Manipal Group is a well-known and respected name in Indian higher education. Under the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, three universities are currently operating. These are Manipal University in Udupi, Karnataka; Manipal University in Jaipur, Rajasthan; and Manipal University in Gangtok, Sikkim. Thousands of students study a range of subjects at these universities.

The Manipal Group also runs more than 30 campuses across India and in Dubai.

In partnership with the Manipal Group, the Manipal College of Medical Sciences was established in Pokhara in 1994. It is also Nepal’s first private medical college.

The Manipal Group was first established in 1923 by Madhav Anand Pai. In 1953, he founded a private medical college. Although the group began in Manipal, Karnataka, Madhav Anand’s elder son, Ramdas Pai, later expanded its educational institutions beyond Manipal. Today, Ranjan Pai, the third-generation member of the Pai family, leads the group.

Manipal University Jaipur is the youngest university under the Manipal Group. Established in 2011, it currently has 20,000 students on campus. Nearly 100,000 students take online classes.

Prof Niti Nipun Sharma is the president of Manipal University Jaipur. He has been associated with the Manipal Group for nearly a decade. Sharma began his career as a lecturer in 1997 and has since worked in several administrative positions. During his recent visit to Kathmandu for official work, he spoke with Kantipur’s Upendra Raj Pandey.

Manipal Group has been offering higher education to Nepali students for a long time. How do you view the history of educational ties between Nepal and Manipal?

Ramdas Pai, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, has a deep connection with Nepal. The Bhatt priests of Pashupatinath Temple originally came from Manipal in Karnataka, which is also his birthplace. Through this connection, he built relationships with Nepal’s top leaders.

He also collaborated with Kathmandu University to support engineering education. The relationship between Manipal and Nepal is not just historic, but very strong. Much of the credit for building this relationship goes to Ramdas Pai. He also played a significant role in establishing the Manipal College of Medical Sciences in Pokhara.

What inspired Manipal University Jaipur to collaborate with Nepali universities and institutions?

Manipal University Jaipur is the youngest university in the Manipal Group. It has been growing very fast, both in student numbers and in academic quality. In my view, it usually takes 70 to 80 years for a university to mature fully, but Manipal Jaipur has progressed remarkably within just 14 years. Among international students, Nepali students make up the largest group at our university.

Nepal also has a long-standing and close relationship with Indian universities, which is another reason we prioritise Nepal.

Recently, Manipal University Jaipur and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN) signed an MoU. How will this MoU contribute to higher education and professional skill development in Nepal?

Today, chartered accountants not only need basic knowledge of AI—they need strong skills in it. Our university has been offering such programmes for many years, which is why we want to support Nepal in this field. The programme is available in both online and offline formats.

Many people predict that AI will reduce jobs in the next decade. But I believe AI will actually assist us, not replace us. This is why gaining AI knowledge has become essential.

How can Manipal University Jaipur support Nepali educational institutions in skill development and employment?

What we study today may not be useful after four years. That is why we have started futuristic programmes. These include micro-credentials like AR/VR, 3D painting, quantum technology, and semiconductors. We understand what is relevant and necessary for Nepali students.

We have built large laboratories and invested in creating 10 specialised centres. We want to work with Nepal in areas like the Centre for Disaster Management.

Establishments like the Centre for Biofuel Research will help students develop skills that will be useful for the future. This is our vision. Let’s see how far we can move ahead. We can also work on hydrogen energy. Our university is currently working on an industry-ready hydrogen fuel project that Taiwan is adopting. Nepal has a talented workforce, and we already have fully equipped labs. There is strong potential for collaboration and progress.

3D painting also increases employment opportunities. Every product requires a prototype, and prototypes are created using 3D painting.

Does Manipal University Jaipur have plans for faculty and student exchange programmes with Nepali universities?

This is a basic requirement and a very important one. I have already told ICAN to send some of their teachers to our university. Our teachers can also come to Nepal. We want to collaborate with Nepali institutions like Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University.

It should not only be us reaching out; we hope universities here will also take the initiative. Since many Nepali students already study with us, they know what our university is like. Learning is never one-sided; we also want to learn from Nepal’s universities.

In the coming days, how do you see the possibility of joint research between Manipal University Jaipur and Nepali universities?

We have already started this process. As I mentioned earlier, we can collaborate on biofuel research and disaster management. We have already received proposals in these areas.

We are also working with Pokhara Manipal College for the study of bone sets. For this, we have created 3D-printed bone sets, and Pokhara Manipal is using them. 3D printing has proven very helpful for anatomy studies. And it is not only useful in medicine—3D printing is valuable for industries and manufacturing as well.

Many universities in Nepal still follow exam-focused academic courses. How can Manipal University Jaipur support the shift toward an ‘innovation-driven academic culture’?

Recently, Kathmandu University sent a delegation to Jaipur. We are now conducting exams using e-pads. No paper is used anymore. Universities are visiting us to understand and collaborate on this system. Kathmandu University came specifically to study our exam model. In fact, many universities worldwide have already moved away from the traditional exam system. Student evaluation is now based on the credit system and innovation.

We assess students through project-based learning. They work in teams, and the university even provides funding for their projects. For example, if a student develops an app, we award them credit. After all, what is knowledge if not practical application? We have established credit-based components for innovation, entrepreneurship, and product development.

But many universities still give credit only for what is in the curriculum. For example, a student may answer a question and score 4 out of 5, thereby passing. But another student who scores zero on that question may still achieve far more in life than the one who scored 4. The world has moved far ahead of the “exam-based curriculum”. Skills that are not in the curriculum also deserve credit.

So, does multidisciplinary education now seem essential to address issues like unemployment seen in society?

The boundaries of disciplines broke down a long time ago. Today, just being a commerce student is not enough—I need to learn many other things as well. Multidisciplinary education has existed in the West for a long time. I’m not sure about Nepal, and even in India, it is not yet fully established. The boundaries have already disappeared; it is only now that people are realising this. A biology student, for example, should also learn electronics.

Multidisciplinary education should be in all universities. Of course, we also have limitations, but everyone must understand what the future requires. If we keep teaching only what was taught yesterday, we cannot move forward. This is especially true for non-technical subjects. That’s why we have started major and minor programmes. For example, a commerce major student at our university is studying AI as a minor.

Many young Nepalis are looking for ‘global career’ opportunities. How can Manipal University Jaipur support Nepali students in gaining international exposure and developing industry-ready skills?

We have signed about 150 MoUs with foreign universities, 50 of which are among the top 500 in the US. Our students are going there, and for those going for a master’s, GRE and TOEFL are not required. We have also established a Bloomberg Lab for commerce students, which includes large datasets on industries and businesses worldwide. Similarly, we have labs for hydrogen and biofuel research.

Students coming from Nepal also gain international exposure. Nepali students have traditionally gone to colleges and universities in South India, partly because options in North India were limited. But now, educational institutions like Manipal University Jaipur can become a viable option for them.

In the long term, how far can educational collaboration between Manipal and Nepal go? How do you see the future?

I see a very bright future. To do this, we need to listen to each other. Only then will we know what kind of collaboration is possible. Manipal Jaipur wants to learn from Nepal and share knowledge as well.

We can collaborate on issues like climate change. Manipal Jaipur is establishing a Centre for Climate Change, and joint research and study in this area can bring good results. As Ramdas Pai said, “To cover a long journey, you must first take the first step.”

Finally, do you have a message for Nepal?

Nepal is a very important neighbouring country for us. Nepali citizens are very close to us. If Manipal Jaipur can provide any support, we are always available.