Ministry Issues Directive Against Non-Accredited Foreign Educational Institutions
The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology has decided to publicly notify the prohibition of admitting students to higher education institutions affiliated with foreign educational institutions operating contrary to established guidelines.
Key Decisions and Guidelines:
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Public Notification: Following on-site inspection reports, institutions failing to meet minimum requirements and not listed in the top 1000 of the Times Higher Education and Shanghai Jiaotong Rankings are prohibited from admitting students. This decision is publicly announced on the Ministry's website.
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Adherence to Guidelines: Higher education institutions affiliated with foreign universities must ensure compliance with these guidelines. The Ministry requests students and parents to verify that the institution has legal approval and quality assurance (QAA/Accreditation) according to the host country's laws and is listed among the top 1000 globally before making a selection.
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Tuition Fee Disclosure: According to section 10, subsection 19 of the guidelines, institutions must submit a detailed tuition fee structure to the Ministry at the beginning of each academic year.
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Scholarship Provisions: Section 9(g) mandates that institutions provide 10% of seats as scholarships for programs funded by domestic investors and 20% for those funded by foreign investors to the Government of Nepal.
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University Ranking Requirement: Section 3, subsection 9(d) stipulates that institutions must be ranked within the top 1000 of the Times Higher Education or Shanghai Jiaotong Rankings to be considered for affiliation.
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Verification and Transparency: The Ministry urges students and parents to verify the QAA/Accreditation status and university rankings through the respective university websites or Times Higher Education and Shanghai Jiaotong Ranking websites.
High-Level Committee and Amendments:
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Committee Formation: A high-level committee led by Secretary Shankar Koirala has been formed to include suggestions and amend the guidelines. An extended deadline of 15 days has been given to the task force led by the Chief of the Higher Education Division to draft and submit the amendment.
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Transparency and Updates: Institutions must keep accurate and updated records, including the list of scholarship recipients and selection methods, and submit these to the Ministry within three months of the academic session's start. Past scholarship distributions must also be reported.
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On-Site Inspection: The Ministry has decided to form an expert committee, including inter-ministerial representation, for on-site inspections and reporting.
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Data Management: Institutions with foreign affiliations must mandatorily record their information in the Ministry’s Integrated Educational Management Information System (IEMIS).
Implementation and Compliance:
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Quality Assurance Deadline: According to section 9(a), subsection 1, revised in 2072, institutions that received approval before this date must present written proof of obtaining QAA/Accreditation within five years, by 2077.
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Affiliation with Accredited Universities: If an affiliated university fails to obtain QAA/Accreditation within the specified period, the institution must affiliate with another accredited university within five years, or its operating permit will be revoked. The Ministry will enforce strict compliance with this provision.
