28 September 2019, Kathmandu
Erasmus+ Regional Seminar for Asia 2019 was jointly inaugurated by the Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel and European Union Ambassador to Nepal Veronica Cody in Kathmandu. The seminar was organized around the theme of academic cooperation and mobility opportunities. Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel as a chief guest of the opening session put his special remarks. Minister Pokhrel stated the seminar as good opportunity to work with European universities through Erasmus+ in various collaborative projects and expressed gratitude for organizing such an important session targeting to Nepali higher education institutions and universities. “Through Erasmus+ program co-operation with higher education institutions is emerging as new avenues for EU Nepal co-operation”- said Minister Pokhrel. Addressing the two-day regional seminar as a chief guest Minister Pokharel stressed that the EU have been funding for the Erasmus scholarship program for the past 30 years and more than 700 students from Nepal have been benefited from the program enabling them to study at globally esteemed universities. Addressing the seminar, Minister Pokharel hoped that the seminar will build linkages between regional knowledge and the global landscape of higher education and thereby promote a strong mechanism for maximizing opportunities for youths to receive quality education. He stressed that the outcome of the meeting will serve as a valid basis for partnership at the programmatic level.
Welcoming the Chief Guest and participants of the regional seminar, EU Ambassador to Nepal Veronica Cody, said: “On one hand, Erasmus+ offers opportunities for individuals, both students and teachers of all ages, helping them develop and share knowledge and experience at institutions and organizations in different countries. On the other hand, Erasmus also has a comprehensive offer for a wide range of organizations, including universities, education and training providers, think-tanks, research organizations, and private businesses. Today’s event is more focused on the latter part, for organizations.” Erasmus+ is the European Union’s program to support education, training, youth and sports in and outside Europe. Set to last until 2020 in its current form, Erasmus+ does not just offer opportunities for students but also for a wide variety of individuals and organizations in the education field.
Cody further added that Erasmus may be the capacity building platform supporting in education into comprehensive partnership with the government including primary and secondary education and technical and vocational education. The seminar is the first of its kind to be organized in South Asia. The seminar will provide detailed information on higher education cooperation managed through the Erasmus+ program. In addition, it will emphasize on the available opportunities for EU-Asia cooperation in the education sector along with regional cooperation in the education sector along with regional cooperation inside Asia as well. The program will further provide the opportunity to interact with wide range of people and stakeholders on education and development issues, fellowship opportunities for Nepalese students in various European Universities in Europe.
The two-day regional seminar made it possible for organizations from different participating countries of Asia to work together, to develop capacity and skills, share and transfer best practices and innovative approaches in the fields of education, training and youth with the view to boosting the number and quality of successful proposals from Asia.
