Kathmandu: Around 10,000 IT graduates enter Nepal’s workforce every year. However, many university graduates still lack the practical skills and industry-ready competencies required by employers, creating a widening gap between academic learning and industry expectations.

To address this challenge, Nepal Association for Software and IT Services Companies (NAS-IT), the apex body representing Nepal’s IT and software companies, has initiated the development of a new bachelor-level IT curriculum aimed at producing industry-ready professionals aligned with current and future market demands.

The initiative is being developed with financial and technical support from Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Swisscontact. According to NAS-IT President Gaurav Pandey, the program could become Nepal’s first higher education curriculum designed under direct industry leadership.

“Graduates often do not possess the skills the industry is looking for,” said Pandey. “That is why we are building a curriculum based on market needs. This is possibly the first time the industry itself is taking the lead in designing an academic course.”

Focus on AI and Future-Ready Skills

As Artificial Intelligence continues to reshape the global technology landscape, NAS-IT says the curriculum will move beyond traditional coding education and focus on problem-solving, data literacy, critical thinking, and the ability to work effectively with AI-driven technologies.

The curriculum aims to prepare students for rapidly evolving global job markets by integrating future-oriented skills and emerging technologies into academic learning.

Swisscontact stated that the initiative is expected to help bridge the gap between academia and industry while contributing to the development of a skilled and globally competitive workforce in Nepal.

Industry and Academia Collaboration

The curriculum development process is already underway and is being designed in alignment with Nepal’s National Qualification Framework (NQF). The initiative involves collaboration among IT experts, academic institutions, educators, and industry stakeholders.

For the joint development and operation of the program, NAS-IT has partnered with Nepal Open University. The four-year IT degree program, expected to launch in the near future, will feature work-integrated learning as one of its core components.

According to Dr. Bhoj Raj Ghimire, the curriculum will include emerging and in-demand fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, and Cybersecurity.

Students to Work From the Beginning of Their Studies

One of the key highlights of the program is its emphasis on direct industry exposure from the first year itself. Students will have opportunities to work within the IT industry while continuing their academic studies, allowing them to graduate with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

NAS-IT believes the initiative will help reduce the disconnect between universities and industry while strengthening Nepal’s ability to develop skilled, globally competitive IT professionals within the country.

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