International degrees comprise full-fledged framework which is innovative, critical thinking embedded, timely updated, begins and completes on a fixed time consistently, transparent and utilizes the digital approach of learning—these qualities are the best in terms of teaching and learning system.

While a large number of Nepali students go abroad for education, there is also an increasing number of Nepali students enrolling in various institutions within the country that are offering degrees of foreign universities. More than 24 educational institutions affiliated to foreign universities offer such courses in the country at present. And over 12,000 Nepali students enroll in different programmes of such universities in a year, according to International Education Providers’ Association of Nepal (IEPAN), and this number is on the rise. The “increasing popularity” of such courses indicate a new direction for Nepal’s education system.

Credibility factor
Ravi Subedi, pursuing Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) at King’s College, Babarmahal, affiliated to Westcliff University, California, United States, says he joined the course after thorough research upon which made him realize that the foreign degrees are highly credible. “I found that coursework of foreign universities is derived by the finest minds and the degree obtained is recognized internationally. Thus, I decided to go with it,” he says of the reason for opting a course affiliated to the westcliff University.

He feels the course delivers a progressive learning experience, which as per him is rare in local universities. “We have to connect ourselves to real life learning in the form of research, assignment and more space to indulge ourselves in the course work,” he adds, “We are assessed continuously as we continue our assignments and project works.”

Further explaining the structure of pedagogy, he says, “One certain subject is taught for eight weeks utilizing lectures and digital learning process and we are made to work on it for two weeks before starting another course. In these two weeks, we are engaged in activities like quiz contest, attempting multiple choice questions, assignments, project work and so on in such a way that the knowledge learnt can be utilized later in our professional life.”

Sajak Khadka, a graduate of Bachelor of Computing, from Islington College, Kamalpokhari, that is affiliated to London Metropolitan University, UK also joined the course for credibility. “The course being recognized internationally has allowed me to pursue my career abroad or at least it would be easy for me to continue my further studies in the international educational institutions,” he shares.

He also points out that the course is more practical-oriented and “the evaluation is done on the basis of practical project. But if I had enrolled myself into the same course offered by local universities here, my knowledge would have been limited as the course here lack certain aspects including practical-oriented learning, student focused approach (one-to-one evaluation) and adequate course content”.

Similarly, Purnima Singh, who recently completed her BBA opines, “It’s a different experience earning an internationally-recognized degree. International curriculum is so advanced that it links the national and international context while providing exposure as well as an international degree to the students.”

Making Nepal and education hub
Narottam Aryal, President of King’s College, Babarmahal, says the imitation of the international course in Nepal has had benefits for Nepali education system as “it has been contributing immensely in transforming Nepal into an education hub”.

Also the Vice-President of IEPAN, he points out that every year Nepal loses around Rs 40 billion through outward remittance from the Nepali students travelling to various countries for higher education. But offering an international education in Nepal will help control “the outflow of funds and can also be instrumental in bringing in remittances from visiting international students, if all the stake holders support it as a part of Nepali education system”.

Further explaining the reason behind its popularity among the students, he says, “International degrees comprise full-fledged framework which is innovative, critical thinking embedded, timely updated, begins and completes on a fixed time consistently, transparent and utilizes the digital approach of learning—these qualities are the best in terms of teaching and learning system.

Dikshit Bhatta, a faculty member at King’s College points out that the international courses are well researched and developed as per the need of the nation. It also “enables students to reciprocate to the community and contribute in better ways”.

Joey Foster Ellis, Principal of British College, tags international degree as the weapon to stop the human intellectual migration: “Nepal is in need of individuals who are highly skilled and can create a platform for those skilled to show their talent. Currently, a large number of students visit foreign countries for educational purpose but offering international degree in the country would help stop this migration, enhancing country’s development prospect.”

The growing number of students in colleges offering international degrees is a sign that the country is heading on the right path and is ready to compete in the global world, he adds. He also points out the factors like global recognition mutual learning, updated course and most of all education comprising national and international values, are the reasons that have attracted students to such degrees, further claiming “the reason as genuine as the system is transparent and progressive”.

Currently, British College is a home to over 1,700 students pursuing studies in the field of business and IT. The British College offers undergraduate programme and postgraduate programme, awarded by University of the West of England and Leeds Beckett University.

Together for quality education
The aforementioned educators however opine that even the local universities are no less in offering quality education, however certain reforms need to be done in terms of approach and pedagogy. And both the local and international universities should go hand in hand to enhance the educational quality of the nation. Ellis views for the improvement of education system: “local universities need to learn to tie up with international universities as it will allow students to gain a world class perspective”.

Aryal mentions, “International education and local education are like the flowers of a same garden. Both should go hand in hand ultimately letting the students shine – it will balance the education system as a whole.”

source: The Himalayan Times, Education Times, Thursday, January 16, 2020