NICCI, KUSOM sign MoU to bridge gap between academia and industry

KATHMANDU: Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) and Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to form a strategic collaboration aimed at bridging the gap between academia and industry.

The MoU, signed by NICCI Director General Keshab Man Singh and KUSOM Dean Prof Dr Bijay KC, seeks to promote cooperation in areas such as internships and job placement, joint research initiatives, academic–industry exchange, capacity-building programmes, and co-hosting training sessions, workshops, conferences and summits.

Under the agreement, both parties aim to develop a dynamic interface between academic knowledge and industry practices, equipping students with practical skills and enhancing innovation and entrepreneurship through joint efforts.

The partnership will support structured internship programmes and explore employment pathways for students in NICCI member companies across diverse sectors. It will also undertake collaborative research projects on shared themes, including business, policy, technology, sustainability, tourism, energy and regional economic cooperation.

In addition, the MoU envisions designing and delivering certification programmes and capacity-building workshops for students, faculty and industry professionals. Both institutions have agreed to organise joint summits, symposiums, conferences and guest lectures to facilitate knowledge sharing between academia and industry leaders. The collaboration will also share research papers, policy briefs, newsletters and other publications to inform decision-making, and provide industry insights to align academic programmes with emerging market trends, thereby enhancing employability.

The agreement further plans to support entrepreneurship development through mentorship, incubation support, pitch events and exposure visits.

Established in 1993 by a group of entrepreneurs and industrialists led by Prabhakar SJB Rana, NICCI is a bi-national, non-governmental, non-profit organisation committed to promoting economic relations between Nepal and India. It serves as a platform for cross-border cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, logistics, energy, infrastructure and industrial collaboration.

Also founded in 1993, Kathmandu University was the first institution in Nepal to introduce a Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme based on international design principles. KUSOM is a leading public educational institution dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and innovation.