Japanese Language Class for Kathmandu University Students

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Prof. Dr. Bim Prasad Shrestha, Professor at Kathmandu University (KU) and Director of KU Student Welfare Directorate, and Vice Chancellor’s Office of Global Engagement, and Ms. Keiko Wada, Board Chairperson of the Association for Nepal Synapse Self-Reliance Support in Japan (ANSSSJ) in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan on October 2, 2020 to start a Japanese language class at KU for its students. The class, which will be formally known as Fordays Japanese Language Class, will be initially run in the online system, and later, once the current Covid-19 situation improves, in the physical class within KU premises in Dhulikhel.

At the beginning of the virtual MOU signing ceremony, former Nepalese Ambassador to Japan Mr. Ganesh Yonzan, and Ms. Keiko Wada highlighted the importance of the language class, and wished for its success. They were followed by several other KU faculty who spoke about topics related to the Japanese language class: Prof. Dr. Bim Prasad Shrestha on “How the program came into existence, and the way forward;” Dr. Hem Raj Kafle (Associate Professor, and Head, Dept. of Management Informatics and Communication, KU) on “How teaching Japanese language to KU students fits in with KU’s overall educational objectives,” and Dr. Shyam Sundar Khadka (Assistant Professor at the School of Engineering and Associate Director for KU Student Welfare Directorate) on “How Fordays Japanese language class will be implemented.” Senior Manager at Vice Chancellor’s Office of Global Engagement at KU Mr. Yamal C. Rajbhandary thanked the members of ANSSSJ in Japan for their support, and expressed his hope that there will be additional opportunities like this--at individual and institutional levels--in the future to further cement the goodwill existing between ANSSSJ and KU.

KU School of Management Dean Prof. Dr. Bijay K.C., ANSSSJ Secretary-General Mr. Toshihiko Wada, and ANSSSJ Representative in Nepal Mr. Takeshi Okawara were also present at the MOU signing program.

Students and faculty interested in learning more about Fordays Japanese Language class at KU can get in touch with the KU Contact for the MOU Dr. Shyam Sundar Khadka at sskhadka@ku.edu.np.