Skill Week 2026 Concludes: Five Veterans Honored with Skill Hero Award in Lalitpur
21st January 2026, Kathmandu
Skill Week 2026 ended with a splendid closing ceremony amidst a remarkable gathering held at The Plaza Lalitpur on Monday, in the presence of renowned entrepreneurs, government diplomats, and 100+ aspirant enthusiasts.
Skill Week 2026 Concludes
This was the seventh edition of Skill Week, organized by Glocal After School, an entity of Glocal Pvt Ltd, with an aim to collaborate with Industry, Educators, and Government to engage and promote extensive skilling opportunities and showcase emerging skills.
Skill Week is a week filled with events, creativity, skills, inspirations, and insights. This year, the week earmarked for conducting workshops related to diverse skills, skill-focused competitions, skill shows and exhibitions, the learning hub, and sessions, along with several entertainment components, making this an infotainment week honoring skill.
The sixth edition of Skill Week was held from 11th January to 16th January, and different experts from these fields were invited to impart their knowledge to the curious youth.
Skill Week comprised a series of Workshops, Competitions, Exhibitions, Job & Career Fair, Food and Games, Case Study Presentation, Music, and Concerts, along with Fun elements. It was basically exploring the world of Skills along with a fun fiesta.
The event highlighted four distinct skill areas. Art and Culture, Entrepreneurship, Tourism and Hospitality & Science and Technology. Therefore, five veterans were honored withthe Skill Hero Award by Glocal After School today, amidst the closing ceremony of Skill Week.
Skill Hero Award 2026 by Glocal Pvt. Ltd
The Skill Hero Award is back to honor and recognize individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to skill advancement by implementing relevant and result-oriented skill development.
The Skill Hero Award is an annual award ceremony that recognizes notable figures in four categories: Tourism & Hospitality, Science and Technology, Art and Culture, and Entrepreneurship.
It is intended to recognize such exceptional individuals for their contributions to skill attainment in their respective fields. Entries for this award are screened by a jury of experts, and 4 winners from respected fields are recognized as “Skill Hero 2026“. Eligibility: Should be a Nepali Citizen, should have a minimum of 7 years of work experience, should have demonstrated skills & expertise working in the sector of Skill Promotions.
For the first pillar, Tourism & Hospitality: Mr.Rishab Agrawal is a distinguished entrepreneur whose vision, skill, and leadership have redefined Nepal’s premium food and hospitality landscape.
He holds a master’s degree and was trained in professional kitchens at Mumbai and École Ducasse, Paris, gaining expertise in culinary techniques, flavor development, and kitchen operations.
Transitioning from his family trading business, Rishab founded Silk Artisanal Creamery in Kathmandu, blending global culinary standards with local ingredients to create meticulously crafted ice creams.
His combination of strategic business insight, technical skill, and creativity ensures that each flavor is refined with precision and served in thoughtfully designed spaces for an exceptional customer experience.
Likewise, for the next pillar, Art and Culture: Mr. Kishor Kayastha has contributed to Nepal’s art and cultural heritage through photography that transcends documentation and enters the realm of fine art. Kishor Kayastha, born into a family that regarded photography as a profession, realized his long-held aspiration by presenting his first exhibition in 2001.
Over the following years, he held numerous exhibitions, each drawing sold-out acclaim, cementing his reputation as one of Nepal’s leading photographers. With the establishment of K2 Art Factory, Kayastha aimed not only to advance his artistic vision but also to nurture the next generation of Nepali photographers.
Among his most notable works, “MUSTANG Nostalgia: A Two-Decade Odyssey” stands out as a rare visual chronicle of Mustang’s evolving geography, culture, and way of life, reflecting his dedication to patience, skill, and continuous observation over twenty years.
In addition to this, for the category Entrepreneurship, Ms. Anushka Shrestha is nominated for her exemplary demonstration of skill-driven entrepreneurship that fuses cultural preservation with modern business innovation.
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Following her national recognition as Miss Nepal World 2019, Anushka consciously chose to channel her platform into building Makkusé, a luxury dessert brand that elevates traditional Nepali sweets into refined, contemporary culinary experiences. Beyond product innovation, Anushka demonstrated strategic entrepreneurship by building Makkusé as a scalable and responsible enterprise.
Also, in the category Science & Technology, Mr. Samir Phuyal, winner of Glocal Teen Hero Nepal 2019, is recognized as one of Nepal’s most dynamic young tech innovators and educators. As the founder of Bytecare Technology, he develops digital solutions that help Nepalese businesses modernize and scale.
His flagship product, the Karobar app, is a free accounting and inventory management system designed to help micro and small enterprises transition from traditional paper-based bookkeeping to efficient digital operations.
By addressing the critical gap in accessible, localized financial tools, Karobar empowers thousands of small retailers, traders, and service providers to confidently participate in Nepal’s digital economy, exemplifying Samir’s commitment to innovation with impact.
His contributions have been further recognized through awards such as the NYEF Startup Award 2022, top 5 finalist for the Rising Star Innovation ICT Award 2022, and the Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards Nepal 2023.
Talking about Apprenticeship: Ms. Sonam Nembang is a passionate advocate for digital skills in today’s IT and AI-driven era, emphasizing their role in securing the future, advancing careers, and contributing to national development.
An Information Technology graduate from Pushpa Dhirendra Pratishthan, Damak, Sonam completed a 3.5-month institutional apprenticeship at Pushpa Dhirendra Smriti Polytechnic, Damak, Jhapa, followed by 19.5 months of industry-based learning at Anmol Software Development and Technology Pvt. Ltd., where her performance earned her a monthly incentive increase from NPR 4,000 to NPR 6,000.
Highlights of SKILL FEST 2026
On January 16th, 2026, the highly anticipated Skill Fest was held at Embark College, Pulchowk, Lalitpur. Open to youths, this free platform offers interactive opportunities to explore, test, and develop skills. Participants can expect skillful stalls, job opportunities, and activities designed to engage, educate, and inspire.
From workshops by esteemed organizations and individuals to roundtable discussions on Industry-Academia Interaction on January 18, Skill Week 2026 offers a diverse lineup of events. Notable highlights include: Workshops, Exhibitions and Displays, Competitions, Skill Fest, and Entertainment, Job Fair.
Keeping up with the legacy of welcoming the country’s most influential CEOs/entrepreneurs to inspire the enthusiastic entrepreneurial minds of the country, Glocal Pvt. Ltd. has successfully concluded the 11th edition of ‘CEO Unplugged’ in 2026 on the Skill Fest Day on January 16 at Embark College this time.
With the main theme of ‘Today Meets Tomorrow’, 3 reputed speakers, an exceptional moderator, bureaucrats, and diplomats of the country marked their presence as the speakers on this year’s CEO Unplugged. More than 100+ aspirants participated in this highly anticipated event to network, learn, and share their notions with the prominent entrepreneurs of the country.
There was a two-panel discussion, titled The Leader’s Mindset: Decisions That Shape Businesses, led by Mr. Saurabh Jyoti, Director, Padma Jyoti Group, and Economies and Business in the Digital Age: What Founders Need to Know Toda,y led by Mr. Sanjay Golchha, Managing Director, Neoteric Nepal, and Ms. Aanchal Kunwa,r Managing Director, Daraz Nepal.
The panel explored the pivotal role of skills development and education in shaping a sustainable future and building synergistic partnerships between academic institutions, private sectors, developmental sectors, and industries to bridge prevailing skill gaps.
We are glad to announce the collaboration of Skill Week, an initiative organized by Glocal After School (GAS) and empowered by Embark College, Strategic Partners, including the European Union, the Embassy of India, the Australian Government, and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Honda, ENSSURE, WWF, The Generation Green, BioSphere Global, Agrima Academy, and Merojob as our Partners, Nepal SBI Bank and Nabil Bank as Banking Partners, The Plaza our Hospitality Partner, WorldLink as our Internet Partner, The Kathmandu Post and Kantipur App as our Media, Yeti Airlines as Airlines Partner, Xtreme Energy Drink Energy Partner, and Prisma Advertising as our PR Partner.
Finally, we extend our gratitude to our Supporters UNDP, British Council, and Bergeras, as well as our Outreach Partner, NNQ. We are great to have our partners show their collective commitment to bridging the skills gap.
For more Details: Skill Week 2026 Concludes
