuals capable of harmonizing nature, society and economy. Students engage with pressing global and local issues—including poverty, equality, rural transformation, and sustainable resource management – which are further cramped by exogenous drivers such as climate change, disasters and regional and regional economic and political instability, and they create their own world of interpretation and response strategies. Backed by rigorous quantitative and qualitative research tools and advanced ICT skills, we equip the learners for holistic career pathways.
Legal education is inherently interdisciplinary and grounded in social science, as no society exists that does not require legal services and social justice. Therefore, we deliver legal education grounded in constitutionalism, human rights, international law, and social justice. We prepare ethical advocates, legal researchers and policy advisors capable of addressing both national legal challenges and complex transnational legal frameworks.
Furthermore, the art and science of human communication constitutes an additional field of study offered by the Faculty. Programmes such as English and Communication Studies emphasize strategic media writing, digital storytelling, intercultural communication, and professional discourse, which enables graduates to lead campaigns and to conduct and publish impactful research. Graduates of these programmes are equipped to enter diplomatic services, work within the mass media, and shape public narrative for change at local, national, and global scales.
Fostering social entrepreneurship by translating students’ innovative and entrepreneurial ideas into actionable, community-centered solutions prepares them for self-employment and alleviates the unemployment-related burden on the state and society; accordingly, we mentor students to frame their raw ideas into viable business models.
In light of these realities, we call for the collective support of our academic, market, industrial, and civil society communities, together with our crowning asset – the alumni spread around the globe- so that we may serve and guide our youth towards a brighter future.
Additionally, the FHSSL serves as a gateway for foreign students, researchers, and fellows. Nepal is a unique home of social-cultural and environmental diversity, offering a distinctive field of study..We offer a number of specialized credit courses, customised degree programmes and,an unmatched opportunity to study Nepal, Nepali, and the Himalayas – both natural and social. I cordially invite international students visiting scholars and research fellows to join this living laboratory for social and environmental studies and research,and to experience the exceptional hospitality of Nepali culture. We offer unique and blended learning on Climate Change Adaptation and Mountain Ecology; Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Cultural Heritage Preservation; Post-Conflict Peace-building, Democracy, Governance and Development; Himalayan Environments and Disasters; Natural Processes and Community-Led Disaster Response and Resilience; and Himalayan Migration, Mobility and Cross-Border Studies -from the Himalaya to the Coast and beyond. Together with our specialized International Relations Office, we provide comprehensive support, including housing and orientation, language support, field placement assistance, and study – research visa assistance.
I also extend an invitation to research institutions, development agencies, international NGOs, and philanthropic foundations to engage in strategic partnership and collaboration. As Nepal and the Himalaya are experiencing unprecedented changes, Nepal and the universities within the country are unable to address the growing crises created by Himalayan Disasters. Since we offer a reliable, accountable, and transparent partnership, your investment in research and development will yield evidence-based policies and scalable social interventions to enhance the resilience of Himalayan and downstream communities.
We actively seek meaningful international collaborations in the following areas:
- Joint research projects and publications;
- Faculty and student exchange programmes;
- Dual-degree and sandwich PhD programmes;
- International workshops, conferences, and policy roundtables.
Our alumni network represents our greatest legacy and strongest asset. To our alumni dispersed across the globe: you embody the values and reputation of the faculty. We encourage you to stay connected to serve as mentors for current students and counsellors to prospective students, to act as the ambassadors of our academic quality, and to become partners in our ongoing development. We invite you to help us in communicating the strength and transformative power of education at our Faculty.
With warm regards,
Associate Professor, Rishikesh Pandey, PhD
Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Law
Pokhara University
Email: [email protected]