Former Students Unite to Enhance Academic Quality at Nepal Engineering College
Nepal Engineering College alumni have united to improve academic quality and increase student attraction.
The alumni came together to enhance the college's academic quality, which was established as a non-profit social educational institution, and increase its appeal to new students.
At the ‘NEC Alumni Meet’ held on Saturday, 19th April 2025 at the college, former students shared memories of their college life. Now established in government and non-government sectors, including running their own companies and firms, they stated that they would not have become engineers if Nepal Engineering College had not been established during their time.
Engineer Deepak Babu Kandel, the General Secretary of the first alumni group, shared that in the past, with no engineering college other than Pulchowk, many students could not fulfill their dream of becoming engineers. He noted that Nepal Engineering College was established under the leadership of the late Prof. Dr. Deepak Bhattarai and others during that period.
Highlighting the significant role Nepal Engineering College has played in producing skilled technical manpower for the development of Nepal, Kandel stated that the college has focused on quality education since its inception, which continues to attract students.
Former student Kandel said, “The college has already produced tens of thousands of engineers. It has remained a student choice because it has emphasized quality education from the beginning. Let us all contribute to further improving it and taking it to the global level.”
Speaking at the program, Engineer Binod Devkota, General Secretary of the second alumni group, stated that Nepal has progressed in higher education because the private sector has provided quality education. He mentioned that the college has made a major contribution to the development of engineering education and the production of skilled manpower.
Stating that the college is like a temple, he emphasized that everyone must unite to maintain its academic quality and ensure its stability, without engaging in politics.
Another alumnus, Engineer Padam Kumar Mainali, recalled that many from his batch would not have had the opportunity to study if Nepal Engineering College had not existed around 1996.
Now serving as a Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Urban Development, Mainali expressed his commitment to support the academic and physical improvement of the college and increase student attraction. He stated that it is a matter of pride that the college has been providing quality education since its establishment.
Speaking at the program, Mayor Jivan Khatri of Changunarayan Municipality, who also serves as the Chairperson of the college’s governing committee formed by the Ministry of Education, Government of Nepal, stated that he has been working to improve the academic, administrative, and physical aspects of the college. He called on the NEC alumni for necessary suggestions, advice, and cooperation.
Stating that the contribution of teachers, staff, students, and alumni is essential for the sustainability and academic development of the college, he reiterated the commitment to operate Nepal Engineering College as a social educational institution.
He mentioned that if the pending case in the Supreme Court is resolved soon, the municipality is ready to operate the college as a model institution. “The municipality has already passed a College Operation Act. If the court decides in favor of the municipality operating the college, we will not step back. We will operate it,” said Chairperson Khatri.
At the NEC Alumni Meet, College Principal Durgaprasad Bhandari stated that despite facing legal and administrative challenges, the academic quality of the college has not been compromised.
He noted that the Nepal Engineering Council granted a permanent certificate after assessing the college’s physical and academic quality. He expressed hope that alumni would contribute to the future development of the college. He also mentioned that the college’s governing committee is working in a planned manner to improve the academic, physical, and administrative quality.
Approximately five hundred students who graduated between the college’s establishment and 2019 were present at the NEC Alumni Meet. Nepal Engineering College was established in 1994 as a non-profit social educational institution.
According to Associate Principal Mohan Dhoj KC, more than ten thousand skilled manpower have already been produced from the college, which offers undergraduate and postgraduate studies in engineering.
He stated that the alumni meet was organized to encourage Nepali students, who tend to go abroad immediately after completing Grade 12, to pursue higher education within the country and to help them recognize that Nepal's engineering education meets international standards.
The event was chaired by NEC Alumni Meet coordinator Architect Poshan Thapa and attended by former alumni, including Dr. Engineer Suman Narsingh Rajbhandari, Vice Chairperson of the Urban Planning Commission of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, member Engineer Baburam Bhattarai, and founding member Engineer Salil Bhattarai.
