Nepal’s prominent outbound student mobility rate of 19% has attracted the interest of global universities, as delegates from 16 institutions in key study locations have visited the Himalayan nation.
Nepal’s demographic advantage, where more than half of its population is under 25, has generated a large pool of prospective international students. The major student mobility in the country showcases a wider trend in the workforce, with remittances from migrant laborers accounting for as much as 26.6% of Nepal’s GDP.
The universities that visited, such as Aberystwyth University, Bangor University, and York University, among others, aimed to understand Nepal’s K-12 market, transnational education sector, and government policies. They also interacted with more than 35 Nepali agents and counselors.
Nations such as the US and UK recognize considerable promise in Nepal, reflected by elevated visa approval rates in recent years. In the 2022-2023 academic year, the number of Nepali students in the US rose by 27.9% to reach 15,090. Fareed Shalhout, who oversees student global engagement at Wayne State University, emphasized Nepal’s importance as a source of talented students.
The UK has experienced a rise in Nepali students, with Nepal ranking as the sixth-largest source of students for the UK in the year ending June 2024. Karan Shokeen, chief advisor at the University of Central Lancashire, credited this increase to beneficial student visa regulations.
However, despite the appeal of conventional locations, evolving trends in Nepal’s study abroad sector have resulted in a growing fascination with alternative places such as the UAE, Europe, South Korea, and Thailand.
Nepali students are making calculated decisions focused on job prospects, financial gains, and international opportunities, emphasizing areas that provide significant career advancement.
Nonetheless, Nepal’s increasing focus on foreign education has sparked worries regarding brain drain and the scarcity of quality higher education options within the nation. A recent event concerning the demise of a Nepali student in India sparked backlash from Nepali advisors and educators.
To tackle these issues, Nepal is considering options for transnational education, as the government has sanctioned over 30 franchise TNE campuses accommodating 30,000 students. With international universities increasingly arriving in Nepal, the nation’s education sector is set for considerable expansion. Nepal, with its substantial student mobility and demographic advantage, presents an appealing market for institutions aiming to broaden their student population.
