Public sector officials from Nepal have joined the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) at North South University to participate in a five-day training program on Case Study Based Learning (CBL) from April 28 to May 2, 2024, a press release said on Friday. This initiative, designed to enhance the capacities of public sector officials from Nepal, marks the second collaboration between SIPG and the Government of Nepal. Previously, SIPG organized training for the University Grants Commission Nepal.
The training, led by faculty members of SIPG along with experts from the Government of Bangladesh, catered to 11 civil servants from the Government of Nepal. It focused on imparting practical and theoretical knowledge through real-life case studies, enhancing decision-making, problem-solving, and strategic thinking capabilities essential for public service.
The closing ceremony was graced by the presence of H.E. Mr. Ghanshyam Bhandari, Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh, was a significant highlight. Professor Sk. Tawfique M Haque, Dean (IC), the School of Humanities and Social Sciences; Dr. Rizwan Khair, Chair (IC), the Department of Political Science and Sociology and the course director; and Dr. Abdur Rob Khan, Treasurer, North South University, were also present.
Ambassador Bhandari expressed his gratitude, stating that Bangladesh is one of the preferred study destinations for Nepalese students, and he wants to see an increase in the coming years. He also mentioned that the relationship between Bangladesh and Nepal goes back to ancient times, highlighting the discovery of Charyapada in Nepal. There has always been a cultural, educational, and economic exchange between both nations. He also said that this training is a testament to the strengthening ties between Nepal and Bangladesh in enhancing governmental capacities through academic and practical training.
Professor Sk. Tawfique M Haque said that the partnership between SIPG and Nepali civil service dates back to 2008 when SIPG started its regional master’s program for civil servants in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan in Public Policy and Governance (MPPG). Since then, SIPG has collaborated and partnered with many institutions in Nepal, such as the UGC Nepal, Nepal Administrative College, and Tribhuvan University.
Dr. Abdur Rob Khan concluded by saying NSU is elated to host Nepali civil servants and emphasized further cooperation and collaboration between NSU and Nepali institutions.
Participants also shared their positive experiences during the certificate-giving ceremony. Team leader from Nepal, Mr. Nabin Chapagain, said that the Nepali team is very content with the hospitality of NSU and the rigorous training. He aspires to share his learnings with his colleagues in Nepal.
The program included sessions on negotiation, decision-making, AI in case studies, and effective writing and application of case studies in governance. A field visit to the A2i (Aspire to Innovate) project at the Ministry of Information Technology, Government of Bangladesh, further enriched the experience for the participants.
