Mr. Sunil Prajapati, Mayor, Bhaktapur Municipality, and Chairman, Khwopa Engineering College and Khwopa College of Engineering, welcomed a group of Professors from Norway and Austria, led by Prof. Dr. Britt Moldestad in a meeting at Bhaktapur Municipality Office on December 11, 2022. While speaking with them, Mayor Prajapati Shed light on the contribution made to the health and education by Bhaktapur Municipality. The delegates were also presented token of love by Mayor Prajapati.
In the same meeting Ar. Rajani Joshi, Deputy Mayor, and Vice-Chairman of the colleges, stressed on the future collaboration between universities and colleges, while sharing with them her experiences at Norway during her higher education.
Before their visit to Bhaktapur Municipality office, Principal of Khwopa Engineering College Er. Sujan Maka welcomed the guest professors to the college, according to the nepali tradition by offering them Khada in a formal sitting. The Principal briefed them about the academic efforts of the municipality in connection with the seven ‘Khwopa’ institutions, preparation to establish Khwopa University and collaborative works with colleges and universities around the globe.
Principal Maka extended his special thanks to Assoc. Prof. Rajan Kumar Thapa, former faculty of the KhEC, for his initiation & efforts to make such meeting possible. Similarly, Dr. Subeg Man Bijukchhen, Head of Research and Development Unit, KhEC, informed the guest professors about the academic and research activities of the college in the past and present.
Three guest professors gave their slide presentations on the research fields and the programs run by their universities in Norway and Austria highlighting their research labs, teaching methodology, etc. Prof. Dr. Britt Moodestad presented briefly about the University of South-Estern Norway, current collaboration with international partners and ongoing Norpart, Re-tech project. She explained about her research group which is working on the area of biomass gasification to produce green energy. Associate Prof. Dr. Wenche Bergland explained about her research group working on biogas. Prof. Dr. Christoph Pfeifer presented about the University of Natural and Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria. They also put their view that KhEC can collaborate with them in the research and academic fields, both. The discussion in the meeting of professors of KhEC with them was much focused on green energy.
Vice Principals Er. Rabindra Phoju and Er. Ratna Shova Prajapati, Prof Dr. Raju Bhai Tyata, and other faculty members and staffs were also present in the meeting.
After meeting, Professors visited the cultural city Bhaktapur ,a world heritage site. Upon visiting the city Prof. Dr. Christop Pfeifer remarked, "To be at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, is a dream come true. We've seen the heritage site at only movies."
List of Participants:
1. Prof. Dr. Britt Moldestad – University of South-Eastern Norway
2. Prof. Dr. Christop Pfeifer – University of Natural and Life Sciences, Veinna, Austria
3. Associate prof. Dr. Wenche Bergland, University of South-Eastern Norway
4. Associate prof. Dr. Nora Furuvik, University of South-Eastern Norway
5. Associate prof. Dr. Rajan Kumar Thapa, University of South-Eastern Norway
6. Associate prof. Dr. Gamunu L. Samarakoon Arachchige, University of South-Eastern Norway
7. Associate prof. Dr. Sunil Lohani, Kathmandu University, Nepal
8. Mr. Thor Egil Eide, Senior Advisor, Department of Research and Internationalization, University of South-Eastern Norway
9. Mr. Morten Larsen, Controller, Department of Finance, University of South-Eastern Norway