Kathmandu: Kathmandu University (KU), School of Arts, and the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct a Master’s program in International Affairs, Economy and Diplomacy (MIAED. This is considered an important step toward promoting higher education in diplomacy and international affairs in Nepal, according to AIDIA, a premier think-tank based in Kathmandu.
The MoU was formally signed on Wednesday by Dean of the School of Arts Dr Uddhab Pyakurel and AIDIA Founder Sunil KC.
The objective of this collaboration is to develop a new generation of leaders capable of addressing the evolving economic and diplomatic landscape of the 21st century. The MIAED program will combine academic rigor with practical experience, leveraging AIDIA’s global professional network and KU’s academic excellence.
According to the agreement, KU will serve as the academic partner, taking responsibility for quality assurance, academic standards, and degree conferral. AIDIA will ensure a globally relevant and practice-oriented learning experience through its innovative teaching methodology, international networks, and program delivery mechanisms.
The program will adopt an experiential learning approach that integrates theoretical knowledge with practical diplomatic practice. A hybrid faculty model – bringing together distinguished scholars and experienced practitioners – will be supported by modern, technology-enabled learning environments to meet contemporary academic and professional demands.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Pyakurel stated that the collaboration reflects KU’s commitment to academic innovation and global engagement.
Similarly, following the signing, Sunil KC said that the partnership represents a transformative step toward shaping future leadership in diplomacy and international affairs.
“By combining academic excellence with practice-based knowledge, we aim to establish Nepal as a regional hub for advanced studies in this field,” he said. “The program will provide students with a unique opportunity to engage with contemporary geopolitical and economic realities through an interdisciplinary and forward-looking curriculum.”
“The program will focus on economic diplomacy as economic diplomacy should be the frontline of Nepal’s foreign policy,” he said, adding, “Now AIDIA will remain as a think -tank and graduate school.”
According to KC, although AIDIA was established 12 years ago as a think tank, it had envisioned launching academic programs from the very beginning. “In line with its goal,” he added, “AIDIA will now work to attract students from Nepal as well as from various countries to this program.”
AIDIA also stated that this partnership will strengthen the shared vision of internationalizing higher education in Nepal and advancing academic programs that respond to the changing global order, particularly in the context of the emerging Asian century.