Kathmandu University (KU) has been appointed to chair the interim executive committee of the Himalayan University Consortium (HUC), a multilateral network spanning the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. Represented by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Achyut Wagle, KU will oversee the adoption of a new charter, bylaws, and membership renewals until a General Assembly elects a permanent committee within a year. This leadership transition follows the HUC’s recent move from ICIMOD to KU last December.
The appointment was finalized during a two-day retreat in Kathmandu, hosted by KU and attended by 70 international delegates, including 29 Vice-Chancellors from countries such as India, China, Pakistan, and Bhutan. The forum focused on establishing a roadmap for financial sustainability and global positioning. Keynote speaker Prof. Dr. Vibha Dhawan emphasized bridging scientific research with indigenous wisdom to build climate-resilient communities, while former Justice Dr. Ananda Mohan Bhattarai called for aligning regional conservation with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement.
Throughout seven technical sessions, participants deliberated on twelve thematic areas, including the Food-Energy-Water Nexus, disaster risk, and mountain agriculture. There was a significant push to include modern focus areas like AI, digital competency, and climate change law to better bridge the gap between academic research and actionable policy. Prof. Wagle highlighted the urgent responsibility of scholars to use data-driven insights to protect the region’s threatened ecology and indigenous cultures.
The retreat concluded with practical calls to transition toward sustainable, traditional agriculture and the signing of several memoranda of understanding. KU established new partnerships with the Indian Institute of Technology-Mandi and the University of Ladakh to conduct joint research on transboundary Himalayan concerns. Founded in 2007 and now comprising 107 member universities, the HUC aims to serve as a global spokesperson for the 1.9 billion people dependent on the HKH range’s vital water resources.
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