Pokhara, 24 September 2026 :
Pokhara University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KulturStudier AS, Norway, during an official ceremony held at the Pokhara University Central Office as part of the university’s regular international relations and academic exchange activities.
The MoU was formally signed by the Vice Chancellor of Pokhara University, Prof. Dr. Devendra Adhikari, who signed on behalf of the university, and the President of KulturStudier AS, Mr. Rune Tjelland, representing the Norwegian institution. The ceremony witnessed the presence of key leadership and administrative representatives from both institutions. Alongside Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Devendra Adhikari, Pokhara University was represented by Registrar Prof. Dr. Nirmala Jamarkattel; Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies Prof. Dr. Gyaneshwor Sharma; Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology Prof. Rajesh Thagurathi; Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ajay Thapa; Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gulam Muhammad Khan; Executive Director of the Pokhara University Research Center Assoc. Prof. Dr. Niranjan Shrestha; and Executive Director of the International Relations Center (IRC) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deepanjal Shrestha, alongside other delegates and administrative officials from both the institutions.
The event commenced with welcome remarks delivered by the Executive Director of the International Relations Center, setting a collaborative tone for the gathering before transitioning into the official signing ceremony. Following the signing, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Devendra Adhikari expressed his sincere gratitude to the visiting Norwegian delegates for their presence, shared his optimism that the established cooperation would remain actionable, practical, and mutually beneficial for both institutions, and presented the tokens of love to the visiting delegates.
An extensive discussion session continued among the representatives from both institutions. The dialogue centered on the practical implementation of the newly signed five-year agreement, which encompasses key areas such as student and faculty exchange programs, specialized training, joint workshops, seminars, and conferences. Specific provisions of the MoU outline that Pokhara University will recommend its students for programs organized by KulturStudier AS in Nepal, with KulturStudier prioritizing PU students and graduates for its scholarship programs. Additionally, the partnership opens avenues for KulturStudier students to participate in seminars and lectures at Pokhara University, facilitates faculty exchange and occasional classroom rentals. Likewise, another key point includes KulturStudier assisting Pokhara University in building academic bridges with partner universities of KulturStudier in Norway, Vietnam, Ghana, Argentina, and Costa Rica.
Kulturstudier is a Norwegian educational organization that provides programs in social sciences and humanities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and was founded in 1997.