Top officials and teachers from the Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology have urged lawmakers to formulate policies to promote research and academic activities in the university.

University Chairperson Rajendra Dhwaj Joshi while presenting on the topic “Necessary policy support to make Madan Bhandari University a world-class institution,” highlighted the need for support from political sectors and various levels of society.

Stating that knowledge is the foundation of prosperity—he emphasised research is the key to national development and that requires policy and financial support from policymakers such as federal lawmakers.

Chairperson Joshi proposed that research grants should last 4-5 years, and 0.4 percent of the national GDP should be allocated for research and another 0.4 percent for higher education.

Members of the Federal Parliament’s Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee of the House of Representatives led by Ammar Bahadur Thapa were at Chitlang, Makawanpur for a on-site visit to the university.

Committee members Devendra Paudel, Chhabilal Bishwakarma, Mahendra Kumar Raya, Ram Prakash Chaudhary, Sarita Bhusal, and Gyanu Basnet Subedi observed the university activities and studied various issues during their two-day visit on Friday and Saturday.

Currently, Madan Bhandari University provides a monthly scholarship of up to Rs30,000 to its students, which has helped them focus on their research. According to him, the university has so far distributed Rs15 million in donations.

“During the tour, the federal lawmakers observed research laboratories related to digital technology, mushroom cultivation, plant pathology, biological and natural resources, and sustainable and resilient infrastructure,” said a press note issued on Saturday by the university.

Coordinators including Bhushan Shrestha, Sabina Shrestha, Anupama Shrestha, Sarbesh Das Dangol, Kishor Timilsina, and Rajiv Subba provided updates on the research projects under their respective programmes.

It was suggested to parliamentarians that institutions with an annual turnover of over Rs150 million should be legally required to allocate at least 1 percent of their profit for corporate social responsibility. Furthermore, similar to Yogmaya University, foreign donations to Madan Bhandari University should be exempted from taxes.

Thapa, chairperson of the House committee, urged the university to focus on how agricultural production can be modernised and how such impacts can directly benefit citizens.

Former Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Devendra Paudel hoped the university would contribute to Nepal’s national research policy and produce graduates who can connect knowledge with practical outcomes in various sectors.

Lawmaker Chhabilal Bishwakarma remarked that the delegation found inspiration in how a mission-driven initiative in Nepal can indeed achieve success.

University officials brought attention to the poor condition of the Ganesh Man Singh Highway leading to the university in Chitlang and requested that the lawmakers help draw attention to the matter and arrange for a safe and timely transportation route.