Dr. Bindu Nath Lohani has been appointed as the chancellor of Nepal University, in accordance with the provisions of the Nepal University Act 2081. He will serve for a term of four years.
Dr. Lohani completed his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with a gold medal from Birla Institute of Technology, India, in 1970.
He went on to earn a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of North Carolina, USA, in 1974, followed by a doctorate in Environmental Technology and Management from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, in 1977.
Dr. Lohani began his professional career in the civil service of the Government of Nepal and later served for 30 years at the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Initially joining as a professor at the Asian Institute of Technology, he eventually held several important positions at ADB, culminating in his role as Vice President.
He is widely recognized as a leading figure in the fields of development, environment, and management, both nationally and internationally. It is noted that he has received several prestigious awards and honors in recognition of his contributions to these areas.
The federal parliament, in the first half of September this year, had endorsed the Nepal University Bill, paving the way for opening the first of its kind public university in the country.
The university was conceptualised some five years ago by a group of academics and professionals. So as in June 2021, the Government formed the Infrastructure Development Preparation Board led by Dr Arjun Karki to lay the ground for the university.
Unlike the existing universities, the new university will be operated under a board of trustees and will have complete authority over its management, including the appointment of its vice-chancellor. Most of the existing universities have the prime minister as their chancellor and the government appoints the vice-chancellors, who serve as the executive heads of the varsity.
The academics who conceptualised the university say their aim is to set up an inter-disciplinary university of international standards that will not just keep Nepali students from flying abroad for higher studies but will also attract international students.
For the last few years, more than 100,000 students have been acquiring ‘No Objection Certificates’ annually to travel abroad for higher studies for the international degree.
It is expected that enrollment of the first batch in August-September 2025, an insider was saying.
The university planned to have its head office and central campus in Gaindakot Municipality in Eastern Nawalparasi. The local government has already recommended the federal government to provide 100 bighasof land (abigha is equivalent to 0.67 hectares) to the university to construct physical infrastructure.
Along with Gaindakot, Madhya Bindu Municipality and Hupsekot Rural Municipality in the district also have offered the land to the university.
