Prime Minister and Chancellor of Mid-West University, KP Sharma Oli, has stated that education must be connected with technology to move forward. He expressed this view while addressing the third convocation ceremony of Mid-West University held in Surkhet on Friday, March 7, 2025.
''A country that cannot produce a workforce capable of utilizing and mobilizing the resources available within its own nation, and cannot create citizens suitable for the era in today’s age of globalization, is certain to fall behind in the race for development,'' he said. He also stated that digital education is a necessity today.
PM Oli mentioned that the present era is one of technology equipped with artificial intelligence and creativity, and expressed concern that millions of students and billions of capital migrating abroad for higher education is worrisome. He claimed that the government is giving high priority to the systematic education, security, and return to the homeland of the nation’s leaders who have gone to foreign universities for higher education.
PM Oli informed that universities in the country should end the situation where students have to go abroad solely for education by means of timely subjects and programs. He stated that education is not only about obtaining a degree but is a path to give life the right direction. He suggested to the graduated students that they undertake innovative work in their own country.
PM Oli has advised universities to prioritize contemporary subjects to prevent students from migrating abroad. He stated that there is no need for education that increases unemployment and emphasized that all universities should conduct technology-friendly, research-oriented subjects and programs that stop migration abroad. At the third convocation ceremony of Mid-West University in Surkhet on Friday, Prime Minister Oli said that education should be pursued according to one’s province and region along with production-oriented and employment-oriented programs. He said, “In the name of higher education, millions of students and billions of capital have migrated abroad; now, universities in the country must stop this through timely subjects and programs.”
He stated that the students graduated from the university are capable citizens of the country, and the nation has great expectations from them. He urged the new generation to engage in research beyond bookish knowledge and to move forward without holding feudal and narrow-minded thinking. He also expressed confidence that Mid-West University will become a university of choice for students through upcoming academic sessions.
Prime Minister Oli stated that education is not just about obtaining a degree but is also a path to give life the right direction, and therefore, it is the shared responsibility of universities to prepare the skilled workforce needed by the nation. He asserted that the government is committed to creating employment opportunities within the country by promoting technology-friendly education, research-based studies, and enhancing innovative entrepreneurship.
He said he is very pleased that Mid-West University in Karnali Province, a place of petroleum mines, herbs, and religious and civilizational significance, has prepared a workforce that will brighten Karnali’s identity. He also expressed his expectation that in the coming days, this workforce will join hands in the development of the country.
At the ceremony, senior professor Mahendra P. Lama from Jawaharlal Nehru University in India mentioned that since universities prepare the workforce to meet the country’s needs, Mid-West University has also prepared a workforce that fulfills the nation’s requirements. He also suggested that there should be subjects, research, and investigations according to the demands of the time.
Likewise, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Dhruba Kumar Gautam, stated that they have provided education relevant to the times, keeping in mind the overall economic, social, and natural conditions of Karnali Province. He claimed that they have prepared a competitive workforce for the education market and mentioned efforts to make higher education self-reliant. He also noted that in the coming days, education will be linked with indigenous knowledge, skills, and practices to make it production-oriented.
From the university, a total of 3,841 students graduated, including 2,189 from various faculties at the bachelor’s level, 1,633 at the master’s level, and 19 who completed their doctoral research. 885 students participated in the convocation ceremony.
On this occasion, Grishma Piya, Monika Saiju, and Shravan Kumar Mahatara were honored with the Chancellor’s Medal, while Swastika Godal, Purnima Acharya, and Anu Aryal were honored with the Vice-Chancellor’s Medal. Mid-West University, established on June 17, 2010, currently has 10,382 students studying, with 338 professors and 208 staff members working there.
