Four senior academics from Bournemouth University are on an official three-day visit to Nepal during February 26-28. They are: Prof. Dr. Holger Schutkowski, Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor of Bournemouth University and Deputy Dean of the School of Applied Sciences, Dr. Richard Shipway, Associate Dean: International Engagement in the School of Tourism, Prof Dr. Edwin van Teijlingen, Professor of Reproductive Health Research and Dr. Ana Adi, Head of International Development for the Media School.

 Facilitated by the UK-Nepal Friendship Society, the visit aims to establish and expand the academic and research collaborations of Bournemouth University with leading universities in Nepal. The academics will visit Tribhuvan University, Lumbini Buddhist University, Pokhara University, Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS) and the Nepal Sanskrit University meeting with the institutions’ Vice-Chancellors and senior academics and staff. The team is also expected to meet with high dignitaries of Nepal including the Prime Minister, Tourism Ministry, Health ministry and Education Ministry.

 Bournemouth University has already a long-standing reputation in health services research in Nepal through Prof. Dr. Edwin van Teijlingen, also a Visiting Professor at both MMIHS and Nobel College. Prof. Dr. van Teijlingen has published over sixty academic papers on health studies in Nepal, both in international journals and in English-language journals in Nepal. Bournemouth University is also the host of Dr. Laxmi Ghimire, a senior researcher and active member of the UK-Nepal Friendship Society.

 Further areas of interest and expertise of Bournemouth University in Nepal include Media Studies, Tourism and Archaeological Sciences.

Dr. Richard Shipway commented: “We see great opportunities in a wide-range of aspects of tourism research in Nepal, including eco-tourism.”  Dr. Ana Adi added: “Both the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ media are in an early stage of development in Nepal, there is a lot of scope for research here as well as a great potential for extended training and collaborations.”

 Uttam Bhlon, secretary for the UK-Nepal Friendship Society (Nepal Chapter) remarked: “We welcome the Bournemouth University team to Nepal and hope this is a start of long-term relationship.”