July 28, 2006

When country's many other institutions of higher education including the Tribhuwan University are facing internal troubles and disturbances, the managerial skill and leadership of Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma and his team has turned Kathmandu University (KU), a private university, into an institution of educational excellence. Although the KU has made an immense contribution to the higher education, the institution is always in the eye of forces of destabilization. Last year, then Education and Sports Minister Radha Krishna Mainali threatened the KU's stability by proposing an ordinance to bring it under a single umbrella in the name of imparting nationalist education. Now, it is facing a new threat from another group - which wants to destabilize the institution of excellence by putting forth irrational demands. The KU's leadership was successful to avert all previous attempts of destabilization but how will they manage the new threat remains to be seen

By KESHAB POUDEL in Dhulikhel

Sangita Humagain, 17, of Panauti Municipality , who recently passed School Leaving Certificate, wants to join science faculty in certificate level. Thanks to the KU's science school located at about an hour’s distance from her home, she does not have to worry about where to join.

Dhulikhel hospital: Quality service at doorsteps

"I have a long dream to study in the KU," said Humagain, who passed SLC securing distinction. “Our school has secured hundred percent results," she boasted.

Like Humagain, Binod Kayastha, 17, from Banepa, also prefers the KU. Having passed with distinction mark, Kayastha has already filed his application to study intermediate level in science. "My first preference is KU since this university is ours," said Kayastha.

Suntali Khadka, 48, a resident of Bethan Village Development Committee of Ramechhap district has brought her 18-years-old daughter-in-law to Dhulikhel Hospital , KU's Teaching Hospital, following complications in delivery. Her daughter-in-law gave birth to a baby boy after being admitting to the hospital.

These three cases speak about how people in the region have gradually developed sense of ownership in the university. Not only the people of Dhulikhel and Kavre districts but also many other people from six other districts surrounding Kavre are benefiting from Dhulikhel Hospital and the KU. "Although it took me a day to reach this hospital, it saved my daughter-in-law’s life and that of her son," said Khadka. "In the past, we had to go to Kathmandu for even a small surgery but this hospital provides all kinds of health services now."

Since its establishment in 1991 under the act passed by parliament, the KU has seen many ups and downs and its leadership faced many challenges in the process of institution-making. During initial period, the challenges were to restore the credibility of institution and generate resources. They have done it.

The present challenges are how to maintain the stability in the university. This phase is more complicated and difficult than previous one as people of various shades have been working to destabilize the university placing many demands one after another.

The country's four government universities have been bearing the cost of politicization as these universities are without leadership and there is no possibility for early appointment of office bearers. All political parties want to induct their own henchmen in the position. Thanks to this, the future of more than half a million students studying in higher education is uncertain. On the other hand, with the continuity of leadership, the KU is still functioning normally.

KU's Contribution

From education to health, the opening of Kathmandu University has brought much transformation in Kavre district and the residents of Dhulikhel have benefited a lot from those socioeconomic changes.

Students and parents: Rush hour for admission KU

Dhulikhel is a beautiful place for all seasons. In the winter one can see the Himalaya range whereas in monsoon, the scenes of clouds are mesmerizing. The university building sits at the top of a hillock and provides a panoramic view of mountains and one can enjoy both the beauty of nature and excellence of education in this period of uncertainty and destruction.

Though it has a moderate size capacity as a university, whatever has been constructed has been done with adequate attention on aesthetic sense. Its initial architecture design was prepared by volunteers from Denmark . The traditions of early days have been followed by a team of engineers – who are always busy constructing roads and buildings one after another.

Buildings are modest in size but situated in beautiful location in terrace-type of hilly landscape. There are different scenes including Himalayas , high hills and valleys that can be seen from the top of hills of University.

"This university has transformed Dhulikhel City . Previously, it was known only for adventure tourists but the city is now home for learning, following the establishment of world class university," said popular social worker and hotel entrepreneur Bel Prasad Shrestha. "KU is a jewel of Dhulikhel and our destiny is now linked with the university."

Other local people, too, hold similar views. "People in Dhulikhel have gradually realized that the KU is their own university.  We want to see it flourish," said Krishna Lal Sapkota, former president of Kavre District Development Committee and CPN-UML leader. "This university should be a model for education excellence."

In the last one decade, the face of Dhulikhel has completely changed as it has a well-equipped Dhulikhel Hospital along with the well-planned university building and a medical college. Along with these infrastructures, growing activities in the university also generate employment opportunities to the local communities.

Overall quality of education status in and health indicators in Kavre and its surrounding areas have tremendously changed. A year ago, two students from Kavre secured highest mark in the SLC. According to the annual report of the Department of Health Services, the access to health in Kavre district is significantly higher compared to other districts.

"This university has helped improve the quality of education and health indicators in the district," said Shrestha. “Even the quality of education in the government schools has already gone up."

Dedicated Leadership

Frequent political disturbance, changing leadership and student and teacher politics have already made almost all government universities non-functional. Following the resignation of office bearers under pressure from employees and students, the whole academic calendar of Tribhuwan University , Purbanchal University , Pokhara University and Mahendra Sanskrit University has already derailed.

Thanks to managerial and leadership skill of vice chancellor Suresh Raj Sharma and registrar Sitaram Adhikary, students in the KU do not have to face any kind of uncertainty. They have done what they need to do.

Everywhere second men are jealous who want to replace his boss but Sharma's second man prefers retirement rather than compete with his first man.

The superior quality of leadership and intensity of dedication have resulted into a vibrant and magnificent institution of learning. A large area of residence of Dhulikhel and its suburbs have already achieved a sense of belongingness.

This is not an individual contribution. Vice chancellor Sharma, a former civil servant in the Ministry of Education having a teaching background in Tribhuwan University , has back up support of several of his dedicated colleagues like Adhikary, Dr. Ram Kantha Shrestha and Bhadra Man Tuladhar and many more.

In a society like Nepal where even two persons hardly remain united in a team with independence and self respect, it is difficult to name who among his team has a unifying role and dynamism in spirit. Although some elements are making efforts to destabilize the dedicated leadership of the KU, vice chancellor Sharma is fortunate enough to have dedicated colleagues around him. The success of this university is definitely shared by the whole team along with him.

Operation Destabilization

In a country where political leaders are in fight to finish all the institutions, some dedicated individuals are in the process of strengthening university ignoring the efforts to rock their leadership. Last year, under the government led by King Gyanendra, then Minister for Education and Sports Radha Krishna Mainali attempted to rock the university by announcing to bring an ordinance to put all five universities under an umbrella with the King as the chancellor. Had Mainali's tenure been extended, the ordinance would have destroyed the whole leadership of the university.

After the announcement of movement, Mainali's plan was foiled but the efforts to destabilize university continue in different postures. Following the restoration of democracy, all of a sudden some individuals associated with university have opened a new front to rock the stability of university, which had survived even the most difficult phase of insurgency.

With the backing from some elements and a populist media known for its active role in operation destabilization, some individual teachers have launched a tirade against the university management putting unreasonable demands including permission to open teachers’ and students’ union.

One of the hopeful signs is that the leadership are ably coping with the pressure. When
the whole Nepal seems to be burning by instability, anarchy and series of agitation, Kathmandu University still gives hopeful picture to young aspiring students. The glow in their faces and high aspiration in their eyes assures even pessimists that they are the future of the country and the future of Nepal .

"There are different patterns of serving the people and serving the nation. One type of persons claim to have their dedication to the nation by creating disorder and, thus, destroying the peace of the country as well as the hard achievements of the modernization of past few decades. That is a destructive role, which can hardly be appreciated in a civilized standard. There are other elements who, by their creative roles and imaginations, give shape to their dedications into some tangible and concrete things. A team of the builders of this institution are in that way constructive, creative and thus promoting the civilized behavior," said an analyst.

Persons With Dedication

Dhulikhel does not lack dedication of committed persons. Take for instance Dr. Ram Kantha Shrestha, who had much better prospects in Austria where he was trained but chose a spot in Dhulikhel and created a model of health service center with the same sense of discipline and dedication, which is found anywhere in Austria.

Set up by Dr. Shrestha, Dhulikhel Hospital or Dhulikhel Medical Institute has earned high reputation and fame in the area. Before 1994, there was not a single nurse and doctor based in Dhulikhel. The situation has changed now as there are more than 57 doctors and 100 nurses working at Dhulikhel Hospital alone.

Equipped with many modern equipment, the hospital is a hope of many rural people living in the surroundings and Dr. Shrestha is their savior. One of the success stories behind the KU is the contribution and dedication of individuals like Dr. Shrestha.

Social worker Bel Prasad Shrestha, too, is a person with vision. He mobilizes the local people for the sake of university contributing enormous time to transform Dhulikhel city.

University's Capability

The University literally started from a scratch. Initially, Dhulikhel Municipality provided 200 ropanis of land and financial contribution made by United Mission to Nepal , Rana Bahadur Shaha and industrialist Mohan Gopal Khetan of about Rs. 20 million helped to start the project. Unlike other government universities, the KU's success lies on its dedication of leadership and imparting the quality education.

With around 2500 students studying at its constituent schools, the KU has more than 387 faculties and staffs; and 225 of them are in teaching faculty. It has six schools offering courses in different streams such as science, management, engineering, medicines, humanities and education. The KU also provides 177 scholarships, of them 48 to girls. The KU affiliated colleges provide 365 scholarships to students through the government.

Five medical colleges are affiliated with it from where around 600 MBBS students graduate every year. More than 250 foreign students are also studying in them. Along with this, the medical schools are running hospitals with total capacity of 3000 plus beds. There are more than 150 students studying in the engineering schools in computers, electrical and mechanical field.

Commitment for Quality of Education

With a commitment to impart quality in higher education, vice chancellor Dr. Sharma and his team established this university. Since the establishment in 1991, the KU has produced high quality manpower in the country. There are high demands of the KU's management graduates in the markets as almost all of them get lucrative jobs as soon as they complete their course. In the private banking sector, the KU's graduates have established their reputation as qualified and competitive candidates.

As the modern buildings of KU management school is on the process of completion in Balkumari, Lalitpur, the university will have another new feather in its cap in terms of adding the infrastructure.

"It is equally difficult to maintain and sustain the credibility and recognition. In fact, for a private sector university like ours, the day students, parents and market begins to doubt our quality, we are dead. We have to continuously strive for betterment. In today’s globalize world, it is not enough to become good in one's country. You have to prove to the international market as well. Our objective is to become a world-class university devoted to bringing knowledge and technology to the services of Nepal ," said vice chancellor Suresh Raj Sharma.

In the process of institution building, the teachers of the university have done a monumental task. During initial period, the KU brought distinguished teachers from Indian Universities but now gradually the trained and experienced Nepalese teachers are filling the vacancies.

At a time when every sector of the country is getting disturbed and dragged into a state of chaos, all the concerned people need to help - not disrupt - a pioneering and quality educational institutions like the KU.