Pokhara University has introduced a postgraduate ( Master ) program in environmental management and climate change at its graduate level in SchEMS College.
Previously, even though climate change was studied in undergraduate programs at Nepalese universities, there was no provision for a postgraduate degree specifically focusing on climate change. The School of Environmental Science Science and Management (SchEMS) of Pokhara University has taken the initiative to offer this program with a central focus on climate change.
According to Principal/Associate Professor Ajay Mathema from SchEMS, although Nepal has been engaging in various agreements and collaborations related to climate change, there is a scarcity of climate change experts. He mentioned that Nepal often needs to hire foreign consultants, especially for large-scale climate change projects. Therefore, there is a need for professionals with degrees in this field who can contribute to solving such issues to some extent.
Principal/Associate Professor Mathema expressed his expectation that the degree program in climate change will equip students with the skills necessary to address these challenges. He also highlighted the requirement to bring in foreign experts for the "Mainstreaming Climate Change into Development" project of the Ministry of Forests and Environment if domestic experts are unavailable.
Currently, the program is offered only at the School of Environmental Science and Management ( SchEMS ) of Pokhara University.