Over 65% of Engineering Seats Filled in TU's Colleges, and the Remaining vacant seat Spark Concern

Kathmandu, December 18, 2023 – Tribhuvan University's Institute of Engineering (IOE) has reported that more than 65% of its engineering seats have been filled this academic year. However, the remaining vacant seats in various engineering colleges under TU have raised concerns about the declining interest in engineering education among students.

Out of the 4,344 available seats across 15 engineering colleges under TU, 2,860 have been filled, leaving 1,484 seats vacant. This data reflects a 65% enrollment rate. The distribution of vacant seats varies across different campuses and colleges. For instance, Pulchowk Engineering Campus has 30 vacant seats out of 624, while Thapathali Engineering Campus has 108 vacant seats out of 432 seats.

The Pashchimanchal Campus and Purbanchal Campus have 119 and 101 vacant seats, respectively. Engineering College, Kathmandu, has 155 vacant seats out of 384, and Kantipur Engineering College has 209 vacant seats out of 228 seats. Additionally, Sagarmatha Engineering College has 63 vacant seats out of 144 seats.

Advanced College of Engineering and Management (ACEM) and Himalaya College of Engineering have significant vacant seats, with 160 out of 336 and 140 out of 240 seats remaining unfilled, respectively. The National College of Engineering, Lalitpur Engineering College, Kathford International College of Engineering and Management, Janakpur Engineering College, Khwapa College of Engineering, and Chitwan Engineering College also report varying numbers of unfilled seats.

This trend of unfilled engineering seats has caused concern among educational authorities. Factors such as delays in examination schedules and results publication, and a growing tendency of students to study abroad after high school, are speculated to contribute to this decline.

Prof. Dr. Shashidhar Ram Joshi, Dean of the Institute of Engineering Studies, suggests that the final picture will become clear only after the completion of the admission process, which includes multiple rounds of seat allocations.

President of Nepal Engineering Council, Prof. Dr. Padam Bahadur Shahi, and Dr. Hari Bahadur Darlami of the Nepal Engineers Association, also emphasize that the true state of enrollments will be known only after the admission process concludes. They note that students often apply to multiple colleges but enroll in only one, which may give an impression of higher vacant seats.

Dr. Darlami points out the challenges of ensuring employment and income opportunities for engineering graduates in Nepal. He stresses the need for policy-level discussions to address these issues and retain students within the country.

Nepal has 57 engineering colleges across various universities with an undergraduate enrollment capacity of about 7,000 students. According to the Nepal Engineering Council, 77,000 people have received engineering licenses in the country to date. The current situation highlights the need for strategic interventions to bolster interest in engineering education and ensure future employment opportunities for graduates.

Tribhuvan University Engineering College Enrollment Statistics

Total Seats and Enrollment

• Total Seats Available: 4,344
• Seats Filled: 2,860
• Vacant Seats: 1,484
• Enrollment Rate: 65%

Individual College Statistics

1. Pulchowk Engineering Campus
   • Total Seats: 624
   • Vacant Seats: 30
2. Thapathali Engineering Campus
   • Total Seats: 432
   • Vacant Seats: 108
3. Pashchimanchal Engineering Campus
   • Total Seats: 432
   • Vacant Seats: 119
4. Purbanchal Engineering Campus
   • Total Seats: 528
   • Vacant Seats: 101
5. Engineering College, Kathmandu
   • Total Seats: 384
   • Vacant Seats: 155
6. Kantipur Engineering College
   • Total Seats: 228
   • Vacant Seats: 209
7. Sagarmatha Engineering College
   • Total Seats: 144
   • Vacant Seats: 63
8. Advanced College of Engineering and Management (ACEM)
   • Total Seats: 336
   • Vacant Seats: 160
9. Himalaya College of Engineering
   • Total Seats: 240
   • Vacant Seats: 140
10. National College of Engineering
    • Total Seats: 240
    • Vacant Seats: 30
11. Lalitpur Engineering College
    • Total Seats: 96
    • Vacant Seats: 64
12. Kathford International College of Engineering and Management
    • Total Seats: 192
    • Vacant Seats: 104
13. Janakpur Engineering College
    • Total Seats: 192
    • Vacant Seats: 172
14. Khwapa College of Engineering
    • Total Seats: 192
    • Vacant Seats: 27
15. Chitwan Engineering College
    • Total Seats: 24
    • Vacant Seats: 2

Additional Notes

• This data reflects the status as of the end of the admission process for the academic year 2023.
• The overall trend suggests a challenge in filling all available engineering seats in Nepal, with a notable number of seats remaining vacant across various colleges.

National Perspective

• Total Engineering Colleges in Nepal: 57
• Undergraduate Enrollment Capacity: ~7,000 students
• Engineering Licenses Issued in Nepal: 77,000