13th May 2025, Kathmandu
A major academic event promoting sustainability and youth empowerment in Nepal took place in Hetauda this week. The International Conference on Localising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Higher Education: Strengthening Youth Capacity brought together educators, policy leaders, and youth advocates.
KCC Leads SDG Integration
Makawanpur Multiple Campus hosted the event. Located in Hetauda-2, the campus is a well-known institution for its active work in education and sustainability. This conference marked a significant step in connecting global development goals with local education efforts.
Kantipur City College Joins as Organizing Partner
Kantipur City College (KCC) played an important role as one of the organizing partners. The college has a strong record of integrating sustainability into both academics and outreach. At the event, KCC presented its own practices and success stories.
A Powerful Paper on SDG Integration
Dr. Deepak Bikram Thapa Chhetri, Director of Engineering at KCC, gave a key presentation. His paper, titled “Empowering Global Change Locally: How Kantipur City College is Localising the SDGs from Class to Communities,” described KCC’s journey of turning classrooms into tools for social change.
He explained how the college designed courses that include SDG themes. Students not only learn theory but also work on projects that solve real problems in local communities. Dr. Thapa Chhetri called for more colleges to follow this model and bridge the gap between academics and action.
Panel Discussion Sparks Insightful Debate
Dr. Thapa Chhetri also moderated a panel discussion. The panel focused on how education systems can support the SDGs at the local level. Three distinguished panelists joined him:
Prof. Dr. Biju Thapaliya, Vice Chancellor of Purbanchal University
Mr. Thakur Dhakal, representative from UNICEF Nepal
Dr. Tej Bahadur Karki, from the Nepal Philosophical Research Centre
Each panelist offered unique views. They spoke about education policies, youth participation, and community-level impact. The speakers agreed that higher education must go beyond textbooks and become a tool for grassroots change.
Summary Emphasizes Local Action
At the end of the panel, Dr. Thapa Chhetri gave a summary. He reminded the audience that global goals must be addressed locally. “Local action is the most powerful driver of global success,” he said. He also encouraged youth to take initiative, saying that they hold the key to a sustainable future.
Collaboration Is Key
The event highlighted the need for strong partnerships. Universities, government agencies, development organizations, and students must work together. Only then can the SDGs become real and impactful at the local level.
The conference also stressed that colleges should not wait for national directives. Instead, they should take the lead by updating syllabi, conducting workshops, and working with local governments.
Role of Youth in Sustainable Development
One of the core themes of the event was youth empowerment. Several speakers discussed how young people are not just future leaders but present changemakers. Through hands-on projects, students can test new ideas, challenge outdated systems, and help their communities adapt to new challenges like climate change and social inequality.
Appreciation for the Host Institution
Organizers and participants gave special thanks to Makawanpur Multiple Campus. The campus provided a platform for honest discussion, new connections, and future collaboration. It was praised for its leadership in sustainability and education reform.
By organizing such a large and meaningful conference, the campus showed what a committed academic institution can achieve. It also inspired other campuses to take similar steps.
Looking Ahead
This conference is expected to have a lasting impact. Several universities are now planning to revise their courses to include sustainability modules. Others are exploring partnerships with NGOs and local municipalities.
More importantly, the event has created a network of institutions that share a common goal — to localize SDGs through education. This network will help share tools, knowledge, and experiences in the coming years.
Final Thoughts
The success of this conference proves that higher education can lead the way in sustainable development. With strong leaders like Dr. Thapa Chhetri, engaged students, and visionary campuses like Makawanpur Multiple Campus, Nepal is making real progress.
As the world works toward the 2030 Agenda, local action from institutions like these will be essential. Events like this remind us that global change often begins in the classroom.
For more: KCC Leads SDG Integration