The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with Kathmandu University to transfer the Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) secretariat.

The transition of the HUC Secretariat to Kathmandu University marks an important step, realising HUC’s long-envisioned role as an independent, regionally rooted, and academically driven consortium, read a release jointly issued by the University, the ICIMOD and the Consortium following a function held at the ICIMOD Headquarters in Kathmandu.

HUC was established in 2007 to bridge the gap in collaboration between universities in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) and beyond to tackle shared development challenges, particularly on mountain issues, it said. According to the organisations, the consortium has created a network of more than 100 universities and academic institutions, connecting experts, students and other learners across the region and beyond.

KU Vice-chancellor Professor Achyut Wagle said this will be a new milestone in the academic cooperation between universities in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. “With the onslaught of global warming and extreme climate events, academic institutions in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region have an added responsibility to develop credible data and research to solve the problems facing the people and the planet today and in the future,” Wagle said.

Director General of the ICIMOD Pema Gyamtsho said that Kathmandu University is exceptionally well placed to guide the HUC into its next phase as an independent and regionally rooted consortium.

Eklabya Sharma, former deputy director general of the ICIMOD and former steering committee member at the HUC, said that HUC’s strength and impact lie in deepening regional collaboration in research, education, capacity development, and the co-generation and dissemination of knowledge.

Teresa Fogelberg, programme advisory committee chair, was of the view that the moment had come for the HUC to stand confidently on its own feet. “And now, that moment has arrived. This transition is not only timely; it is truly remarkable,” she said.

British ambassador to Nepal Rob Fenn stressed that it would be good for the academic community to have this consortium in the Hindu Kush Himalaya. “It is a good thing for the planet, to deliver on the mountain agenda, to have knowledge creation plugged in directly, through ICIMOD in global discussions such as the UNFCCC process,” he said.

The consortium will serve as a platform to develop mountain-focused research and generate scientific solutions to the problems besetting HKH’s fragile ecosystem, communities, culture, and people, the organisers said.